Tales From Aztlantis

In this special dispatch from Aztlantis, Dr. Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl talks "Dia De La Raza." listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Support the show Order "NEVER WILL IT BE LOST" and get $5 off! Support Lignum: A Cultural Haven in Mérida Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southw...

What is Aztlan? And what does this Indigenous concept mean to the Chicano Nation? listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Support the show Order "NEVER WILL IT BE LOST" and get $5 off! Support Lignum: A Cultural Haven in Mérida Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical...

The year is 1966, in Santa Monica, California. Inside a large, dimly lit room, members of a controversial and increasingly violent group known as Synanon gather in a circle. At the center sits a single figure—another “Synanite”—alone on a folding chair, surrounded on all sides. Around the edges of the room, a few silent observers watch, waiting. Then it begins. One by one, the circle turns inward....

We are joined by Colleen Lucero to talk about the upcoming exhibit Hopi Kachina Dolls: Blessings for a Balanced World, which opens October 2 at the Brooklyn Museum, and her work with the Hopivewat Learning Center. Colleen is a Hopi community member from the village of Hotevilla. She is the Managing Director of the Hopivewat Learning Center, a community-designed organization that facilitates access...

Rebirth of an Aztec Codex There are some stories from Mesoamerican history that, when you first hear them, sound almost too good to be true. Take for example, the Tonalamatl Aubin. Now, for those not familiar, the story goes like this: a sacred Indigenous calendar survives the destruction of the Spanish invasion, vanishes into European collections where it gets passed from collector to collector,...

When people hear phrases like “human sacrifice” or “cannibalism” their minds don’t immediately jump to the Crusades, Rome, medieval Europe, or the Bible. They jump straight to brown skin, feathered headdresses, and temples drenched in blood. Type in a quick Google search for the phrase and Mesoamericans (the Mexika/Aztec, in particular) become humanity’s favorite villains. “Savage.” “Bloodthirsty....

Given the current climate here in Occupied America, we thought it would be worth taking a look at the Chicano Moratorium march of August 29, 1970. The event serves as a good example of how we organized as a community to speak out against an unjust war and the price our people paid fighting in it. This episode was originally released as a Premium (paid only) episode, but we wanted to give everyone...

As the sun slowly rose over the Rio Grande on September 15, 1891, Catarino Erasmo Garza stood on the Texas side of the border holding in his hands two objects that would come to define his life: a Winchester rifle and a revolutionary proclamation. For years Garza had fought the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz through his many newspapers and publications. Now he announced that he was laying down the...

We Watched a White Woman "Channel" Quetzalcoatl... So You Don't Have To Can someone really channel Quetzalcoatl? Or is it just another example of New Age spirituality borrowing from Indigenous traditions without understanding them? In this special bonus episode of Tales From Aztlantis , Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl sit down together in the same room for a live reac...

What happens when Indigenous DNA becomes the next frontier of resource extraction? In part two of this episode of Tales from Aztlantis , Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl are joined once again by Joe Yracheta , an Amerindigenous scientist of Purépecha and Rarámuri heritage and a leader with the Native BioData Consortium. Together, they explore one of the most pressing—and least discus...

What happens when Indigenous DNA becomes the next frontier of resource extraction? In Part 1 of this thought-provoking episode of Tales from Aztlantis , Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl are joined by Joe Yracheta , an Amerindigenous scientist of Purépecha and Rarámuri heritage and a leader with the Native BioData Consortium. Together, they explore one of the most pressing—and least d...

Did the Aztecs have a concept of virtue? In this episode, we dive into a lively scholarly debate over the Nawatl phrase kwalli and yektli ("good" and "right") and whether it can properly be translated as "virtue." Examining colonial dictionaries, the Florentine Codex , the Wewetlahtolli , and the work of scholars from the sixteenth century to today, we explore the evi...

Aztec Philosophy, Ethics, and the Outward Path with Dr. Sebastian Purcell What if living a good life isn't about chasing happiness, but about building strong relationships and fulfilling your responsibilities to others? In this episode of Tales From Aztlantis , Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl sit down with philosopher Dr. Sebastian Purcell to discuss Aztec (Nahua) philosophy, e...

