Tales from Aztlantis

Kurly Tlapoyawa & Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl

Join us every week as we explore Mesoamerican pseudohistory, new-age nonsense, archaeological misconceptions, and other tales of adventure! In each episode, we investigate how these very topics have helped inform Chicano/Chicana/Chicanx identity, and have resulted in a distorted view of our collective Indigenous past. Your hosts Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl invite you to join them on a fascinating journey through Mesoamerica's past, present, and future! read less

Episode 41: Dia de los Muertos: The Chicano Connection!
Nov 2 2022
Episode 41: Dia de los Muertos: The Chicano Connection!
Chicanos directly influenced the popularity of modern Dia de los Muertos celebrations in both the United States and Mexico. Let's find out how!Your hosts:  Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others.  @kurlytlapoyawa  Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus. @TlakatekatlSources:Regina Marchi, “Chicano Art as Alternative Media: Its Influence on US Popular Culture (and Beyond),” The International Journal of the Arts in Society 4, no. 5 (2010): 447–64, https://doi.org/10.7282/T3X63K9R.Regina Marchi, “Hybridity and Authenticity in US Day of the Dead Celebrations,” Journal of American Folklore 126, no. 501 (January 1, 2013): 272–301, https://doi.org/10.5406/jamerfolk.126.501.0272.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Episode 39: Remembering the Maya Apocalypse w/ Dr. John Hoopes!
Oct 4 2022
Episode 39: Remembering the Maya Apocalypse w/ Dr. John Hoopes!
About our guest:  Dr. John Hoopes is an anthropologist with broad training in the archaeology of pre-Hispanic indigenous cultures, with a focus on indigenous populations of southern Central America between Mesoamerica and the Central Andes. He has built a solid base of empirical, scientific evidence and robust theories to help define these as a significant unit of study. Dr. Hoopes has undertaken extended critiques of both scientific and popular models, the latter including significant prejudices and misconceptions about indigenous cultures. His research is motivated by a strong sense of ethics, justice, and a desire to help people understand the world in detail by expanding knowledge as guided by informed insight.  Your hosts:  Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others.  @kurlytlapoyawa  Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus. @TlakatekatlBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Premium Episode 11: Sal Castro & The Chicano Blowouts! (Full Episode)
Sep 27 2022
Premium Episode 11: Sal Castro & The Chicano Blowouts! (Full Episode)
In this episode, we watch a short film about Sal Castro and the Chicano Blowouts! The East Los Angeles Walkouts or Chicano Blowouts were a series of 1968 protests by Chicano students against unequal conditions in Los Angeles Unified School District high schools. The first walkout occurred on March 5, 1968. The students who organized and carried out the protests were primarily concerned with the quality of their education. This movement, which involved thousands of students in the Los Angeles area, was identified as "the first major mass protest against racism undertaken by Mexican-Americans in the history of the United States."Your hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.@TlakatekatlBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Episode 38: Archaeological Frauds & Myths w/ Ken Feder!
Sep 20 2022
Episode 38: Archaeological Frauds & Myths w/ Ken Feder!
We are joined by Dr. Ken Feder, to discuss his work in analyzing and exposing pseudoarchaeology and anti-scientific conspiracies!Dr. Kenneth L. "Kenny" Feder is a professor Emeritus of archaeology at Central Connecticut State University and the author of several books on archaeology and criticism of pseudoarchaeology such as Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology. His book Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology: From Atlantis to the Walam Olum was published in 2010. His book Ancient America: Fifty Archaeological Sites to See for Yourself was published in 2017. He is the founder and director of the Farmington River Archaeological Project.Your hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.@TlakatekatlBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Premium Episode 10: Chicano Heritage Month! (Full Episode)
Sep 13 2022
Premium Episode 10: Chicano Heritage Month! (Full Episode)
Chicano Heritage Month? You heard us correctly! In this episode, we take a look at House resolution 1291 which was recently introduced by Congressman Lou Correa to commemorate August as Chicano Heritage Month. The resolution states its purpose as "Recognizing the significance of “Chicano Heritage Month” in August as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Mexican Americans to the history of the United States."Song: Soy Chicano by Rumel Fuentes, 1975Your hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.@TlakatekatlBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Episode 37: Chicano humor with Lalo Alcaraz!
Aug 30 2022
Episode 37: Chicano humor with Lalo Alcaraz!
We are joined by POCHO Magazine creator and Chicano editorial cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz to talk about Chicano humor, cultural representation, and censorship!Lalo Alcaraz is an award-winning visual/media artist and television/film writer. A Los Angeles resident, he has been chronicling the ascendancy of Chicanos in the U.S. for over a quarter-century.The busy Chicano artist is the creator of the syndicated daily comic strip La Cucaracha seen in the L.A. Times and other newspapers nationwide.Alcaraz is founder and Jefe-in-Chief of POCHO, which started out as a Xeroxed zine in the last century and now ranks a leading Chicano satire website.A prolific political cartoonist, Lalo is the winner of six Los Angeles Press Club awards for Best Editorial Cartoon.He was an editorial cartoonist for the L.A. Weekly from 1992-2010 and now creates editorial cartoons in English and Spanish for Andrews McMeel Syndication, Daily Kos, and various newspapers, including Philadelphia’s Al Dia News.His work has appeared on 60 Minutes, CBS News, NBC, Univision, and in hundreds of publications.Your host:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawaBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Episode 36: Subversive Spirituality!
Aug 16 2022
Episode 36: Subversive Spirituality!
