Indigenous Cultures Institute

Preserve the culture of Native Americans indigenous to Texas and northeastern Mexico. We provide Indigenous artists performances, speakers on Indigenous issues, and teachers training on Indigenous pedagogy.

Online production of Yana Wana's Legend of the Bluebonnet. The story of a young girl's discovery of her Indigenous heritage and all the comes with this deeply moving experience. Also, Aztec danza performances for large assemblies, after COVID restrictions are lifted. Speakers on Texas Indians.

Bilingual: Spanish and Coahuiltecan language spoken by ancestors of Hispanic population in Texas.

ARTSPLUS is an arts-in-education program directed and taught by Andrea Ariel, Artistic Director of Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre, based in Austin, TX with a programming history beginning in 1999. A specific program is designed by working closely with the needs and goals of principals and teachers for grade levels K-12. ARTSPLUS offers a unique experience aimed to empower students to explore realities, relationships, and ideas through creative dance and theater while incorporating additional content that relates to music and art concepts as well as subjects related to math, science, language, social studies, and nature. Bringing together investigations that incorporate all these disciplines and diverse content engages and motivates students through active learning, critical thinking, and innovative problem solving. ARTSPLUS crosses disciplines and advances student progress in learning dance, music, art, and theater as well as in their academic achievement through creative movement and theater. The program provides a foundation and vehicle for physical development and well-being, creative expression, and integration of learning in other contents and disciplines, individually and in groups.

Online play, Yana Wana' Legend of the Bluebonnet with possible "talk-back" with the playwrights and Indigenous cast/crew.

Thirteen-year-old María is having trouble in school, so her mom sends her to stay with her Coahuiltecan grandmother in distant Laredo for discipline and perspective. There, María is told an ancient story of young Yana Wana who followed a revered deer to find water to save her people. Yana Wana’s story exposes​ an amazing and unknown ancestral connection to the bluebonnet that gives María a renewed sense of self and family pride.

You may have read one version in school; now we invite you to come see the legend through the eyes of Yana Wana in this online tour premiere. A beautiful, original play that illustrates the power of heritage and the value of one’s own story – especially one as ancient as the petroglyphs of Texas.

For more details visit:  http://indigenouscultures.org

Contact:
Indigenous Cultures Institute
600 Boulder Bluff
San Marcos, TX 78666
Telephone: 512-393-3310
Email: diana@indigenouscultures.org