10-29-01

The following is from the newsletter of the Tsalagiyi Nvdagi Indian Tribe written by Chief Hicks about our recent trip to Mexico.

On August 30, 2001, leaders of Tsalagiyi Nvdagi left San Antonio for Saltillo, Mexico on a historic trip. The delegation from Texas was made up of myself, Council members Dave Hicks, Jr., Roy Carlisle, Joe Gentry and wife, Judy, Tomi and A.B. Jessie. Other leaders were Treasurer, Glen Samson, his son, Bradley, Bouncer Goin and wife Jackie, Doug Walp and wife Jackie, Susan Zimmerman, and Jeff Keith.

The Tsalagiyi Nvdagi was invited to make this historic trip by Dr. Charles Rogers, of Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico, Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Mexico. Dr. Rogers not only invited his fellow Cherokees from Texas along, he and his family sponsored our trip as well. Among his family were his wife, Sharon, son, Charles, Jr., mother Mary Layton, aunt, Barbara Garrett, plus cousins, nephews and nieces.

Epi and Gloria Rodriguez made the journey with us. These two are members of the families who kept the stories of our people who fled Texas to Mexico. Epi used his ability to speak to officials and his winning nature to smooth our travels on a bus with Texas license plates from San Antonio, Texas.

Al Kinsall, scout for Rogers on Siquoya, and a writer, news reporter, and historian of the Eagle Pass and border area, was with us. His ability to interpret the Spanish language and knowledge of Mexican history was invaluable. I have to thank him for getting the Mexican names and titles I am using in this report.

We went from San Antonio to Eagle Pass, Texas, where we crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico. This was the route our brother Cherokees took to reach Mexico and the sanctuary of the Hacienda de Patinos when they left Texas after the slaughter of Diwali’s people in 1839. From Piedras Negras (Black Rock), Mexico we took the trip through the brush country of northern Coahuila, through the passes and high plains with the Sierra Madre Oriental (Eastern Mother Mountain Chain) on each side of the road. This was the same route taken by Diwali, Richard Fields, and other of Diwali’s people took on their way to Saltillo, capital of Coahuila-Tejas. It was a mind-sobering trip. We were on an air-conditioned bus. Our ancestors rode horses and/or walked.

We stayed in the famous and fancy hotel in Saltillo called Camino Real, "Royal Road." I would recommend this hotel, where the service was good and mountaintops could be seen from all quarters.

We went to the Governor’s Palace on August 31^st to present ourselves to the Governor of the state of Coahuila, Mexico, Sr. Governor Enrique Martinez y Martinez and his staff. Our people were dressed in ribbon shirts and turbans, as was popular with our people during the 1800's and cowboy hats, which became prominent over the years. The ladies dressed in colorful tear dresses and shawls. We were an impressive bunch.

We climbed the worn stairs of the ancient building to meet with our Mexican hosts in the Salon de Venustiano Carranza. I had my ceremonial pipe and was requested to do a pipe ceremony.

When Governor Martinez came into the room, he took his place at the head of the long table. Some of our leaders sat at the table and others lined the walls in chairs. All sat or stood in solemn quietness.

I did the pipe ceremony. When I finished, I offered the pipe to the Governor. The stern look of leadership left his face and he stood and took the pipe. He puffed on it with pleasure knowing more than most that this was a historic occasion. When he returned the pipe to me, there was a pleased look on his face. I knew at that moment that all would go well. He felt as we did about the historic importance of what was happening.

The first order of business was a report read of our people’s history in Mexico when they left Texas after the slaughter in 1839 and arrived as immigrants in that country. The report was given by President of the Coahuila College of Historic Research, Professor Jesus Alfonso Perez Arreola. This was done in silent respect for the history of the event so many years ago. Next, the Director of Coahuila’s Consejo (Counsel) Editorial, Professor Arturo Berruteo Gonzales, read the letters from Governor Martinez y Martinez sent to Dr. Rogers dated August 22, 2001, which the governor signed, making the recognition of the Cherokee Nation of Mexico official.

Next Dr. Rogers and the governor exchanged gifts, some which were very valuable to the State of Coahuila and Mexico. Also of value was the $10,000 check Dr. Rogers gave the governor that would go to Desarrollo Integral de la Famila (Development of the Whole Family). DIF is a program headed by a political leader’s wife that gives assistance to families in need. Rogers gave the check after the tribe was recognized, not before.

The governor’s aides urged him that he must go on to other duties. After two times that I heard, the governor didn’t budge from his position shaking hands and talking to all of the Cherokees present. He was finally forced by duty to leave us. Pictures were taken inside the Palace, in the courtyard and out in the plaza.

We left the Governor’s Palace and went to a very good restaurant to eat, drink, and be merry. To say the least, a good time was had by all.

Wado, Governor. Wado, Doc. Wado, Cherokees.

We left Saltillo on Saturday morning and went north toward the border. In the middle of the afternoon we reached Zaragoza. Zaragoza Presidente Municipal (Mayor) Jesus Rodriguez and his people gave us a late lunch. We had a good visit with the mayor, his wife, and some of his town’s people. We ate some "real" Mexican food. By the way, Mayor Rodriguez made the trip to Saltillo where he stood with us when we went to meet with the governor of Coahuila. I presented a check handed to me in the amount of $500 to Senora Jesus Rodriguez for her to use in Zaragoza’s DIF.

One of the best aspects of the trip were the people riding on that bus. Our people and those of the Cherokee Nation of Mexico had the time of their lives. They were so amicable and pleasant that it was unbelievably enjoyable to spend three days locked up on that bus with such a large group. There was fun and laughter, movies and a video by Cherokee story-teller Greg Howard. None of us will ever forget this trip to Mexico.

"We are here, for we never left."

Chief Hicks

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