Long before the arrival of Europeans, some of the Indigenous Mesoamerican traditions of honoring the dead were celebrated with two specific feasts: Mikailwitl (feast of the dead), and Wey Mikailwitl (great feast of the dead). These feasts were celebrated in early August through mid-September. In fact, we are currently in the “month” of Mikailwitl right now, as it began on August 8th or the day Chikome Kozkakwawtli in the ancestral Mexika calendar. These celebrations were dedicated to honoring the dead through dance, song, and offerings of food and drink. Altars and burials were adorned with marigolds, a sacred flower thought to attract the spirits so that they might enjoy the offerings left in their memory.Today, these celebrations have been blended with Catholic traditions, and take place on All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Many think that Mikailwitl and Wey Mikailwitl were absorbed into the Allhallowtide (All Saints Day and All Souls Day) under the direction of the Catholic Church, as these Christian holidays also involve honoring the dead. Unfortunately, this popular claim is often repeated without any evidence to back it up. For example, a column about Dia de Muertos published on the website weareyourvoicemag states “in an attempt to convert the natives to Catholicism, the Spanish colonizers moved the celebration to November 1 and 2 (All Saints Day), which is when we celebrate it currently.”But is this how it really happened? Listen and find out as we explore the different ways that our ancestors negotiated and navigated the colonial process by masking their rituals and ceremonies behind a catholic facade!Cover art: 1680 Pueblo Revolt at Hopi, Fred Nakayoma Kabotie, 1976. Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Laboratory of Anthropology, Santa Fe.Your hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.@TlakatekatlBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Episode 35: How old is the word Chicana?
Aug 3 2022
Episode 35: How old is the word Chicana?
The origin and antiquity of the words “Chicana” and “Chicano” has been debated from the halls of academia to the streets of the barrio. The advent of social media has certainly added fuel to the fire, but nobody seems to have a clear answer. Some claim that the word comes from “chicanery,” and is reflective of the untrustworthy nature of the people it describes. Others claim that it means “children of the earth” in the Nawatl language. However, neither of these claims is supported by evidence. So... just how old is the word “Chicana?”WORK CITED:Tlakatekatl. “Ilan Stavans has a Chicano problem.” Mexika.Org (blog), 8/11/2015. https://mexika.org/2014/05/20/ilan-stavans-has-a-chicano-problem/Tlapoyawa. “How old is the word Chicana?” Mexika.Org (blog), 10/17/2017https://mexika.org/2017/10/17/how-old-is-the-word-chicana/Your hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.@TlakatekatlBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Episode 33: Aztecs at the Powwow!
Jul 5 2022
Episode 33: Aztecs at the Powwow!
In this episode, we explore Danza Azteca at Powwow events, where such performances are usually relegated to the intermission. Our hosts discuss the efforts of the Sacred Springs Powwow in San Marcos, Texas, which has included Danza Azteca in the competitive dance categories, and what this inclusion means for inter-Indigenous relations.WORK CITED:Bartelt, Guillermo. “‘Ah, You’re One Those’ Ethnic Boundaries in Urban Powwows.” European Journal of Social Sciences Studies 7, no. 3 (February 25, 2022). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v7i3.1226.Gutierrez Masini, Jessica. “Native American Indigeneity Through Danza in University of California Powwows: A Decolonized Approach.” Master’s thesis, University of California, Riverside, 2018.Tlakatekatl. “Aztecs at the Pow Wow.” Mexika.Org (blog), October 27, 2017. https://mexika.org/2017/10/27/aztecs-at-the-pow-wow/.Your hosts:Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, cultural consultant, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections between the two regions. He is the author of numerous books and has presented lectures at Harvard University, The University of New Mexico, Yale University, San Diego State University, and numerous others. @kurlytlapoyawaRuben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.@TlakatekatlBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy
Episode 32: (Re)imagining Indigenous Psychology w/ Dr. Azucena Verdin!
May 31 2022
Episode 32: (Re)imagining Indigenous Psychology w/ Dr. Azucena Verdin!
Ep 32 Show Notes In this episode we are joined by Dr. Azucena Verdín to discuss her work in Educational Psychology and the ways it intersects with Indigenous Chicano ways of knowing. We talk about her experience as a Chicana working in a field dominated by white academics and share a few thoughts on the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas.  About our guest: She received a Master’s in the Arts in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2013 and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of North Texas in 2019. Her dissertation on Mexican-origin borderland mothers' experiences of epistemic injustice received the 2020 John L. and Harriette P. McAdoo Dissertation Award for excellence in research on ethnic-racial minority families from the National Council on Family Relations. She is an assistant professor in the department of Human Development, Family Studies, and Counseling at Texas Woman's University. Her research centers on identity processes among Mexican-origin families, including how racism, colorism, and anti-Indigeneity is internalized within Chicano families.  You can reach Dr. Verdín through her email: averdin@twu.edu Works cited:  Navarro, Armando. “The Post Mortem Politics of the Chicano Movement: 1975-1996.” Perspectives in Mexican American Studies, “Mexican Americans in the 1990s: Politics, Policies, and Perceptions” 6 (1997): 52–79. Verdín, Azucena. “E(Race)Ing Mexican Americans: Why Denying Racial Indigeneity Constitutes White Supremacy in Family Science.” National Council on Family Relations, 2021. https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/fall-2021/eraceing-mexican-americans-why-denying-racial-indigeneity-constitutes-white-supremacy-family. ———. “Mothering While Brown: Latina Borderland Mothers’ Experiences of Epistemic Injustice.” University of North Texas, 2019. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Support the showwww.talesfromaztlantis.comhttps://www.patreon.com/hcarchy