| 1 | 1 | | 2023S0089-1 02/06/23 |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Nichols S.R. No. 139 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | SENATE RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 7 | 7 | | welcome the proud members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas |
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| 8 | 8 | | who are gathering in Austin to celebrate Alabama-Coushatta Day at |
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| 9 | 9 | | the State Capitol on February 7, 2023; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, One of three federally recognized tribes in |
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| 11 | 11 | | Texas, the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe was originally two tribes, |
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| 12 | 12 | | the Alibamus and the Koasatis, who had a similar culture but |
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| 13 | 13 | | lived in adjacent lands in Alabama; starting in the 1760s, the |
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| 14 | 14 | | two tribes began to migrate westward into what is now East Texas; |
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| 15 | 15 | | and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, In 1813, the tribes fought on the side of the |
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| 17 | 17 | | revolutionaries in the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, |
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| 18 | 18 | | and the new Mexican government granted them tracts of land in |
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| 19 | 19 | | gratitude for their service; two decades later, Sam Houston |
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| 20 | 20 | | granted the tribes land between the Neches and Sabine Rivers in |
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| 21 | 21 | | exchange for not siding with Mexico during the Texas Revolution; |
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| 22 | 22 | | members of the tribes served as guides for the Texan army and |
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| 23 | 23 | | helped to feed refugees who had fled from Santa Anna's troops; |
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| 24 | 24 | | and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Today, there are 1,200 members of the |
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| 26 | 26 | | Alabama-Coushatta, half of whom live on the reservation's 10,200 |
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| 27 | 27 | | acres in the Big Thicket of East Texas; the tribe is a fully |
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| 28 | 28 | | functioning sovereign government and offers a full complement of |
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| 29 | 29 | | health and human services in addition to providing 250 jobs that |
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| 30 | 30 | | employ teachers, doctors, and peace officers; tribe members also |
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| 31 | 31 | | maintain a health clinic, a day-care center, a solid waste |
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| 32 | 32 | | facility, three churches, and a number of retail shops; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Home to one of the most scenic recreational areas |
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| 34 | 34 | | in the Lone Star State, the reservation is visited every year by |
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| 35 | 35 | | thousands of people who enjoy the fine opportunities for camping, |
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| 36 | 36 | | hiking, and picnicking; the reservation is also home to the |
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| 37 | 37 | | Naskila Gaming facility and an annual powwow and music festival; |
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| 38 | 38 | | and |
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| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they work to |
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| 40 | 40 | | build a better tomorrow, the people of the Alabama-Coushatta |
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| 41 | 41 | | Tribe may indeed take great pride in their unique contributions |
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| 42 | 42 | | to the history and culture of Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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| 44 | 44 | | Legislature, hereby recognize February 7, 2023, as |
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| 45 | 45 | | Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Day at the State Capitol and |
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| 46 | 46 | | extend a warm welcome to the visiting members of the tribe; and be |
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| 47 | 47 | | it further |
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| 48 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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| 49 | 49 | | honor of this special occasion. |
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