to the Muzquiz Community | |
|
January 11, 2009 The closing of the "Encounter and Expo of the Past and the Present" was a fantastic success with the participation of representatives from the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. We saw the presentation of colorful intertribal dances performed by one of the members of the tribe who explained each of the movements in detail. He also performed a song in his dialect, written for and dedicated to the people of Muzquiz. On January 9th and 10th at 1:45 P.M., Professor Silvia Elguezabal Perez, Assistant Director of Education and Culture, concluded the presentations that took place in the audio-visual room in the House of Culture. This led to the performance all were waiting for, the Lipan Dance presented by one of the members. Yesterday, on the second day of the Encounter and Expo activities, a presentation of the book, The Coahuiltecos, was made. Conferences and dialogues also took place with participation by anthropologist Jose Medina Gonzalez Davila and members of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. Robert Soto, who performed the dances, explained that today in the United States there exist 790 cultures, more than 700 different belief systems and structures of government, a total of 560 languages that are still preserved, and all of these make everybody unique. Dressed in gear that weighs approximately 40 kilos (80 pounds), Robert Soto told about how the ethnic groups have two classes of dances. They have private dances that are part of their religion and public/social dances which are called "intertribal." | |
|
January 13, 2009 "Like a genocide," was how the Anthropologist Jose Medina Gonzalez Davila classified it. Davila was referring to the attacks by the Mexican and American governments against the tribe of Apache Indians called the "Lipans." This scholar of tribal ethnography told that the massive attacks against the Lipan Apaches were sometimes justified but, other times, they were merely an excuse to exterminate any and all Apaches. When they defended themselves against these attacks, the stories came forth that classified the Apaches as savages, rapists, and even assassins. "No matter how hard they fought with their tactics and bravery, superior weapons and superior numbers always defeated them," he added in detail. Davila informed us that, today, the Lipans are the last free Apaches that live in the United States. The Lipans live mostly in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. A few live in Mescalero and Apache reservations but many live without their own reservation and they are still in search of official national recognition. Last weekend, some of the descendants of this tribe met again in the Coal Region at an event where they shared their culture. They did this with dances and talks about their views on religion and family organization as well as by telling stories about their genocide in a story called "The Night of Remolino." This is a story which has been passed from generation to generation as in the traditions of their ancestors. "There's a lot to learn from them. We need to know that they are not extinct, they are open in hearts and minds, and we need to listen to them because they opened their souls to us today. And, they want to extend their friendship," Davila concluded | |