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Embracing the Unknown

Reflections

Before embarking on this trip to South Texas I’ve been asked countless times why I’m going and what I’ll be doing. While I have prepared answers for these inquiries, I’m also acutely aware that they do not truly reflect the variety and depth of work and emotions I will be facing. It’s simple to tell people I will be assisting the UIndy forensics team at Sacred Heart Cemetery in the exhumation of unidentified migrants, it will be quite another thing when I’m there experiencing the heat, smells, sore muscles, and high emotions. I can tell people I will be helping at the South Texas Humans Right Center, but once I’m there in the thick of the crisis and tensions I will have a new perspective of and connection to the situation at our border. If I’m talking to families who have missing loved ones or those who may soon be reunited, I cannot imagine the flood of emotions I will experience. I believe this is not a trip I can truly prepare for, because the actuality will be far different than any expectations I can form. For me, this is both incredibly exciting and terrifying. I look forward to the flexible, anything-can-happen nature of this work but also worry about my in-the-moment reactions. For these reasons I have focused on the practicalities of making sure I have what I need and not worrying about all the things I cannot control.

I am traveling with the team as an undergraduate cultural anthropology student. Although I have traveled abroad and been immersed in other cultures before, it has never been in the context of field work and active participant observation. Nor have I ever been involved with crisis response. This is a unique opportunity that I am so thankful to have been offered. It will be interesting to see how everything plays out and what people and situations we encounter. Taking jottings through the day and typing up field notes in the evening will also be a new experience that I will have to learn to balance with our demanding schedule. However, I look forward to the reflection and insight I can gain through an observant, focused directive.

Amidst all the emotion and trials I will face I am thankful to be apart of such an amazing, dedicated, and experienced team. It’s exciting to be apart of an important effort and have the chance to offer whatever assistance and insight I may be able to. I can only go in with an open heart and mind to embrace whatever happens, offer help when I can, and observe and record my experiences in the hope that my effort can make some small difference.

Rachel

A large blue barrel and milk carts of gallon water jugs in the bed of a truck.

On the Road Again

Reflections

I have had the honor and pleasure of being a member of this project since the beginning.  It has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life; both physically and emotionally exhausting, yet somehow indescribably rewarding.   As one of the original actors in this performance, I thought I’d take a moment to bring everyone up-to-date.

Previously, in South Texas…

The project started with an invitation.  Dr. Baker and the fine people of Baylor asked if we would like to help excavate Sacred Heart Burial Park in Falfurrias, Texas.  Unidentified border crossers had been interred in the cemetery.  Without proper skeletal analyses and DNA samples, there was no hope for these individuals to be repatriated to their families.  The ultimate goal is identification so that loved ones can begin the processes of healing and closure.

A man supporting a woman leaning into a trench
Teamwork

The first season of excavations felt like a fever dream.  It was blisteringly hot, and proceeded at a dizzying pace.  Our team operated autonomously, as a small team embedded in the framework of the larger project.  This project was a summer course for the Baylor team.   They were there to learn how to do field work, how to properly grid and document, and how to do forensic excavations.  Eventually we were asked if we could help teach their students some of the tips and tricks we use while excavating, which we happily agreed to.  Dr. Latham’s philosophy is that life is full of “teachable moments”.  We travel to Texas to help in any way we can, and teaching has become one of our strongest contributions.

A group photo
Season 2 Excavation Team

The second season of excavations started with us in a teaching role.  The first few days were spent demonstrating proper excavation techniques to the new and eager Baylor students.  It also gave us a chance to work with all of the students more closely.  Instead of being a separate team from UIndy, we were now one big team trying to collectively meet our goal – repatriation.  My words cannot do justice to the amazing people of Baylor.  It was an honor to work with them.

The third and fourth field seasons focused on skeletal analyses at Texas State.  Excavating the remains is only step 1, the next steps are to analyze the remains, identify the individual, then return them to their loved ones.  This portion of our work does not make for the most exciting readings, but it the most critically important part of the process.  These field seasons also found us contributing in different ways, such as creating and filling water stations, volunteering at the Sacred Heart Respite Center in McAllen, and collecting family data from loved ones at Missing in Harris County Day.

This year we will be excavating with a team from Texas State.  I do not know exactly what this adventure will hold but I am excited to do my part.  Cheers to another year of awesome people and amazing work!

Justin

Looking Ahead

Reflections

With the school semester at an end and winter break upon us, I realize that there is still much I need to do in order to prepare for my first season working with the South Texas Human Rights Center and the UIndy forensics team.  Between purchasing supplies, packing my bags, and brushing up on my Spanish language skills, I have found myself entirely occupied by what lies ahead in Falfurrias. I am an anthropology student and will be working as a participant observer in order to study the work being done concerning migrant death and identification in Falfurrias, TX.  Further, my work will include assisting the forensic team with the identification process in any way I am capable and qualified to.

This trip will consist of a lot of firsts for me. It will be my first time visiting Texas and the American South in general as well as my first time travelling via airplane.  Most importantly, this will be my first real experience completing ethnographic work where I will be immersed within the inner workings of such a complex humanitarian crisis.  Unsurprisingly, the newness of such an experience is both scary and incredibly exciting.

It is always impossible to know exactly what one will be doing on any given day, but this will be especially true during the eight days I will be working in Texas.  This makes it difficult to truly mentally prepare for the tasks ahead, but this also makes me even more excited to get started.  With so many people and organizations working to assist migrants and their families in this time of crisis, I cannot even begin to fully understand what all work goes into these efforts.

I was instantly intrigued when I first heard about the University of Indianapolis’ involvement in migrant identification.  My hope for this trips is to absorb as much information about the work being completed in the area as possible.  I am excited to discover the culture and meet the people of Falfurrias, and I am so incredibly thankful to have been given the opportunity to be able to witness it for my own.

Sarah