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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The November 2023 International Indigenous and |
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Native American Indian Gathering in Del Rio, hosted by the Warren |
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Perryman Foundation for Native American Research, provides a |
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fitting opportunity to recognize a valued member of the |
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organization, Rafaela Fay Lozano Brown; and |
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WHEREAS, A historian, matriarch, and head elder of the United |
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Warrior Band of the Seminole Nation, Rafaela Brown is a descendant |
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of the John Horse Band of the Black Seminole tribe, which originated |
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in Florida during Spanish rule; African Americans fleeing slavery |
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found a haven there and assimilated with the Seminole people; in the |
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mid-19th century, John Horse conducted groups of Seminoles along |
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the Trail of Tears to Indian Territory and gained fame as both |
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warrior and diplomat; he went on to lead a Seminole group to Mexico |
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in search of freedom, and his success in fending off bandits and |
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raiders earned him the rank of captain in the Mexican Army; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Army began recruiting Black Seminoles from |
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Mexico to protect the Texas frontier, and in 1870, it established |
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the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts; based at Fort Duncan and Fort |
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Clark, the scouts engaged in 26 campaigns, and several received the |
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Medal of Honor for their actions; many went on to serve in Buffalo |
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Soldier regiments; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to her family's Black Seminole scout |
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heritage, Ms. Brown has followed in the footsteps of her mother, the |
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late Alice Fay Lozano, who contributed to books on tribal history; |
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Ms. Brown is an educator by profession and uses her skills to raise |
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awareness of the role played by Black Seminoles from the pioneer |
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days onward; during the lifetimes of Chief William "Dub" Warrior |
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and his wife, Ethel, she traveled with them to St. Augustine, |
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Florida, to share her knowledge; and |
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WHEREAS, Rafaela Brown has demonstrated an exceptional |
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commitment to the remarkable legacy of the Black Seminole Nation, |
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and she is indeed worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby honor Rafaela Fay Lozano |
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Brown for her contributions as a member of the Warren Perryman |
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Foundation for Native American Research and extend to her sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Brown as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |