Stay ConnectedWe explore Chicano, Mexicano, and Mesoamerican history, archaeology, and culture, and combat the spread of disinformation about these very topics. Your hosts Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl invite you to join them on a fascinating journey through Mesoamerica’s past, present, and future!
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Today, we’re talking about how we tell history, and specifically, how the media treats indigenous cultures. We are diving into the recent cultural history of the so-called Aztec Death Whistle. I’ve wanted to look into this topic for a while, but a recent horror movie about the whistle prompted a discussion on the Aztlantis discord, so I felt the time was right to dive into it. The main question at hand is how and why did the whistle enter popular culture?
That indeed is an interesting question. Of all the things attributed to the Aztecs that people would gravitate towards, a whistle associated with death is going to make the list. Right? I mean think of other things that the public associates with the Aztecs – it’s disproportionately related to violence and death. Even the explosion of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in the last 20 years, while a positive celebration of deceased loved ones, is still about death.
Okay, so how did we get here with the whistle? It’s useful to note that the Aztec Death Whistle has been known to archeologists since the 19th century. Scholars largely ignored it as a curiosity until 1999 when an archeological discovery in Tlatelolco changed the perception and led to a more serious investigation of the whistle. The site held the remains of an individual clasping a whistle in each hand, and this led to a momentary surge on the topic. We’ll get to that later, but first, back to the article.
As I was looking around, I found a 2021 article from the Daily Science Journal by Alex Mitchell entitled “The Aztec Death Whistle is History’s Reminder That the Aztecs were Terrifying.” The title of this piece says it all (what a goober, this guy).
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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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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In this special dispatch from Aztlantis, Dr. Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl talks "Dia De La Raza."
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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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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What is Aztlan? And what does this Indigenous concept mean to the Chicano Nation?
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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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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The year is 1966, in Santa Monica, California. Inside a large, dimly lit room, members of a controversial and increasingly violent group known as Synanon gather in a circle. At the center sits a single figure—another “Synanite”—alone on a folding chair, surrounded on all sides. Around the edges of the room, a few silent observers watch, waiting.
Then it begins.
One by one, the circle turns inward. Voices rise. Insults sharpen. What starts as confrontation quickly escalates into something far more intense—members unleashing a barrage of personal attacks, screaming accusations, cutting deep with words meant to break the person in the center. The assault doesn’t stop. It builds, relentlessly, until the individual finally collapses under the weight of it all, overcome with sobs.
They call it The Game.
Framed as “attack therapy,” The Game was a brutal exercise in psychological domination and public humiliation—part confession, part punishment, and entirely about control. Sessions could stretch on for hours… sometimes even days. Loyalty was tested. Weakness was exposed. And humiliation became a tool of obedience.
On this particular day, among those watching from the sidelines, was Cesar Chavez—the renowned labor organizer, founder of the United Farm Workers, and a personal friend of Synanon’s founder, Charles Dederich.
Some observers were disturbed by what they witnessed. Others were unsettled, even horrified.
But Chavez wasn’t.
He was inspired.
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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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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We are joined by Colleen Lucero to talk about the upcoming exhibit Hopi Kachina Dolls: Blessings for a Balanced World, which opens October 2 at the Brooklyn Museum, and her work with the Hopivewat Learning Center. Colleen is a Hopi community member from the village of Hotevilla. She is the Managing Director of the Hopivewat Learning Center, a community-designed organization that facilitates accessible opportunities for Hopi people to engage with their tribal and cultural heritage. She also consults with museums on Hopi cultural education, exhibitions, and programming. Lucero earned a BFA in Museum Studies from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe and is currently pursuing an MFA in Cultural Administration at IAIA.
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This December, I'll be joining Skeptoid Adventures as your guide for The Mysteries of the Maya, where we'll travel through the Yucatán exploring remarkable archaeological sites, uncovering the real history behind the Maya civilization, and separating fact from fiction along the way.
To reserve your spot, all you need is a fully refundable $500 deposit. Your deposit is refundable through August 1, so you can reserve your place with confidence. After Au
Lignum is a haven for culture, rest, and resistance. We believe in celebrating community and honoring the land that holds us. At our urban “milpa,” we practice indigenous science that respects the natural cycles of the region, and most of our workshops are hosted by indigenous and local experts. Every project we do is grounded in collective memory, creativity, and respect for the land and its people.
Order "NEVER WILL IT BE LOST" and get $5 off!
