Texas Indigenous Tribes Unite to Preserve Historic Coastal Settlement

In Ingleside, Texas, people are rallying to save a rediscovered ancient settlement site, Donnel Point. This location is nestled between industrial developments on Corpus Christi Bay and holds significant cultural importance for Native American groups in South Texas.

Over the years, many settlement sites around nearby bays disappeared as cities and refineries grew. A recent letter from nonprofit lawyers representing the Karankawa and Carrizo/Comecrudo tribes urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to retract a permit for an oil terminal at Donnel Point, one of the few untouched shorelines left on the Texas coast.

Love Sanchez, a descendant of the Karankawa and a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights, emphasized that this site is more than just land—it embodies memories and history. Donnel Point spans several hundred acres, dotted with wildlife trails and half a mile of shoreline. Documented by archeologists in the 1930s, it was presumed destroyed until a local geologist, Patrick Nye, discovered it in 2025.

Sanchez formed her group, Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend, to elevate awareness about the overlooked Indigenous heritage in the region. “Even if stories are lost,” she said, “the land remembers.” This speaks to a broader issue; the historical narrative often downplays the rich cultures that thrived here before colonization.

According to Peter Moore, a history professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, these lands were once densely populated. “This place was like a magnet for humans,” he notes. Current archaeological records show that many settlement sites disappeared due to industrial growth. Estimates suggest countless others remain unrecorded beneath urban development.

Recent findings indicate a deeper history; many Indigenous people intermingled with the settlers and still thrive today, countering the myth of extinction. “If the Karankawas vanished, they couldn’t reclaim their land,” says Tim Seiter, an expert in their history, underscoring the euphemistic narrative used to justify current land policies.

The quest to preserve Donnel Point aligns with a growing trend among Indigenous communities across North America, which include calls to protect sacred lands against industrial encroachment. Juan Mancias, chair of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe, highlights this struggle. He points out that local policies often disregard the heritage of unrecognized tribes and facilitate developments at the expense of their history.

The current legal battle to save Donnel Point pits local advocates against a petrochemical giant backed by substantial political contributions. Despite the odds, Sanchez remains steadfast. “No one here has lost hope,” she says, envisioning a future where Donnel Point serves as a place of remembrance and connection for future generations.

This story underscores a significant challenge faced by Indigenous populations today: preserving their heritage while navigating modern industrial pressures. Communities across the U.S. are finding strength in unity to advocate for their histories and lands, illustrating a persistent resilience that defies historical narratives of extermination.

For more information on Indigenous history and cultural preservation, you can refer to resources from the North American Indigenous Initiatives.

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