Tap Pilam Coahuitecan Nation Seal

Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation

History

Historical Timeline

The Tap Pilam Nation, comprised primarily of Coahuiltecan descendants, has a history dating back thousands of years in the region now known as Texas. Over the centuries, they have endured various challenges, including Spanish colonization, Mexican rule, and the encroachment of European settlers. Despite these adversities, the Tap Pilam people have persisted in preserving their ancestral traditions, language, and customs.

  • 12000 BP - 1700 AD
  • 1700 AD - 1800 AD
  • 1800 AD - 1900 AD
  • 1900 AD - 2000 AD
  • 1967 AD - 1990 AD
  • 1990 AD - 1996 AD
  • 1997 AD - 2000 AD
  • 2000 AD - 2005 AD
  • 2005 AD - Present
Coahuiltecans

Early Coahuiltecans

  • Archeological evidence documents our people in Northeastern Mexico and South Texas through the Paleoindian Stage (12,000-8,000 B.P.) to the prehistoric (1000-400 B.P.)
  • Spanish Explorer Álvarez Cabeza de Vaca lives amongst the tribes associated to Northeastern Mexico and South Texas.
  • Franciscan Priest Damian Massanet holds first Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi on the San Pedro Springs with the Payaya families.
  • Missionization in the modern States of Coahuila and San Luis Potosi begins.

Spanish Colonization and Missionization

  • Missionization in the modern States of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Texas begins.
  • Indian led Pueblos at Missions San Juan Bautista and San Francisco de Solano established in Coahuila on the Rio Grande.
  • Indian led Pueblos of Bejar established through “Auto de Posesión” at each Mission. American Indian Gobernadores appointed.
  • Mission Indian families sent to Nuevo Santander to establish new Christian Colonies.
  • Mission Indians from Valero defend the Presidio and Villita from attacks by Apaches.
  • Mission Indians from Mission Concepcion, Espada and San Juan testify against the Spanish Colonist of Nuevo Santander for kidnapping Native children and selling them as slaves.
  • Mission Indian Vaqueros of the Indian Mission Ranches participate in the first cattle drive of 10,000 Spanish long horns to support the American revolution.
  • Archdiocese of Mexico orders the Missions of San Antonio to be closed.
  • Mission secularization and land distribution to the Mission Indian families of all five Missions in San Antonio begins.

Mission Life and Battles

  • Mission Indian family members participate in the Battles of Rosillo Creek, Alazan and the Medina.
  • The Mexican States of, Coahuila and Tejas were united as one state during the Constitution of 1824. The 2nd Constitution of Coahuila and Texas was adopted on March 11, 1827.
  • Mission Indian family members participate in the Battles of Concepcion, Alamo and San Jacinto.
  • Mission Indian families are designated as citizens of the Mexican Nation by the Republic of Texas on October 12, 1837 Standing Committee of Indian Affairs.
  • Mission Indian families move out to the ranches of Karnes, Wilson, Atascosa, Guadalupe, Bexar Counties and establish Catholic Chapels. Maintain familial relations though baptisms and marriages.
  • Orosco Y Berra identifies families of this region as Coahuiltecan, Coahuiltecos, Coahuilenos and Tejanos.
  • Mission Indians families are among the many merchants of the downtown plazas, selling produce, livestock, birds and food.
1900s

Journey of Resilience

  • Elders of the Mission Indian families work with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word. Mission Indian family members among first students of Mission Espada School.
  • Mission Indian families gather with members of the Ponca, Comanche and Cheyenne tribes prior to establishing the official Native American Church of Oklahoma.
  • Mission Indian family members are among the 30,000 families who attended Mass at San Fernando #1 Cemetery.
  • Mission Indian families are among the Pecan Shellers who organize for better wages and treatment.
  • Mission Indian family members establish Native American Voters League in opposition of the City of San Antonio and the Mexican Consulate.
  • WPA work at San Juan Capistrano disturb gravesites of Mission Indian family members.

