Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation

The Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation is a cultural heritage organization of individuals who identify as lineal descendants of the Coahuiltecan people. They have a nonprofit organization, the American Indians in Texas-Spanish Colonial Missions, based in San Antonio, Texas.[1]

Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation
Named afterCoahuiltecan peoples
Formation1994[1]
Typenonprofit organization[2]
EIN 74-2717029[1]
PurposeA23: Cultural, Ethnic Awareness,[1] A20 Artist, cultural, organizations–multipurpose
Location
Official language
English
Executive Director
Ramon Vasquez[2]
Revenue (2017)
$557,641[1]
Expenses (2017)$498,839[1]
Staff
4[1]
Websitetappilam.org

The Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation is an unrecognized organization. Despite using the word nation in its name, the group is neither a federally recognized tribe[3] nor a state-recognized tribe.[4]

Texas has "no legal mechanism to recognize tribes"[5] and has no state-recognized tribes.[6] However, the state legislature passed a congratulatory resolution, that is an honorific and non-legally binding resolution, H.R. No. 787 honoring the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation.[7]

The Tap Pilam claims descent from the American Indians who converted to Roman Catholicism affiliated with and some buried at Alamo Mission in San Antonio.[8][9] The American Indian tribes originally affiliated with the Alamo were the Jarame, Pamaya, and Payaya.[9]

Organization

In 1994, American Indians in Texas–Spanish Colonial Missions, also known as AIT-SCM was formed.[1][2] Based in San Antonio, Texas, the group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and a manifestation of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation. It was founded by Raymond Hernandez, Joel Silva, and Richard Garay.[10]

Their subject area is cultural and ethnic awareness.[1] Their mission statement is "Preservation and protection of the culture and traditions of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation."[1]

Their administration includes:

  • Executive director: Ramon Vasquez[2]
  • President: Mary Jessie Garza
  • Vice president: Miguel Acosta[1]
  • Development coordination: Karla Aguilar.[2]

Church

In 1994, the tribe organized the Yanaguana Tap Pilam Native American Church of the Americas Church,[11] a Texas affiliate of the Native American Church of North America. [12] In the 1997, the church was named Tlecuauhtlacupeuh Tap Pilam Native American Church of the Americas.[11]

As of March 2021, the church administration included:

  • President: Raymond Hernandez
  • Treasurer: Mickey Killian
  • Secretary: Isaac A. Cardenas
  • Agent: Ramon Vasquez y Sanchez.[11]

Petition for federal recognition

In 1997, Tap Pilam: The Coahuiltecan Nation sent a letter of intent to petition for federal recognition.[13] They have not followed up with a petition for federal recognition, however.[14]

Lawsuits

The organization claims descent from the American Indians, who were Roman Catholic Christian converts,[9] buried at the Alamo Mission in San Antonio and in 2020 filed a lawsuit against the Alamo Trust, Texas Land Office, Texas Historical Commission, the City of San Antonio and their leaders[8] in the U.S. District Court. The lawsuit was dismissed by a federal district judge.[15] A second lawsuit in 2021 was dismissed by a district judge.[16] "The joint dismissal with prejudice, approved by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, means the claims can’t be re-filed against the defendants."[16]

The Tap Pilam's appeals were settled, and, while they did not gain a seat on the committee overseeing archaeological digs at the Alamo and treatment of human remains, they are allowed to attend the committee meetings.[16] Following the settlement, Art Martinez de Vara, representing the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation said, “The Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, as lineal descendants of the indigenous residents of Mission San Antonio de Valero looks forward to working with ATI [Alamo Trust, Inc.] to preserve, protect and proclaim the indigenous presence and heritage at Mission San Antonio de Valero for future generations of Texans."[16]

Stephen Chang of the Texas General Land Office (GLO) said, “The GLO has won every case that Tap Pilam has brought against the state. ... Courts have consistently rejected Tap Pilam’s claims because of their baseless claims."[17]

See also

References
  1. "American Indians in Texas-Spanish Colonial Missions". Cause IQ. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  2. "American Indians in Texas-At the Spanish Colonial Missions". GuideStar. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  3. "Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs". Indian Affairs Bureau. Federal Register. 1 May 2022. pp. 7554–58. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  4. "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  5. Brewer, Graham Lee; Ahtone, Tristan (27 October 2021). "In Texas, a group claiming to be Cherokee faces questions about authenticity". NBC News. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  6. "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  7. Turner of Coleman. "H. R. No. 787". Texas Legislature Online.
  8. Gibbons, Brendan. "Native American Group Tap Pilam Renews Legal Fight Over Human Remains at Alamo". Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  9. "Mission San Antonio de Valero, The Alamo: Spanish Colonial Missions of the Southwest Travel Itinerary". Spanish Missions/Misiones Españolas. National Park Service. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  10. Thoms, Alston V, et al. Reassessing Cultural Extinction : Change and Survival at Mission San Juan Capistrano, Texas. College Station, Tex., Texas A & M University, Center For Ecological Archaeology ; San Antonio, Tex, 2001, pp. 50
  11. "Yanaguana Tap Pilam Native American Church of the Americas Church". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  12. "Directory of Native American Churches". Listing of Native American Churches.
  13. "List of Petitoners By State". webcache.googleusercontent.com. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  14. "Office of Federal Acknowledgment". U.S. Department of Indian Affairs. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  15. "Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation v. Alamo Trust, Inc". U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas San Antonio Division. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  16. Dimmick, Iris. "Indigenous group, city and state settle lawsuit over Alamo human remains". Retrieved 16 Jun 2023.
  17. Kovac, Birdie R. (4 December 2021). "Conflict over Alamo burials, Native American worship could continue after settlement talks break down". Disturb Media. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
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