hi my name is janet lee dominguez i am writing my story here to see how we can become a state and fedral roncized tribe that we are a real tribe of texas and that i respesent of my tribe as bieng an enrolled tribal member that would like to this nonprofit of carrizo comecrudo be a federal and state tribe of texas instead of nonprofit organization and asking forvyour support on getting our story heard and published out there in the state of texas and commuity our carrizo comecrudo tribe has been funraising for our events every year to keep having our lifeways and ceromonys to be held at the carrizo comecrudo tribe on our land that we have as a place to have them we dont have of our own to call our home and other sources that we need to keep our beautiful tribe alive if we could get all the suoport that we can as donations land tribal housing im sure we would live in tgem we are stay strong and possive for our land our people and our cicrle of all of our relations and to honor our ancestors history of our lifeways and understanding the meaning of our languages our clans and lifeways and im am asking for any help nd support of this nonprofit organization to be noticevof texas in floresville san antonio we are a tribe that been apart of texas for many decades of the orginal people of texas are are the carrizo indians from the lower rio grande valley and been proud to be called a carrizo comcrudo tribe of texas of orginal people of texas.i am from the bear clan of my tribe in our language we say glam potsum which means bear clan which i represent my clan bieng bearcof my ancestor clan and to understand my lifeways came from and the history that goes with it but ee do exsits but not reconized at all were bieng forgotten and our ancestord are not bieng rememberd we honor them we sing with them ee dance with them and heal them to remember them and our culture of indigious native american we need help and fundings to keep our circle of lifeways strong.nayema paye'sl means thank you AHO.
I've had the pleasure of meeting and volunteering with the tribe and couldn't have met people more dedicated, passionate and loving about issues that matter not only for their people but all people and all creation. Not only that they are very open and willing to teach on these issues and the relationship they have with earth water and all. The experience and continual experience is more electrifying and educational every time we connect.
The Carrizo Comecrudo Nation is doing excellent work in preserving tribal lifeways while also working to fight the destruction of our environment and the criminalization and brutalizations of our relatives from the south.
It has been a great honor and privilege to know, work, and live with the Carrizo ComeCrudo Tribe of Texas.
I traveled to the Rio Grande Valley a few years ago in protest of the wall which was being constructed for the stated purpose of keeping unwanted asylum seekers from entering the United States.
I was invited to Camp Some Sek, the base camp of the tribe which is located in Floresville, Texas. When I arrived at the land of the Estok Gna I was greeted by a friendly, dedicated group of like-minded volunteers, living and working together, creating a camp where we would live. I was introduced to a big man, a great man, Juan Macias, Chairman of the Carizo ComeCrudo Tribe of Texas.
It was from Chairman Macias that I learned so much about the tribe, the indigenous way of life, and the work that the tribe has been doing for so many years, to preserve their ancestral lands and ways of life.
We later relocated to camp Yalui near Mission, Texas. We occupied land adjacent to one of the sacred burial grounds which contained the remains of many ancestors, Warriors and Veterans of World War I, World War II, and Vietnam. This cemetery, which was in the direct path of the proposed wall being built, was to be destroyed with no regard for the remains there interred. Also in the path of this proposed wall was the National Butterfly Center which would have been completely destroyed.
The Carrizo ComoCrudo Tribe has worked tirelessly to defend our water, air, and land. They have been on the front line of the fight against the LNG export terminals and the fracking which would spoil our water.
The tribe has also been very active in assisting their tribal members as well as others in need who have crossed their path.
After 2 previous deployments to the camp, I attempted to again join the camp only to be diverted due to the pandemic. As it was unsafe to open the camp, which is traditionally inhabited by volunteers from all over the United States, the tribe immediately switched their focus to assisting people with their new covid needs. They worked day and night making and distributing face masks, for which they had to create a pattern as this was at the time before they were to be found locally or online. They requested and received staples which they processed and distributed to the elders or really anyone who was in need. Rice, beans, toilet paper,which was almost impossible to come by at the time, hand sanitizer, protective gloves,etc.
Although the pandemic and serious medical issues have rendered me unable to participate with the tribe of late I strive to regain my strength and health so that I may return to the work I loved.
After my association with the tribe I became curious about my own ancestral roots and as it turned out, I am indigenous to the lands of the Estok Gna. I hope to continue to learn and work with the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe.
Great people, who accepted me even though I was an outsider, and helped treat me like one of their own
I met Juan Mancias 8 years ago and I was immediately welcomed into the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas. Juan is unstoppable in fighting against the oil and gas Industry, fracking and environmental activism especially where it involves the fight to protect native lands and ancient burial sites. He and his daughter Christa are instrumental in keeping the life ways and language of the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation. It is my honor to have met Juan and I will continue to support him and the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation.
The Carrizo Comecrudo Nation has been protecting their homelands since time immemorial. With fierce compassion for not only humans but all living relatives, they work tirelessly to preserve their culture, land, & ways of life so that others may benefit and the Earth may heal. It as an honor to work with them and to continue to support their sovereignty work from afar.
In the short time I have worked in solidarity with the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, I have seen their success in shutting down three planned LNG export terminals (that would be built on top of their most sacred site), closing a polluting coal mine embattled for years in opposition litigation, preventing the "Border Wall" from destroying historic cemeteries and ancestral village sites, and pursuing land claims to retrieve access to their ancestral lands. They are leaders in the fight against fossil fuel corporate bullies and work endlessly to protect their relatives and the environment. They fight continuously on many fronts that impact all of us with determination and foresight and are backed with ancestral knowledge of so-called Texas because they are the original autochthonous people of the land
The Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas is doing great work, and important work, in preserving the lifeways, traditions, language and culture of the Esto'k Gna people, one of the original native peoples of this area now known as Texas and Northern Mexico. They are also very involved politically in social and environmental justice issues and have been taking the lead in Texas in protecting our sacred mother earth and waters against the major corporate oil and gas industries. They are also on the frontlines of the "No Border Wall" movement in Texas where for the past nine months they have set up Camp Yalui (Butterfly) adjacent to a community cemetery where the they are working with the people there to protect their land, the remains of their ancestors that are buried there, and the natural wildlife that will be disrupted and affected negatively by the construction of this border wall. Support how you can. Nana pele'x/thanks. Nawaso'l ment yawet/All our relations.
I was able to get connected to tribal relatives in Oregon because of the strong cultural container the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas has sustained. It has greatly benefited my and my family's lives and enriched our understanding about our tribal ways that are so innately ingrained in our internal pedagogy.
They also work tirelessly to preserve our natural resources to address global warming and live to sustain a world to leave our children.
Carrizo/comecrudo tribe of Texas,,,fighting to keep the water clean, air clean, and our life ways alive for many generations to come.
Soo many positive things to share regarding the tribe, always displaying their will to never give up and continue fighting against large oil companies who pollute our earth.
Keep fighting and stay strong relatives....
Carrizo/ Comecrudo Tribe ✊
The Carrizo Comecrudo Nation have been a leader against injustices, environmental concerns, and basic human rights in the community and globally. The Carrizo Comecrudos are actively seeking federal recognition. Regardless of that we continue participating and teaching our culture, life ways and language to our descendants. It would be an honor to be placed on your award.
The Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas has been a voice for Indigenous people like my self and family in all things. They have fought to protect water in poor communities, they have stoof by family that were victims or crime. The Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas has has volunteers provide free services to the elderly including remodeling and transportation to medical appointments, and food donations for years. Many homless or transient people have heard word of mouth of the work they do and have reached out to them at all hours of the night and never to be turned away but rather being cared for until back on their feet. They are not big but have the biggest hearts in the community. They stand as the only identified Indigenous organization in central and south Texas that does this kind of work and service for people of native ancestry and associated family and friends. They do not turn people away if they are not Native they still help as they believe all humanity is one family.
The Carrizo Comecrudo Nation is a nonprofit whos purpose is to carry on our language, our cultural traditions and to bring cultural indigenous awareness to the Great state of Texas, through education of our tribal history and through our tribal events. We welcome all those who are interested to attend any event that we have. If you have any questions or would like for us to speak or perform at any of your educational events please contact us through our website
www.carrizocomecrudonation.com
The Carrizo/Comecrudo has been a large piece of missing parts of Texas History. C/C have been a in Texas since first contact. A contributor in assisting other plains tribes to maintain there identity and their lifeways. The C/C are also known for their participation in the settling of the Texas and Mexican border. Although much of these important contribution have been left out of the Texas history books. Mainly being left out because of their original connection to the rich ranch and farm lands that now are being utilized into major fracking oil businesses.
The C/C filed for federal Recognition in 1998 in effort to save the sacred sites and reclaim countless of remains that are still held in many Museums. The 3 federally recognized tribe in Texas are not indigenous to Texas and are not really assisting in the regulations of NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act). The Act has not been ratified in Texas so it is used ostentatiously by those wanting to hold on to remains and artifacts. It is not the fault of the other Tribes since they have become part of the misread and misinformed history in Texas.
We are very interested in bringing a sense of better educating the public to Texas history and the presence of the Esto'k (Carrizo/Comecrudo) of the land called Somi Sek (Texas). We bring a rich and long-lasting presence even though the landowners want to deny the presence of original Texas Natives the evidence is without a doubt available, from the pictographs to the Texas Railroad Commission Archives. The Culture , language, and the lifeways have ultimately survived a misinformed history that has always wanted the Indigenous people in Texas to stay out of the picture. A history being very partial and biased toward the original people of Texas since time immemorial. The Documentation and Evidence is there it just takes much funding to acquire it. Thank you for your consideration.