Academic Texas history falls short from the Native American perspective. With only oral traditions, for historic Native people caught up in a rapidly crumbling world, priorities shifted to self-preservation rather than the keeping of stories, belief systems, tribal affiliations, and language. The Native language records of the Texas missions and other sources in the 1800s are sparse, but had it not been for them, even the few surviving words of the Karankawa, Chitimacha, Atakapa, Coahuilteco, Cotoname, Comecrudo and other groups in this volume would have been lost forever.
The first part of this fascinating book is a short but compelling memoir which chronicles Alexander Joseph Perez's journey as he discovers and uncovers his ancestors' languages, unspoken since the 1880s, then undertakes the monumental task of resurrecting and collecting them into this volume.
The second part of the book is the important southern Texas Native language compilation which he calls Ah'leen Kadla. "Ah'leen" is a Karankawa word meaning "tongue" and "kadla" translates to calico, multi colored, or in this context, "mixed."
Alexander took on this important work to aid fellow Native Americans in revitalizing their languages, and increasing connectivity to the land, their ancestors, and one another. By speaking these forgotten languages, life is breathed back into the words, providing a rare opportunity for collective healing. But he hopes all readers will come away with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Native American cultural revitalization efforts, and the diverse languages, cultures, and history of Native Americans.