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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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Rebirth of an Aztec Codex
There are some stories from Mesoamerican history that, when you first hear them, sound almost too good to be true. Take for example, the Tonalamatl Aubin. Now, for those not familiar, the story goes like this: a sacred Indigenous calendar survives the destruction of the Spanish invasion, vanishes into European collections where it gets passed from collector to collector, and eventually ends up sitting in a French library thousands of miles from where it was made. Then, in 1982, a Mexican reporter walks into that library, presents fake credentials in order to examine the manuscript, and then promptly puts it in a briefcase and walks out with it, sparking an international incident.
That would already make the Tonalamatl Aubin one hell of a story. I mean, Why hasn’t a movie been made about this incident? Someone, anyone, give me a budget and let’s fucking go.
Well dear listeners, somehow the story of the Tonalamatl Aubin just got even more awesome.
listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text!
This December, I'll be joining Skeptoid Adventures as your guide for The Mysteries of the Maya, where we'll travel through the Yucatán exploring remarkable archaeological sites, uncovering the real history behind the Maya civilization, and separating fact from fiction along the way.
To reserve your spot, all you need is a fully refundable $500 deposit. Your deposit is refundable through August 1, so you can reserve your place with confidence. After Au
Lignum is a haven for culture, rest, and resistance. We believe in celebrating community and honoring the land that holds us. At our urban “milpa,” we practice indigenous science that respects the natural cycles of the region, and most of our workshops are hosted by indigenous and local experts. Every project we do is grounded in collective memory, creativity, and respect for the land and its people.
Order "NEVER WILL IT BE LOST" and get $5 off!
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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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When people hear phrases like “human sacrifice” or “cannibalism” their minds don’t immediately jump to the Crusades, Rome, medieval Europe, or the Bible. They jump straight to brown skin, feathered headdresses, and temples drenched in blood. Type in a quick Google search for the phrase and Mesoamericans (the Mexika/Aztec, in particular) become humanity’s favorite villains. “Savage.” “Bloodthirsty.” “Barbaric.” And rest assured, this narrative didn’t just happen by accident. It was deliberately engineered.
listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text!
Order "NEVER WILL IT BE LOST" and get $5 off!
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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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Given the current climate here in Occupied America, we thought it would be worth taking a look at the Chicano Moratorium march of August 29, 1970. The event serves as a good example of how we organized as a community to speak out against an unjust war and the price our people paid fighting in it. This episode was originally released as a Premium (paid only) episode, but we wanted to give everyone a chance to check out our discussion. Enjoy!
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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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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As the sun slowly rose over the Rio Grande on September 15, 1891, Catarino Erasmo Garza stood on the Texas side of the border holding in his hands two objects that would come to define his life: a Winchester rifle and a revolutionary proclamation. For years Garza had fought the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz through his many newspapers and publications. Now he announced that he was laying down the pen and taking up arms. In the opening lines of his manifesto, he declared:
"The last of the independent journalists today abandons the pen to seize the sword in defense of the people's rights."
His proclamation denounced the destruction of the free press, political murder, fraudulent elections, and the concentration of land and power, while calling for constitutional government, free trade, and land reform in Mexico. Nearly twenty years before Francisco Madero launched the movement that became the Mexican Revolution, Garza had already identified the grievances that would eventually bring down the Díaz regime.
Today, Garza remains largely absent from popular memory. His name never appears alongside revolutionary icons like Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, or Francisco Madero, despite the fact that he articulated many of the democratic demands later associated with the Mexican Revolution. This is a shame, because Garza was more than a revolutionary soldier. He was an influential journalist, an international activist, and the likely publisher of El Chicano, a Spanish-language newspaper in San Antonio that may represent the earliest known printed use of the word Chicano as a positive political identity.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catarino_Garza
https://filmotropo.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/catarino-erasmo-garza-and-el-chicano/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garza_Revolution
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/garza-war
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/17/mexico-catarino-erasmo-garza-disappeared
https://www.tshaonline.org/texas-day-by-day/entry/391
listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text!
This December, I'll be joining Skeptoid Adventures as your guide for The Mysteries of the Maya, where we'll travel through the Yucatán exploring remarkable archaeological sites, uncovering the real history behind the Maya civilization, and separating fact from fiction along the way.
To reserve your spot, all you need is a fully refundable $500 deposit. Your deposit is refundable through August 1, so you can reserve your place with confidence. After Au
Lignum is a haven for culture, rest, and resistance. We believe in celebrating community and honoring the land that holds us. At our urban “milpa,” we practice indigenous science that respects the natural cycles of the region, and most of our workshops are hosted by indigenous and local experts. Every project we do is grounded in collective memory, creativity, and respect for the land and its people.
