It wasn't that many years ago that encroachment of European settlements in Texas forced the westward movement of the indigenous people of the region. From the genocide of the fierce coastal Karankawa to the forced relocation of Comanche, Lipan Apache, and other tribesmen living in Texas, white men slowly and methodically drove out the Native peoples, assuming their lands and erecting barbed wire fences and building cattle empires once reserved as sacred hunting grounds.
Well over a century has passed and now and slowly they're coming back; the Comanche, Kiowa, Creek, Cherokee and Choctaw. In their company you'll find Sioux, Hopi, Zuni, Shawnee and Navajo.
At least they are returning for a weekend in June, thanks to Old Santa Fe Days in Carrollton, an annual festival spotlighting Native American art and heritage and held on the streets of the old downtown district.
It got its start back in 2004 as a one time, exclusive event for the artisans of Santo Domingo Pueblo near Santa Fe, New Mexico -- thus the name "Santa Fe Days On The Square". Because of popular demand however, it was decided to make the event an annual affair and open it up to all tribes of the Native American Community.
Tribal affiliations represented at last year's event included Yaqui, Pawnee, Sioux, Hopi, Zuni, Comanche, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Cherokee, Creek, Kiowa, Tohono O' Odham, Choctaw, Cochiti Pueblo, Santa Clara Pueblo, Seminole, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Shawnee and Echota Cherokee.
According to festival organizers, Santo Domingo artists were the first invited to participate because of their reputation as fine craftsmen. Because Santo Domingo Pueblo is located near the ancient Cerrillos turquoise mines, the village people have a distinguished history of making fine jewelry and heishi. The Santo Domingos are still great traders very much like their Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon ancestors.
This traditional Keresan pueblo also hosts an internationally known ceremonial dance in New Mexico on Aug. 4 that honors the pueblo's patron saint, St. Dominic. It attracts more than 2,000 Native American participants in a dramatic Corn Dance.
Old Santa Fe Days will be filled with plenty of Native American art and crafts, Indian dances and drum competitions, live music, good food and, one of the favorite attractions, plenty of Native American vendors.
The festival is staged at:
Santa Fe Days on the Square
Old Downtown Carrollton, Texas
June 10 & 11, 2006
Old Downtown Carrollton Square is located on I-35E at Beltline Road in Carrollton, Texas, about 20 miles north of downtown Dallas. It is an old fashioned town square with a beautiful gazebo in the center.
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