John,

Today is Indigenous People’s Day, a day to celebrate the native inhabitants of this country’s land, and to reflect on our country’s continued legacy of violence toward those people.

Here in Texas, humans have inhabited this land since 14,000 BCE. In 1528, the first known European entered Texas, when Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and his companions washed up on the shore of what is now known as the Texas Gulf Coast. They were fed and sheltered by the Karankawa.

When Europeans came to what is now the United States, there were an estimated 14 million people living here. After the ensuing colonization and genocide of those people, there were 300,000 left. The sheer scale of such violence is difficult to comprehend.

Our country has never properly reckoned with this history, and indigenous people continue to be oppressed. Our federal and state governments continue to allow the destruction of the land in the name of profit and development, and often the land that is exploited for that use is land recognized as sacred by a native tribe.

Today is an opportunity to learn more about our indigenous neighbors throughout Texas—their cultures, their art, their language, and their continued struggle.

Mark this day by finding an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration near you, researching and learning more about the history of your land, its peoples, and their cultures, and donating to an Indigenous organization:

• American Indian College Fund provides scholarships for Native American students.

• IllumiNative is a nonprofit that increases Native American visibility and community power.

• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women USA addresses the ongoing crisis against Indigenous women.

• National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition assists survivors of the U.S. boarding school atrocities and supports repatriation efforts.

• Redhawk Native American Arts Council educates the public about Indigenous people across the Americas through song, dance, theatre, storytelling, and other forms of art.

• Warrior Women Project combines oral history, multimedia, and activism to bridge the divide between mainstream media and Indigenous communities.

In solidarity,

The Ground Game Texas Team

Donate A monthly recurring contribution of $10, or $25 allows Ground Game Texas to defend our victories, fight back against unjust attacks, and bring transformative change across Texas.

PO Box 383 Manchaca, TX 78652-9998 | [email protected]

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