Order "NEVER WILL IT BE LOST" and get $5 off!
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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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We Watched a White Woman "Channel" Quetzalcoatl... So You Don't Have To
Can someone really channel Quetzalcoatl? Or is it just another example of New Age spirituality borrowing from Indigenous traditions without understanding them?
In this special bonus episode of Tales From Aztlantis, Kurly Tlapoyawa and Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl sit down together in the same room for a live reaction to one of the strangest DVDs they've ever encountered: Quetzalcoatl Speaks, a 2010 presentation featuring self-described psychic and trance channeler Cindy Riggs, who claims to allow Quetzalcoatl to speak through her body.
The episode begins after Ruben's visit to New Mexico, where the hosts spend the day exploring Petroglyph National Monument before Kurly talks about stumbling across the DVD at a free table outside a bookstore. Intrigued by the bizarre premise, they decide to watch it together with open minds, hoping for an interesting discussion of Mesoamerican philosophy, spirituality, or history. Instead, they find themselves witnessing nearly two hours of rambling New Age metaphysics, internet metaphors, energy fields, and vague spiritual jargon that bears little resemblance to anything found in Nahua sources.
As the film unfolds, Cindy Riggs recounts her spiritual journey, claiming that an Aztec spirit guide named "Can" prepared her over decades to become a vessel for Quetzalcoatl. She describes psychic development, Reiki, hypnosis, past-life regression, remote viewing, energy healing, and eventually trance channeling before finally introducing the night's guest: Quetzalcoatl himself. The hosts examine each of these claims while comparing them to what is actually known about Nahua traditions and Indigenous spirituality.
Once the "channeling" begins, however, the promised appearance of Quetzalcoatl quickly turns into a stream of generic New Age advice involving chakras, energy frequencies, internet service providers, multidimensional consciousness, extraterrestrials, and raising one's vibrational frequency. Rather than offering insights rooted in Nahua philosophy, language, or ceremony, the supposed Quetzalcoatl delivers what Kurly and Ruben describe as little more than motivational self-help mixed with technological metaphors.
Throughout the commentary, the hosts balance humor with serious criticism. They discuss how Indigenous figures like Quetzalcoatl are frequently appropriated by modern spiritual movements, often stripped of their historical and cultural context in favor of universalized New Age beliefs. They also explore why so many sincere people are drawn to these movements, and how convincing performances can sometimes overshadow genuine scholarship and authentic Indigenous traditions.
The conversation eventually broadens into a discussion of Western occultism, Helena Blavatsky, Aleister Crowley, Jack Parsons, L. Ron Hubbard, psychedelic experimentation, Theosophy, and how some of these ideas eventually found their way into modern interpretations of Mexicayotl. While acknowledging that these topics deserve deeper research, Kurly and Ruben identify fascinating historical connections worth exploring in future episodes.
Equal parts comedy, media criticism, and cultural commentary, this episode asks an important question: What happens when Indigenous traditions become detached from the people who created them?
Topics Discussed
Memorable Moments
Favorite Quotes
"We tried to keep an open mind."
"I would have been more impressed if he had just started speaking Classical Nahuatl."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"People will pay for anything."
"The truth is like medicine. It doesn't always taste good, but it is always good for you."
Connect With Tales From Aztlantis
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Tales From Aztlantis, leave a review, and share it with someone interested in Mesoamerican history, archaeology, Indigenous philosophy, and exposing pseudohistorical claims.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
listener comments? Feedback? Shoot us a text!
This December, I'll be joining Skeptoid Adventures as your guide for The Mysteries of the Maya, where we'll travel through the Yucatán exploring remarkable archaeological sites, uncovering the real history behind the Maya civilization, and separating fact from fiction along the way.
To reserve your spot, all you need is a fully refundable $500 deposit. Your deposit is refundable through August 1, so you can reserve your place with confidence. After Au
Lignum is a haven for culture, rest, and resistance. We believe in celebrating community and honoring the land that holds us. At our urban “milpa,” we practice indigenous science that respects the natural cycles of the region, and most of our workshops are hosted by indigenous and local experts. Every project we do is grounded in collective memory, creativity, and respect for the land and its people.
Order "NEVER WILL IT BE LOST" and get $5 off!
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 State University, and numerous others. He most recently released his documentary short film "Guardians of the Purple Kingdom," and is a cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa
Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl is a scholar, activist, and professor of history. His research explores Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist nationalism, and Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of research include Aztlan (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and Native North America. He has presented and published widely on these topics and has taught courses at various institutions. He currently teaches history at Dallas College – Mountain View Campus.
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