November is Native American Heritage Month, a celebration that won’t appear nicely related to San Antonio, however it ought to be. That heritage and affect helped form our metropolis. Do you know that San Antonio has the tenth largest Native American inhabitants in the USA? Celebrating Native American Heritage Month in San Antonio is so simple as taking the time to be taught extra about our metropolis’s heritage and leaping into crafts and occasions that assist deliver it to life.
One of many issues we love most about San Antonio is that blend of cultures and influences that meld to make our chosen hometown so vibrant. We would like our son to be taught, recognize, and have fun the various heritage that surrounds us and see cultural variations not as variations, however as a wealthy heritage to know, perceive, and respect.
With out Native Individuals, San Antonio as we all know it may not exist. Bexar County archaeological websites, household genealogies, DNA assessments, and oral histories element that Native Individuals in San Antonio are a 15,000-year-old story—and one all of us ought to know. Lengthy earlier than Spanish and European settlers discovered their approach right here, tribes together with the Coahuiltecan, Tonkawa, Karankawas, Carrizo, Caddoans, and Apaches have been a number of the first folks to have settled within the space. And so they helped construct San Antonio’s beloved missions.
American Indians in Texas on the Spanish Colonial Missions works to share that story, preserving and defending the tradition and traditions of the Native American tribes and different indigenous individuals who resided within the Spanish colonial missions. To be taught extra about Native American historical past on the missions, this digital tour consists of how Native tradition has endured and continues to form the tradition of our metropolis.
For those who’d prefer to have fun Native American Heritage Month in San Antonio and share that historical past and heritage with your loved ones, these crafts are nice methods to interact your children in Native American heritage. They’re additionally a great way to maintain fingers busy throughout Thanksgiving prep and are enjoyable to do with a number of generations, visiting cousins, and pals. (Try these different concepts for conserving children busy throughout Thanksgiving, or make this easy wreath a household challenge.)
Corn Husk Doll
Corn husks make greater than nice tamale wrappings! You possibly can craft a corn husk doll with simply husks and string. This nice video is a terrific information and consists of the Haudenosaunee origin story of the Corn Husk Doll. Provides you’ll want embody 5 corn husks, scissors, string, a felt sheet (elective), and a bowl of water.
Pinch Pot
Working with clay/Play-Doh is among the issues we did lots when my son was creating his hand energy. Pottery-making is widespread to many Native American tribes. Pinch pots are the best challenge for youths who’re simply beginning to craft. They will type their very own bowl or vessel simply by pinching clay with their fingers. Get the small print right here and see what little artistic fingers can form.
Bison Cover Artwork
No, you gained’t want actual bison conceal for this craft, however it does stroll you thru how some American Indians recorded tales on bison hides. Craft your individual bison conceal from building paper, a brown paper bag, and even cloth. Get the craft particulars right here.
Dreamcatcher
This one is terrific for little ones who’ve dangerous goals. Legend says that the dreamcatcher catches dangerous goals after which these dangerous goals deplete within the mild of day. Learn to create one right here. Provides you’ll want embody a hoop that’s at the very least three inches in diameter, one spool of 1/8-inch ribbon or yarn, 1–3 beads for adornment, one feather, and scissors.
Caddo Coil Pot Artwork
The Caddo have been one of many tribes present in Texas. The Bullock Museum in Austin hosts American Indian Heritage Day actions yearly to mark the historical past of American Indians in Texas. Their tutorial on tips on how to make coil pot artwork is simple to comply with and works with air-dry clay, Play-Doh, or mannequin magic. You’ll want a plastic knife and a toothpick to work with the clay.
Make Your Personal Frybread
A typical Native American meals, frybread seems to be nothing greater than fried dough—like an unsweetened funnel cake, however thicker and softer, filled with air bubbles and reservoirs of grease—however it’s revered by some as an emblem of Native satisfaction and unity. Click on right here for a recipe from San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Artwork Museum and be taught extra concerning the custom and tips on how to make it.
Yarn Artwork
Nierikas (pronounced Close to-eeka) are conventional yarn work made by the Huichol folks. Native to Mexico, Huicholes are identified for his or her magnificent and colourful bead and yarn artwork. Pure glue, created from tree resin and beeswax, is utilized to a board, and yarn is pressed into it and left to harden. The designs and symbols are primarily based on their myths, tales, and private day by day actions. Study how one can craft with yarn to inform a narrative.
Coloring Sheets
San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Artwork Museum has an Arapaho coloring sheet, in addition to a Cheyenne coloring sheet for everybody to take pleasure in.
For extra hands-on enjoyable to have fun Native American Heritage Month in San Antonio, benefit from the Briscoe Western Artwork Museum’s annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Competition, Saturday, November 11, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The occasion is free and consists of admission to the Briscoe, making it an ideal solution to have fun and spotlight Native American historical past throughout Native American Heritage Month.
The annual occasion is called in honor of the Payaya individuals who have been indigenous to the San Antonio space. “Yanaguana” was the phrase they used to explain what’s now often known as the San Antonio River. Enjoyable truth we realized by visiting the Briscoe: the spot within the San Antonio River behind the Briscoe was a loading place for the Pajalache folks to move meals and different commerce items from one location to a different. They used the river to facilitate commerce between the missions.
The Yanaguana Indian Arts Competition is free household enjoyable that options storytelling, music, artist demonstrations, pottery, weaving, and carving, in addition to Native American-inspired meals. The occasion begins with a particular blessing, adopted by a ceremonial drum circle that invitations everybody to hitch. We’re all the time mesmerized by the drum circle and dancing, held exterior within the Briscoe’s sculpture backyard. The backyard includes a improbable array of sculptures below terrific shade bushes. (With the museum being proper on the river, we discover ourselves stopping by the backyard on quite a lot of our River Stroll adventures.)
Wish to be taught extra? Try this video information to a number of the dances carried out at Native American powwows.
And don’t miss the Briscoe’s assortment of artwork and artifacts that showcase the position Native Individuals performed within the West. A favourite piece is the Blackfeet shirt that’s a part of the museum’s everlasting assortment. Study extra concerning the shirt and different items of the Briscoe’s assortment right here. The Briscoe is open year-round and hosts 4 free group festivals yearly, so when you can’t make Yanaguana, sustain with the Briscoe’s calendar of occasions and cease by in your subsequent go to downtown.
