In 2017, Alejandro Oyoque was introduced to Henry Gonzalez, who related to him his struggles to be recognized as a Karankawa descendant. That meeting took them on a long journey of discovery and research.
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About Alejandro Oyoque
Alejandro Oyoque is the City of Alamo Museum Director, STHA, HCHC. He graduated from CEDIM Centro de Estudios Superiores de Diseño de Monterrey.
- 1992-1999: McAllen International Museum
- 1999-2000: Avance/Christian Children’s Fund
- 2000-2008: International Museum of Art and Science
- 2013-2015: ChildFund International
- 2015-Present: City of Alamo Museum
Member:
- South Texas Historical Association Secretary
- Hidalgo County Historical Commission Member
- IMAS Lifetime member
About Enrique Gonzales
Enrique Gonzales is a distinguished army veteran born and raised in South Texas. His journey towards discovering his heritage begins from an early age when he and his father attended a mitote, a Native American gathering where tribes of different cultures danced till sunrise. The alcohol was brought by donkey and the high energy dances were aided by the beats of handmade instruments.
The area where the celebrations took place is in what is now El Gato, Texas, a fertile place near a lake.
As Gonzales grew into his adolescence, so did his stature, towering over his classmates at 6 foot 3 inches. This trait is one that he has passed on to his children, who are all taller than the average height in Texas. His unique features lead him to be identified as Karankawa, a nomadic tribe of costal Native Americas distinguishable by their height and build. This further affirmed by the stories of his grandparents who spoke of the hardship Native Americans endured at the hands of the Spanish and Anglo settlers. A DNA test conducted by the military confirmed that his linage was 66% Native American, with Spanish and Italian descent.
One evening while cleaning out his father’s shed, he stumbled upon two large wooden bows. These bows were returned to his father by Carrol G. Brown from Alamo. Distinguishable by their length, these bows were said to be as tall as their owners, used for fishing and hunting small game. Mr. Gonzales allowed the bows to be acquisitioned at a museum in Goliad, Texas, and later to be scientifically studied by senior archaeologist Al McGraw working for TXDOT. The conclusion of this study noted that the bows were made of palmwood, a costal source likely used by the Karankawa Indians.
Today, Henry Gonzales is on an extraordinary mission to share his story in hopes that others of Karankawa descent may come forward and learn about their lineage. Once thought to be lost in history, the stories of the Karankawa and other Native Americans are once again brought to life by the stories of their descendants and the objects they left behind.
