| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, For millennia, Indigenous People of Indigenous |
|
|
Nations have been good stewards, honoring and protecting this land, |
|
|
including the land called Texas, which we cherish; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Indigenous People are very spiritual, with a deep |
|
|
and abiding belief in a Creator, and have maintained a powerful |
|
|
spiritual connection to the land for centuries; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, While struggling for survival since the arrival of |
|
|
Europeans in North America, the Indigenous People have remained |
|
|
resilient, determined to protect the lands of their heritage and to |
|
|
preserve their unique cultural identities and transmit them to |
|
|
future generations; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, For centuries, the governments of this country, |
|
|
including the Republic of Texas and subsequently the State of |
|
|
Texas, endorsed policies carried out by the militia that harmed the |
|
|
Indigenous People because the political leaders who signed treaties |
|
|
upon their honor did not keep their promises; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Indigenous People's culture was forever altered |
|
|
and their livelihood was decimated by their systematic removal from |
|
|
their historic lands; families were separated and entire tribes |
|
|
were purged; the buffalo herds, which the people held sacred and |
|
|
which had sustained their culture for centuries, were destroyed; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In spite of the transgressions visited upon them, |
|
|
the Indigenous People have remained steadfast in their traditional |
|
|
commitment to protect this great land by continuing to serve |
|
|
honorably, with distinction, in the military forces of the United |
|
|
States in all wars since the founding of this nation; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, We recognize the transformative effect of |
|
|
acknowledging mistakes; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby acknowledge regret for the trespasses of our |
|
|
predecessors against the Indigenous People, express respect for the |
|
|
culture of the Indigenous People, and honor them for their |
|
|
stewardship and protection of this land; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives commit to |
|
|
building an honest, constructive relationship and to forging a |
|
|
covenant with the Creator and all Indigenous People to work toward |
|
|
achieving our mutual goal of a society that advances opportunities |
|
|
for all citizens of this great state we call home. |