Bill Text: TX SCR6 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizing February 15, 2017, as Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-03 - Filed [SCR6 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SCR6-Introduced.html
85R5487 JGH-D | ||
By: Nichols | S.C.R. No. 6 |
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WHEREAS, Proud members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of | ||
Texas are gathering in Austin for Alabama-Coushatta Day at the | ||
State Capitol on February 15, 2017; and | ||
WHEREAS, One of three federally recognized tribes in Texas, | ||
the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe was originally two tribes, the Alibamus | ||
and the Koasatis, who had a similar culture but lived in adjacent | ||
lands in Alabama; starting in the 1760s, the two tribes began to | ||
migrate westward into what is now East Texas; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1813, the tribes fought on the side of the | ||
revolutionaries in the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, and | ||
the new Mexican government granted them tracts of land in gratitude | ||
for their service; two decades later, Sam Houston granted the | ||
tribes land between the Neches and Sabine Rivers in exchange for not | ||
siding with Mexico during the Texas Revolution; members of the | ||
tribes served as guides for the Texan army and helped to feed | ||
refugees who had fled from Santa Anna's troops; and | ||
WHEREAS, Today, there are 1,200 members of the | ||
Alabama-Coushatta, half of whom live on the reservation's 10,200 | ||
acres in the Big Thicket of East Texas; the tribe is a fully | ||
functioning sovereign government, providing a full complement of | ||
health and human services, and it is responsible for 250 jobs, | ||
including teachers, doctors, and peace officers; members also | ||
maintain a health clinic, a day-care center, a solid waste | ||
facility, three churches, and retail shops; and | ||
WHEREAS, Home to one of the most scenic recreational areas in | ||
the Lone Star State, every year, the reservation is visited by | ||
nearly 200,000 people who take advantage of the fine opportunities | ||
for camping, hiking, and picnicking; the reservation is also home | ||
to the newly reopened Naskila Entertainment casino and an annual | ||
powwow and music festival; and | ||
WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they work to | ||
build a better tomorrow, the people of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe | ||
may indeed take great pride in their unique contributions to the | ||
history and culture of Texas; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
hereby recognize February 15, 2017, as Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of | ||
Texas Day at the State Capitol and extend to the members of the | ||
tribe sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful visit to | ||
Austin. |