| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 602 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, More than 200 Native American groups, |
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| 3 | 3 | | collectively known as Coahuiltecans, populated what is now |
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| 4 | 4 | | central and southern Texas and northeastern Mexico before the |
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| 5 | 5 | | arrival of the first Europeans, and they have been good stewards, |
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| 6 | 6 | | honoring and protecting this cherished land; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, Indigenous people have a rich spiritual |
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| 8 | 8 | | tradition, with a deep and abiding belief in a Creator, and have |
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| 9 | 9 | | maintained a powerful spiritual connection to the land for |
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| 10 | 10 | | centuries; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, While struggling for survival since the arrival |
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| 12 | 12 | | of Europeans in North America, indigenous people have remained |
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| 13 | 13 | | resilient and have been determined to protect the lands of their |
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| 14 | 14 | | heritage and to preserve their unique cultural identities and |
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| 15 | 15 | | transmit them to future generations; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Indigenous people have created and maintained the |
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| 17 | 17 | | Indigenous Cultures Institute in San Marcos, Texas, to study and |
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| 18 | 18 | | catalog the changes to their culture brought about by their |
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| 19 | 19 | | removal from their historic lands and by the destruction of the |
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| 20 | 20 | | buffalo herds, which the Coahuiltecan people held sacred and |
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| 21 | 21 | | which had sustained their culture for centuries; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, The Indigenous Cultures Institute is committed to |
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| 23 | 23 | | researching and preserving the culture, arts, traditions, |
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| 24 | 24 | | ceremonies, and languages of this population and is also |
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| 25 | 25 | | partnering with local community organizations and support groups |
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| 26 | 26 | | that are dedicated to preserving the natural environment of sites |
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| 27 | 27 | | that indigenous people consider sacred; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Indigenous people remain steadfast in their |
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| 29 | 29 | | traditional commitment to protect this great land; additionally, |
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| 30 | 30 | | they continue to serve honorably and with distinction in the |
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| 31 | 31 | | military forces of the United States; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Indigenous people and their cultures laid the |
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| 33 | 33 | | foundation of our Texas history; many of the landmarks that we |
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| 34 | 34 | | hold dear are sacred sites, and place names throughout the state |
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| 35 | 35 | | reflect their indigenous origins; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, A group representing the indigenous people and |
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| 37 | 37 | | the Indigenous Cultures Institute is visiting the Capitol today, |
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| 38 | 38 | | and it is appropriate to take this opportunity to welcome them; |
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| 39 | 39 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 41 | 41 | | Legislature, hereby welcome the members of the delegation |
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| 42 | 42 | | representing the Coahuiltecan people and the Indigenous Cultures |
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| 43 | 43 | | Institute on their visit to the Capitol and extend to them |
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| 44 | 44 | | appreciation for their many contributions to the state and |
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| 45 | 45 | | nation; and, be it further |
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| 46 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 47 | 47 | | them as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 48 | 48 | | Menéndez |
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| 49 | 49 | | ________________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | President of the Senate |
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| 51 | 51 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 52 | 52 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 53 | 53 | | the Senate on April 21, 2015. |
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| 54 | 54 | | ________________________________ |
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| 55 | 55 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 56 | 56 | | ________________________________ |
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| 57 | 57 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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