Cultural Restoration and Unity

  • Archbishop Lucy authorizes excavations of the Campo Santos (Catholic Cemetery) under protest of the families from Mission Espada and Mission San Juan Capistrano.
  • Mission Indian family, descendant of Mission San Antonio de Valero, San Jose, Concepcion, San Francisco de la Espada, and San Juan work to unite the Bands of Misioneros as the founding families of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation.
  • Mission Indian family members work with Father Manuel Roman and Father Balty Janachek to start Centro de Artesenia at Mission San Francisco de la Espada and establish ceremonial grounds.
  • Leaders of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation meet with Archbishop Patricio Flores for the return of the remains excavated from Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1967.
  • Mission Indian families unanimously appoint the Tribal Council of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation and develop the Founding Documents.

Legal Battles for Ancestral Remains and Preservation Efforts

  • Members of the Tāp Pīlam Nation appointed “Keepers” of the ancient Leon River Medicine Wheel on the Fort Hood Military Installation Base.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation establishes the nonprofit American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AIT-SCM) to serve as the legal entity for the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation.
  • AIT-SCM filed a claim against the National Park Service and the Archdioceses of San Antonio for the return of 92 ancestral remains excavated from the Campo Santo (Holy Grounds) at Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1967.
  • Tribal members of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation conduct reinternment ceremony at Mission San Antonio de Valero (Alamo).
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation Tribal members receive ancestral remains of Terocodame Band from the Florida Tribe of Eastern Creek Indians, removed from being displayed in a Florida museum.
  • Archbishop Flores sends correspondence committing the Archdiocese of San Antonio to assist Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation and other Mission Indian families with recognition of Indian heritage and ancestry.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation holds first public ceremony since 1921 during the Semana De Recuerdos (Week of remembrance). El Llanto ceremony to honor our families buried at Mission San Antonio de Valero.
  • Terocodame remains reinterred at the Comanche National Repatriation Cemetery at Fort Hood Military Installation Base.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation Tribal members recognized by the City of San Antonio, Missions Trails Project committees to implement and oversee the Historical Preservation Act of 1996 and the laws pertaining to NAGPRA 1990.

Journey towards Recognition and Repatriation

  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation establish the Yanaguana Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Native American Church, chartered in the State of Texas.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation host a ceremony for the City Officials, Agencies and other public organizations to announce our intent to preserve and protect our culture and traditions.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation files official “Letter of Intent” for Federal Recognition with the Dept. of the Interior.
  • Fort Hood Army Base returns 3 Coahuiltecan remains housed at the Fort Hood Archeology Lab to Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation for repatriation at the Comanche National Repatriation Cemetery.
  • Archdioceses of San Antonio returns 150 ancestral remains for repatriation at Mission San Juan Capistrano.
  • On Saturday, November 27, 1999 Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation conducted Reburial Ceremony.

Recognition Milestones

  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation receives Official Resolution from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, for NAGPRA.
  • 77th Texas Legislature passes State of Texas Resolutions recognizing the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation as the aboriginal people of South Texas.
  • City of San Antonio Recognizes Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation as the aboriginal people of this City.
  • Archbishop Patricio Flores signs an Official Resolution from the Archdioceses of San Antonio recognizing the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation as the aboriginal families and first Catholics of Texas.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation becomes the Texas Delegate for the Native American Church of North America.
  • Native American Church of Oklahoma recognizes Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation as the families who gathered with the Ponca, Comanche, Cheyenne prior to 1918.
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TAP PILAM at the Missions

Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation's Ongoing Efforts

  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation reinter 15 ancestral remains at Mission San Juan Capistrano, excavated in 2012 during the restoration of the church.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation organizes descendants and heritage groups associated with the historical Campo Santo of San Antonio, to stop the removal of ancestral burials under Santa Rosa Hospital.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation conduct reinternment of 12 ancestral remains back at the Campo Santo area from where they were removed.
  • Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation traveled to California to reclaim 26 ancestral remains from the excavations of 1967 at Mission San Juan Capistrano. The remains were found at UC Davis University in Spring of 2017.
  • Native American Church of the Americas Recognizes Yanaguana Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Church as the ONLY and Official Native American Church in Texas.

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Address

1616 E Commerce St

San Antonio, TX 78205

Email Address

info@tappilam.org

Phone Number

(210) 227-4940

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