The Assassination of Kwawtemok! On February 28, of the year 1525, Kwawtemok – the last sovereign tlatoani (ruler or speaker) of the Mexikah nation and the Anawak Confederacy, was assassinated by Hernán Cortés. But who was Kwawtemok, and why is he an important figure in the collective memory of Mexicans? listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Support the show Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica...

We are joined By Dr. Magnus Pharao Hansen to discuss his new book "Nahuatl Nations: Language Revitalization and Semiotic Sovereignty in Indigenous Mexico." Nahuatl Nations is a linguistic ethnography that explores the political relations between those Indigenous communities of Mexico that speak the Nahuatl language and the Mexican Nation that claims it as an important national symbol. Author Magnus Pharao Hansen studies how this relation has been shaped by history and how it plays out today ...

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 Mexico’s crypto-Jews—a myth so tangled in folklore, mistaken identities, and selective memory that it...

Day of the Dead is 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....

It was October 9th, and the orange-tinted manchild sat hunched in the Oval Office, surrounded by his usual circus of bootlickers, propagandists, and professional ass-kissers. Cameras clicked, flags flapped, and the stench of urine, Axe body spray, and fascism filled the room. With a greasy Sharpie and a look of divine idiocy, he scrawled his signature across a proclamation declaring that every second Monday in October would henceforth be Columbus Day—no Indigenous Peoples’ Day, no nuance, no ...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! 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 episode we delve into the myth of Juan Diego, and examin...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! On November 26, 1988, a person by the name of Ramón Tirado delivered the “Consigna del sexto sol: Segunda consigna de Anáhuac” –or the “Mandate of the Sixth Sun: Second Mandate of Anahuac”– at the Convención de Anáhuac – or the “Anahuac Convention” – which was held in Mexico City. In this Episode, we take a look at the speech, discuss it's message, and explore it's contemporary significance. Enjoy! Support the show Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa ...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! The Myth of New Mexican Spanish This week we are joined by the official New Mexico State historian Rob Martinez! Rob joins us as we dissect the many myths surrounding the way Spanish is spoken in New Mexico. In this episode, we ask the question: is New Mexican Spanish actually an archaic and “pure” form of ancient Spanish? Spoiler alert: Hell no, it isn’t!! Our guest: State Historian Rob Martinez is a native New Mexican born and raised in Alb...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Proponents of the nepohualtzintzin hail it as a marvel of ancient Mesoamerica. Elevated as a symbol of mathematical sophistication, the device has captured the imagination of scholars and enthusiasts since the 1970s. However, a close examination of the available evidence raises questions about the nature and origin of the nepohualtzintzin. In this episode we dive into the bizarre history of the alleged "Aztec computer." Support the show Yo...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! What happens when you invite Kurly Tlapoyawa to give the keynote address at a Latinx conference? Let's find out! Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, 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 the University of New Mexico, Harvard University, Yale University, San Diego S...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Today marks the 55th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium March, a movement of Chicano anti-war activists that built a broad-based coalition of Mexican-American groups to organize opposition to the Vietnam War. Led by activists from local colleges and members of the Brown Berets, a group with roots in the high school student movement that staged walkouts in 1968, the coalition peaked with an August 29, 1970 march in East Los Angeles that drew 30,...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this special extended throwback episode, we are joined by Chicano author Scott Russell Duncan to talk about his new book "Old California Strikes Back" and the state of Chicano publishing! "Old California Strikes Back is a modern Ramona Diary, the record tourists kept of the sites of Old California and the book Ramona and Hollywood movies that renamed and transformed them. A mix of fantasy and memoir, the author SRD's tour turns surreal as he en...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Is wokeness destroying the discipline of archaeology? Is chattel slavery a bad thing? And just how much does "Big Archaeology" pay, anyway? We break it all down as we are joined by Dr. Ken Feder to discuss his new book "Native America: The Story of the First Peoples." Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His research covers Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the historical connections be...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! 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? And who created it? Support the show Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is a...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Today, we’re tackling a really fascinating and, frankly, provocative topic. We’re going to be talking about an article by Stephen Pearson titled “Indigenizing Settlers: The White Appalachian Self and the Colonialism Model of Appalachian Exploitation.” And it's a deep dive into how a specific group of people—White Appalachians—have, in some ways, come to see themselves as an Indigenous population. Your Hosts: Kurly Tlapoyawa is an archaeo...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! August is Chicano Heritage month! To kick off the holidays, 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 Support the show Your Hosts: Kurly...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Summary In this episode, we discuss various themes surrounding Chicano and Mesoamerican history, including the impact of ICE raids on communities, the importance of mental health, and the creation of a corrido in memory of Jaime Alaniz. We delve into the mysteries of the Tecaxic Calixtlahuaca head and the Los Lunas Decalogue stone, exploring the myths and realities of ancient artifacts and the need for critical thinking in archaeology. The episod...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! Aztec Dinosaurs w/ Dr. David Anderson! In July 1944, in the Mexican city of Acambaro, Guanajuato, a German businessman named Waldemar Julsrud came across a series of bizarre ceramic figurines said to resemble dinosaurs. These figurines have been promoted by young-Earth creationists as evidence for the coexistence of dinosaurs and humans! But what are these figurines, really? Today we are joined by Dr. David Anderson to talk about the infamous Ac...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this episode, Tlakatekatl critically examines the current political climate in the United States, particularly the increased targeting and detention of immigrants from Central and South America by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Tlakatekatl argues that ICE’s claims of targeting only criminals are false and that the agency is engaging in what amounts to kidnapping. Tlakatekatl also connects the rise of authoritarianism and anti-...

listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text! In this throwback from Season 2 – Episode 35, we discuss the origin and antiquity of the words “Chicana” and “Chicano.” We start by explaining the origin of the episode which began many years earlier as a blog response to a commentary piece by acclaimed author and scholar, Ilan Stavans. We then explore the history of the term, its evolution as an identity for Mexican Americans, and its deep Indigenous Mesoamerican roots. Que viva la Chicana! Su...