Indigenous people from across the Costal Bend gathered Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge, a site recognized for its Native burial grounds, to bless and honor the sacred land for their ancestors.
Members from various tribal nations attended and listened to instructions and the historical context before taking part in the ceremonial walk along Ennis Joslin Road. Throughout the walk many gave offerings of tobacco and sage. The burial walk concluded at a medicine circle inside the refuge, where participants gathered to honor ancestors, deceased loved ones, and spiritual beings.
Community members said the gathering served as a way to preserve their cultural traditions and recognize the spiritual importance of the burial site.
