| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The November 2023 International Indigenous and |
|
|
Native American Indian Gathering in Del Rio, hosted by the Warren |
|
|
Perryman Foundation for Native American Research, provides a |
|
|
fitting opportunity to recognize a valued member of the |
|
|
organization, Rafaela Fay Lozano Brown; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A historian, matriarch, and head elder of the United |
|
|
Warrior Band of the Seminole Nation, Rafaela Brown is a descendant |
|
|
of the John Horse Band of the Black Seminole tribe, which originated |
|
|
in Florida during Spanish rule; African Americans fleeing slavery |
|
|
found a haven there and assimilated with the Seminole people; in the |
|
|
mid-19th century, John Horse conducted groups of Seminoles along |
|
|
the Trail of Tears to Indian Territory and gained fame as both |
|
|
warrior and diplomat; he went on to lead a Seminole group to Mexico |
|
|
in search of freedom, and his success in fending off bandits and |
|
|
raiders earned him the rank of captain in the Mexican Army; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The U.S. Army began recruiting Black Seminoles from |
|
|
Mexico to protect the Texas frontier, and in 1870, it established |
|
|
the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts; based at Fort Duncan and Fort |
|
|
Clark, the scouts engaged in 26 campaigns, and several received the |
|
|
Medal of Honor for their actions; many went on to serve in Buffalo |
|
|
Soldier regiments; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Dedicated to her family's Black Seminole scout |
|
|
heritage, Ms. Brown has followed in the footsteps of her mother, the |
|
|
late Alice Fay Lozano, who contributed to books on tribal history; |
|
|
Ms. Brown is an educator by profession and uses her skills to raise |
|
|
awareness of the role played by Black Seminoles from the pioneer |
|
|
days onward; during the lifetimes of Chief William "Dub" Warrior |
|
|
and his wife, Ethel, she traveled with them to St. Augustine, |
|
|
Florida, to share her knowledge; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Rafaela Brown has demonstrated an exceptional |
|
|
commitment to the remarkable legacy of the Black Seminole Nation, |
|
|
and she is indeed worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be |
|
|
it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby honor Rafaela Fay Lozano |
|
|
Brown for her contributions as a member of the Warren Perryman |
|
|
Foundation for Native American Research and extend to her sincere |
|
|
best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Ms. Brown as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Morales of Maverick |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 192 was adopted by the House on |
|
|
November 7, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |