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Members of the Tejano Land Grant Movement Implement "Direct Action" Plan
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Members of the Tejano Land Grant Movement implement "Direct Action" Plan
Texas -- A growing movement made up of the heirs and descendants of the Original grantees of Mexican and Spanish land grants north of the Rio Grande River are making a lot of noise these days and rattling a few political cages. Many of the members are recently declared heirs who have joined forces with members of the Balli family, Associon de Reclamantes (ADR), and New Mexico and Southern Colorado land grant Councils. The group is appealing to President Obama and to Congress as they seek compensation for the loss of their lands and minerals which their ancestors lost after the Mexican American War. Constitutional laws, Civil Right laws and International laws were violated because their ancestors were American citizens and the U.S. failed to acknowledge this fact and continued to see them as Mexican Nationals.
Tejano Land Grant Movement (TLGM) member, Pat Trevino an heir and descendant of the Original settlers of Texas said that, "According to some legal experts there are more than 2 1/2 million people who should be receiving mineral royalties from the Mexican and Spanish land grants in Texas. Tejano heirs now live throughout the United States and we have tried litigation and we have lobbied and we have proven that we are heirs over and over again, but still we have yet to find justice."
To become a member of the TLGM one does not necessarily have to be an heir or a descendant of a grantee of the Original settlers of Texas who were granted Mexican or Spanish land grants. The group will accept all supporters, but one of the key questions asked when registering as a member is if they are a Registered Voter. According to Lead Community Organizer, Annette de los Santos, "Our success will depend on our voting power and although our group is in its infancy this is a struggle that has been around for generations. My ancestors before me have tried and failed, but not because we do not have just cause. We have proven that we are heirs, but the laws which have been imposed by the State of Texas have blocked us in seeking justice. These laws were put in place years ago in an effort to take away the land and mineral rights belonging to the mostly Mexican descent landowners. What Texas lawmakers failed to realize was that when they passed these laws they violated the rights of American citizens. My ancestors were American and judges and courts continued to see them as Mexican Nationals."
The TLGM website has several useful links for its members such as a direct link to President Obama's official Presidential web page so that members can easily access President Obama's website and quickly send a grievance or concern regarding the land grant issue. There is also a link for members to sign a petition that gets sent to Congress requesting the help of the United States Government.
The group asserts that this is a federal issue, but seeks the support of other politicians and the public, hoping to educate them about their cause and why a Federal Bill should be passed to expedite the declaration of heirship for unknown heirs and establish a compensation package for the heirs. The group has community organizers throughout Texas and they have implemented a "Direct Action" plan where they select a politician and all members collectively write to a particular politician requesting an official statement and plan regarding their cause.
The politician selected for this month is Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, she was selected primarily because of her recent announcement to run for Governor of Texas.
For more information about this movement you can visit their website at www.tejanolandgrantmovement.com
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Legion357 – We are well aware of our history and you are correct that as heirs and descendants of Mexican and Spanish land grants we are also descendants of the indigenous people of Texas. The first inhabitants of the land and yet we retain our Spanish surname and acknowledge our bloodline from the ancient tribes long forgotten by many of our ancestors, tribes such as “los Carrizanos, Tejanos, Come Crudos, etc. etc. etc.”
August 29, 2009 at 9:48 p.m.Joethejerk --I just think that the present administration may have other things first.
August 29, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.I was wondering when something like this would happen.We can no longer just be told to shut up and go on ,our voice is only getting louder!!
August 29, 2009 at 6:45 p.m.Well to be honest about Mexican land grants, a big portion of the land in Mexico was Aztec land, befriended then slaughtered by the Spanish Conquistadors, who furthered there reach into what is now Texas, slaughtering the native tribes on the way.
Then the French took over for a short time, then the area known as Mexico was established.
Even in this day the ruling class in Mexico traces it's roots to the Spanish.
August 29, 2009 at 4:53 p.m.Hmmmmm. My family had a Mexican Land grant also prior to the Mexican American war....can we get our land back. I think the family might still even have the original discription....I know we are written up and referenced in a legal book. Am not sure if it was 1800 or 1803.
Some of that land was taken by wars. Some of that land was sold by the families where they liked it or not. Some of the records were destroyed.
I have to agree with Obama on this. I know he is not going to give our family the land back. The type reparations he has in mind are not returning land.
The best the group may do is get a reservation maybe.
August 29, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.dollysdad
August 29, 2009 at 2:34 p.m.I guess your group didn't have nothing then and now! do you know the history of all the lands that were lost by hispanic families? It was a very violent time.
To Quote the Great Obama, "There was an election, we won."
August 29, 2009 at 10:38 a.m.Get over it.