The Indigenous Cultures Institute was founded by members of the Meakan/Garzas Band, one of the over two-hundred bands that resided in Texas and northeastern Mexico when the Spaniards first arrived.

These bands were later collectively named Coahuiltecan as was the language they spoke, which was used largely for commercial purposes. Spanish records and other documents indicate that the Coahuiltecan language was spread by the Spaniards' need to communicate with all of the bands, as they attempted conversions to Catholicism and colonization into their society. However, each band had their own distinct language, some of which has been studied and published by distinguished linguistic experts and other scholars.

The members of the Meakan/Garzas family still maintain their culture and traditions.

Dr. Mario Garza
Board of Directors Chair

Valdemar Garza, Family Elder
and Board of Directors Vice-Chair

Maria F. Rocha, Secretary Treasurer
Board of Directors

Francisco Garza
Board of Directors

Adrian Villegas
Board of Directors

Cemelli de Aztlan
Executive Director
Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA
Master of Divinity, 2009
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