Family, friends, and listeners: We gather virtually at a momentous historical threshold. The United States is engulfed in the pageantry, corporate sponsorships, and national choreography of its Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Across the landscape, museum exhibitions are being mounted, monument plaques polished, and civic speeches drafted....

Danzantes, Mexicanistas, and other cultural practitioners often display a banner that they claim is the "original" and "true" banner of the Mexika people. Often referred to as the Panketzalli, Bandera de Cuitlahuac, or the Bandera de Victoria, this symbol can be found emblazoned on t-shirts, flags, dance regalia, murals and tattoos. But where does this image actually come from?...

What does the 2nd Mexican Empire, Confederate soldiers on the run, and the TV show The Office have to do with a white supremacist secret society in St. Louis? Author and historian Devin Thomas O'Shea joins us to talk about his fantastic new book "The Veiled Prophet: Secret Societies, White Supremacy, and the Struggle for St. Louis." Strap yourselves in, dear listeners, you are in fo...

If you were to walk out onto the street right now and ask the average person to close their eyes and picture an “American Indian,” what images would flash across their mind? For most, those images wouldn’t be of contemporary indigenous lawyers, scientists, artists, or tribal leaders navigating the complex realities of the 21st century. Instead, their minds would automatically drift to a beautifull...

In the blistering heat of New Mexico’s sun-baked earth, under the protective gaze of Okuu Pin–the Turtle Mountain that majestically stands guard over Albuquerque–a strange and persistent legend has taken hold. It’s a story of hidden Jews, of ancient rites disguised as Catholic rituals, and of shadowy ancestors who supposedly hid their true faith during the Inquisition. This is the tale of New Mexi...

Today, we’re talking about how we tell history, and specifically, how the media treats indigenous cultures. We are diving into the recent cultural history of the so-called Aztec Death Whistle. I’ve wanted to look into this topic for a while, but a recent horror movie about the whistle prompted a discussion on the Aztlantis discord, so I felt the time was right to dive into it. The main question at...

Well, dear listeners, here we go again. Like a brainless zombie emerging from the grave, a long-dead statue of Christopher Columbus has lurched back to life in order to reign terror on Washington DC. And as his statue’s reanimated corpse claws its way up from the depths, it pauses momentarily to once again draw breath and utter… “It’s a Me, Christopher Columbus!” If you don’t know what I am referr...

What is the actual history of Cinco de Mayo, what importance does it hold for Chicana/Chicano/Chicanx communities, and most importantly why is it celebrated in the United States? Well dear listener, if you have ever asked yourself any of those questions, you're in luck. Today's episode explores why we celebrate. Enjoy! listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Lignum is a haven for c...

On the morning of April 20, tourists climbed the ancient steps of the Temple of the Moon at Teotiwakan, taking in the grandeur of the once-thriving Mesoamerican metropolis. From personal experience, I can tell you that the air that day was probably thin and dry, and the stones were likely still cool from the night before. Families would have paused briefly to catch their breath as they ascended a...

During a 1990 visit to Mexico, Pope John Paul II confirmed the long-standing liturgical cult in honor of Juan Diego, officially beatifying him. This act set in motion the process of canonizing Juan Diego as the first saint Indigenous to the Americas. The Juan Diego Faithful were, of course, elated at the prospect. They only had to deal with one tiny problem: Juan Diego never existed. In this episo...

When people hear phrases like “human sacrifice” or “cannibalism” their minds don’t immediately jump to the Crusades, Rome, medieval Europe, or the Bible. They jump straight to brown skin, feathered headdresses, and temples drenched in blood. Type in a quick Google search for the phrase and Mesoamericans (the Mexika/Aztec, in particular) become humanity’s favorite villains. “Savage.” “Bloodthirsty....

In this episode we explore the origin and meaning of the word Chicano. What does it mean to be a Chicano? Do Mexican Americans who hold right-wing views get to call themselves Chicano? Join your hosts as we dig into these topics! End song: Indigena by Aztlan Underground Used with permission (Tlazkamati, Yaotl Mazahua!) https://youtu.be/DZTmWj2pQJE?si=8ZbmUSi5hTM8Dhv9 listener comments? Feedback? S...