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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 Tony Perryman, the organization's |
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founder and CEO; and |
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WHEREAS, The principal chief of the United Warrior Band of |
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the Seminole Nation, "Thomi" Perryman is a descendant of the John |
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Horse Band of the Black Seminole tribe, which originated in Florida |
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during Spanish rule; African Americans fleeing slavery found a |
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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 service in repelling 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; with numerous ancestral connections to the |
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scouts, Thomi Perryman has fostered knowledge and appreciation of |
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the Black Seminoles as an organizer and lecturer for many events; |
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for a Seminole Days observance in Brackettville, he facilitated |
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exchanges with members of the Lipan Apache Band to explore the |
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complicated history between that tribe and the scouts; he named the |
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Foundation for Native American Research in memory of his |
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great-grandfather, Warren "Juan" Perryman, a culture-bearer who |
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played a key role in securing military headstones from the War |
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Department to mark graves in the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery in |
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Brackettville; and |
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WHEREAS, Thomi Perryman has demonstrated an exceptional |
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commitment to the remarkable legacy of the Black Seminole Nation |
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and the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts, and his endeavors have |
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enlightened and engaged innumerable people; now, therefore, be 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 Tony "Thomi" Perryman |
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for his contributions as founder and CEO of the Warren Perryman |
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Foundation for Native American Research and extend to him 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 Mr. Perryman as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |