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Day 8

Environment, Human Rights, Migrant Death

For our second day in Falfurrias, we surveyed cemeteries with Dr. Spradley and Dr. Gocha from Texas State University and Eddie Canalas from the South Texas Human Rights Center. The cemetery survey project was created to locate all the cemeteries in south Texas that have graves with unidentified migrant remains. Cemeteries in several counties have already been surveyed and mapped and more will be added to this list. The goal is to eventually excavate the remains in these cemeteries, so that they can be analyzed, identified, and then returned to their loved ones.

Today we assisted in surveying a total of 3 different cemeteries. Dr. Spradley used GPS to create maps of each cemetery and plot each unknown grave. This was also our first full day actually working outside. It was a beautiful sunny day, but it was also really hot and humid. We were sweating after the first few minutes of being outside, but we survived a whole day of this so we should be okay for helping with the water stations tomorrow.

As we were surveying, I noticed how beautiful the Texas wildlife was. There were lots of colorful birds and flowers. In some areas, it felt like we were in a jungle and not in Texas at all. Palm trees weaved with tall branching trees and created canopies for us to drive under. We looked out the windows of our truck in wonder. I captured some of this beauty on a short video for you all to enjoy!

Driving in Texas

Thanks for reading and watching! Tomorrow should be another busy, but exciting day.

–Amanda

Day 7

Community, Snapshots

The first part of our journey today began with a four-hour drive to Falfurrias (with the bad weather it actually took closer to five).  While I’ve heard about how hot and dry this part of the state can be, it was instead overcast and rainy most of our drive south.  Once we arrived to our hotel, we stopped for lunch at an unlikely place for tacos, a gas station.  While I was nervous at first, the tacos were actually delicious and the tortillas there were hand made, exceeding my gas station expectations.

After lunch we made our way to Sister Pam’s apartment.  It was wonderful to get to see her again and catch-up on what she’s been up to.  After working at the South Texas Human Rights Center for a year and a half, she’s now been focusing on helping at the Humanitarian Respite Center at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Another way in which she’s been helping with this humanitarian endeavor is by creating bags made out of T-shirts.  Before we left Indianapolis, our program had donated over 20 shirts for this project.  Today we were able to help Sister Pam make the bags while chatting about what was new with each of us.  These bags are created by tying the ends of the shirts together and cutting off the sleeves and neckline to create the handles of the bag.  The purpose of these bags is for families to be able to store clothes, personal items, food, and water as they continue on their path after their time at the respite center.  While they’re usually given plastic bags, these bags made from T-shirts are much sturdier and hold more items.  I was happy to be able to help make the journey for these individuals a little easier by making a few bags.  Hopefully, we’ll be able to create more bags and donate them in the future.

Once we finished making the T-shirt bags, we watched a documentary that was made 2 years ago called, The Real Death Valley.  It’s a really great documentary highlighting some of the issues surrounding this humanitarian crisis and shows some of the excavations that the team from UIndy has participated in.  After discussing the film for a bit, we said our good byes and headed to Stickland’s for dinner.  We had some delicious Southern and Mexican food, as well as some tasty pie.  While most our day consisted of traveling, it was really rewarding being able to create bags that will be helpful to migrants on their journey, as well as re-connect with Sister Pam.  Hopefully, the rain ceases by tomorrow and doesn’t inhibit our next adventure to map the cemeteries tomorrow.

–Helen

Six people smiling and holding up six fingers.

Day 6

Community, Human Rights, Migrant Death

We all got the opportunity to volunteer at Missing in Harris County Day today.  We had different roles and experiences at the event. Justin, Ryan, Amanda, Helen and Dr. O’Daniel were all in the South Texas intake room being coordinated by the STHRC (South Texas Human Rights Center) and the EAAF (Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team). I was in the atrium for most of the event.  You can read about their experiences in the intake room in previous posts. I will tell you a little about the event outside the intake room here.

It was set up not only as a way for families to report a missing loved one but also as an educational event. They had booths with informational resources for families who had missing loved ones and a series a lectures and panel discussions. Additionally, they had an area for young children to play while their families were filling out paperwork.

Three individuals sitting in front of a yellow South Texas Human Rights Center banner
With Hailey and Eddie at the STHRC booth

I spent most of the event at the STHRC booth talking with attendees about the center along with Hailey Dueker and Eddie Canales.

Families and friends of the missing could put the name of their missing loved one on yellow ribbons. They were able to wear a yellow ribbon and display a yellow ribbon on this tree.

Families and friends of the missing could display pictures and flyers of their missing loved one.

I was invited to participate in a panel discussion called “The Missing and Exploited Discussion Panel”. It included both families of the missing and professionals working to find and identify the missing.

A smiling woman with a laptop
Dr. O’Daniel

I was also able to go back to the intake room a few times to check on progress in there and see what the other UIndy team members were doing. It was amazing to see the flurry of activity in that room. In addition to the STHRC and UIndy, there were volunteers from many organizations represented.

KEL