TITLE: Honoring the Miakan/Garza Band of the Coahuiltecan Indians of Texas for its cultural and educational contributions.

SUMMARY: Honoring the Miakan/Garza Band of the Coahuiltecan Indians of Texas for its cultural and educational contributions.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Members of the Miakan/Garza Band of the Coahuiltecan Indians of Texas have provided cultural and educational programs and presentations to the children of our state for almost 20 years; and WHEREAS, Direct descendants of Zaragosa Garza, a cacique of the Mier Band of the Garza Tribe, the members of the Miakan/Garza Band incorporated the Indigenous Cultures Institute in 2006 to promote and preserve the cultures of Native Americans indigenous to Texas and Northern Mexico and to maintain their covenant with sacred sites; and WHEREAS, Through the institute, members offer elementary and high school students numerous free cultural programs, including a summer camp, in an effort to increase young people's awareness of their rich indigenous history and culture and at the same time to encourage in them a sense of pride; the institute also educates and enlightens members of the Hispanic community about their indigenous heritage through the online publication Nakum,a peer-reviewed academic journal; and WHEREAS, Each year, the Miakan/Garza Band produces the Sacred Springs Powwow at Spring Lake by Aquarena Springs in San Marcos as a celebration of indigenous heritage and culture; moreover, the band has greatly benefited the international indigenous communities by translating the required songs and other ancient intertribal songs of the Native American Church, which has over 500,000 active members in the United States and Canada; the band has further recorded the first and only compact disc of traditional ceremonial songs in the Coahuiltecan language; and WHEREAS, The Miakan/Garza Band of the Coahuiltecan Indians has contributed immeasurably to the indigenous people of Central and South Texas through its dedicated efforts to sustain and preserve its spiritual and cultural traditions; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby honor the Miakan/Garza Band of the Coahuiltecan Indians of Texas for its outstanding accomplishments and extend to its members sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Miakan/Garza Band as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Naishtat Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1618 was adopted by the House on May 1, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House