Caddo Nation and Texas Historical Commission Advance Plans for Caddo Mounds
The Caddo Nation Tribal Council and the Texas Historical Commission are moving forward with plans to expand cultural education, support the return of Caddo ancestors and cultural items, and strengthen the preservation of Caddo Mounds State Historic Site near Alto, Texas.
In an October 23 announcement, the partners outlined progress on an education center, a repatriation center, and land management planning that incorporates Indigenous stewardship practices.
“Through consistent teamwork and open communication, we are pleased to share that our collaborative efforts have yielded significant progress, moving us closer to our shared goal of honoring and elevating the cultural significance of Caddo Mounds,” said Caddo Nation Chairman Bobby Gonzalez.
Plans for the education center include flexible indoor space and a covered outdoor area to accommodate larger events. The center would expand opportunities for traditional Caddo dances, youth activities, foodways programming, arts and crafts demonstrations, lectures, workshops, and artists in residence.
Another significant development is the inclusion of a repatriation center to support the Caddo Nation’s ongoing work under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, known as NAGPRA. The center would assist with the return of Caddo ancestors and cultural items recovered during previous archaeological excavations.
“Repatriating our ancestors is a sacred duty,” Gonzalez said. “We are working tirelessly to ensure that they are laid to rest with respect and dignity in keeping with our cultural ways.”
Representatives from the Caddo Nation and the Texas Historical Commission continue to meet regularly at Caddo Mounds and at the Nation’s headquarters in Binger, Oklahoma. Alongside an operations plan, leaders are developing a comprehensive landscape management plan that more fully incorporates Indigenous land stewardship practices and protects and restores native plants and vegetation.
“Our partnership brings us together as co-stewards of a sacred site through collaborative planning, management, and preservation there,” said Texas Historical Commission Executive Director Joseph Bell. “The THC fully appreciates the needed cultural perspectives we are gaining in our relationship with the Caddo Nation.”
Located within the Caddo Nation’s ancestral homelands, Caddo Mounds was established more than 1,200 years ago as a village and ceremonial center by ancestral Caddo people. Its three earthen mounds remain sacred to the Nation. The Texas Historical Commission currently manages a visitor center featuring exhibits about Caddo history and everyday life.
The ongoing partnership centers on safeguarding these cultural resources for future generations while expanding opportunities to share and sustain Caddo culture.
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