TITLE: Honoring Chief Russell Martin of the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma.

SUMMARY: Honoring Chief Russell Martin of the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Chief Russell Martin of the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma was welcomed to the State Capitol on February 6, 2025; and WHEREAS, Based on the Chikaskia River in northern Oklahoma since the 1880s, the Tonkawa Tribe maintains a strong connection to its ancestral roots in Central Texas; in its early history, the tribe was composed of a number of warrior, nomadic subtribes that shared a distinct language and hunted buffalo and deer across a region extending west from south Central Texas and western Oklahoma to eastern New Mexico; called "Tonkaweya," meaning "they all stay together," by the Waco tribe, they are known in their own tongue as "Tickanwa-tic," or "real people"; and WHEREAS, The Tonkawa came into conflict with other tribes but offered friendship to Anglo settlers in Texas; when Stephen F. Austin arrived in 1822, he encountered the Tonkawa along the west bank of the Brazos River, and they began trade relations that flourished under Chief Pl cido; the Tonkawa aided the colonists as scouts and helped defend the frontier against hostile tribes in the Cherokee War and other conflicts; during the 1840s, the Tonkawa camped in the middle of present-day Austin along Shoal Creek, and they traded with pioneers in Travis County and provided critical support at a perilous juncture; during the Archives War, as Anglo families fled for safety, the Tonkawa protected the city's western edge from Comanche raids; and WHEREAS, Between 1867 and 1874, Tonkawa scouts and trackers worked for the U.S. Army and Texas Rangers at Fort Griffin, fending off the Comanche and Kiowa; despite all their assistance, however, the Tonkawa were not granted any land in Texas; instead, they were exiled and sent on a long journey on the Tonkawa Trail of Tears to Indian Territory in 1884; and WHEREAS, Only a few Tonkawa members reside in Texas today, but Chief Martin, who serves as president of the tribe, has worked tirelessly to strengthen ties to its ancient homeland; in 2023, the Tonkawa purchased and reclaimed a sacred site, Red Mountain, in Milam County, northeast of Austin; Chief Martin and his fellow tribal leaders accepted official acknowledgment of the Tonkawa's foundational contributions by both Travis County and the City of Austin at Tonkawa Friendship Day on September 12, 2024; and WHEREAS, Chief Russell Martin has enriched our knowledge of Texas history by raising awareness of the vital role played by the Tonkawa, and it is truly a pleasure to commemorate his visit to the land of his forebears and pay respect to his people; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby honor Chief Russell Martin and extend sincere best wishes for many more occasions to celebrate the proud heritage of the Tonkawa Tribe; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Chief Martin as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Hinojosa Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 684 was adopted by the House on April 17, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 122, Nays 18, 2 present, not voting. Chief Clerk of the House