HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter to Tribes 05_11_11 DRAFTOffice of the Mayor
City of College Station
College Station, Texas 77482
979.764.3519
Chairman or Chairwomen _______________
Address Line 1
Address Line 2
City, State Zip
Date_______
Honorable Chairman or Chairwoman ___________:
We are writing to follow-up on the invitation from the U.S. Army Cultural Resources Program at Fort Hood, Texas, for representatives of the ____(formal name of the tribe)____________
to attend and participate in the third annual Hot-Rock Cook Off that will be held at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station, November 18-20, 2011. As the host and a co-organizer
of the event, the City of College Station hereby formally extends its own invitation to your representatives to attend this event. The event helps citizens of College Station and residents
of the seven-county Brazos Valley area to recognize, preserve, and further the cultures and heritage of Native Americans.
The City of College Station has long recognized the importance of Native American contributions to the Brazos Valley. We know the history of Indian people in this area dates back more
than 13,000 years ago. In preparation for building the Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, archaeological studies were undertaken at the site. Dr. Alston Thoms, who led the team of
Texas A&M University archaeologists, wrote that “cook-stone raw materials needed to build earth ovens and hearth grills—primarily sandstone—are available, as are quartzite cobbles,
especially useful in stone boiling.” His team’s work demonstrates that early people camped, hunted, gathered, and cooked on the very site where we are hosting the Hot-Rocks Cook Off.
Along with students from Texas A&M, Baylor, and Texas State universities, Dr. Thoms will conduct demonstrations and scientific experiments in earth-oven building. They will also conduct
a stone-boiling contest. Other participants will demonstrate life skills of fire building, cooking, bowl making, and meat drying. Visitors will have opportunities to try their hand
at using the atlatl, making rope from strands of yucca leaves, and other skills.
We hope this event will continue to grow in the years to come. Your participation is vital to helping us tell the story of Indian people as we have much to learn about each other's history
and heritage. We would be honored with your presence and hope your schedule permits you to join us this year.
Sincerely,
Nancy F. Berry, Mayor David Schmitz, Director
City of College Station Parks and Recreation Department
nberry@cstx.gov dschmitx@cstx.gov