Report from
Chairman Bernard F. Barcena, Jr.


Dahnjo, greetings to all.

        It has been awhile since the last time we have come together. As always I hope all is well with everyone who reads this. I am always greatful to be able to address the People for the honor of being able to speak to you through this report.

        As many people are aware there has been a great deal that has been going on with the Tribe. Your Council has been working toward the goals that we have set out for the people. One goal that we are working on is the Homecoming for January 5, 2008. For those who might not have received our announcement. The upcoming Lipan Apache Tribe Home coming will take place on January 5, 2008 The gatherig will start at 10:AM and will end at 7:30PM. It will be held at the Nueces County Memorial Agricultural Center located at 900 East Ave J. Robstown, Tx 78380. This facility is also called the "Show Barn." Activities are planned for the whole day. As Robert Soto says " It will be a good day to meet old friends and make new ones." For those that need hotel information the following hotels will be available.

1. Comfort Inn — $69.00
    Us 77 and 624
    3838 Hwy 77
    Corpus Christi, TX 78410
    361-241-6363

 Call in as part of the Lipan Apache
Tribe. Free continental breakfast
6:30-9:30 am. 3 miles from event
2. Drury Inn — $79.99
    2021 N. Padre Island Dr.
    361-289-8200

 Four adults, full hot breakfast
buffet, hot food in evening plus
complimentary drinks 5:30-7:00 pm.
$75.00 group rate. Contact Temia:
1-800-436-1174.
3. Executive Inn — $55.50
    620 Hwy 77 South
    Robstown, TX
    361-387-9416

4. Motel 6 — $49.44
    Corpus Christi-Northwest
    845 Lantana St.
    Corpus Christi, TX
    361-289-9397

5. Holiday Inn Emerald Beach
    1102 South Shoreline
    Corpus Christi, TX 78401
    361-883-5731

 20 miles from event.
Located on Corpus Christi Bay,
for those who wish to be near
the water.

        More information will be sent out within the next two weeks from November 5, 2007. The information will have the activities for the day. If anyone has displays of any sort that presents your Family and what you and your families have been doing to promote our People please set the display up. This will be for display only. There are many fine Artists and Craftspeople who showcase their talents and we wish that you share your love and passion for the people by showing the expressions of your heart that comes out in your art. Please share that joy with your extended family.

        Robert Soto will be getting out more information concerning the Homecoming shortly.

        This Homecoming is one of the goals the Tribe is working on. As mentioned before, the Tribe has set out to establish Tribal centers for social and cultural exchange and for the welfare of the People. One of the centers that is being established is in Corpus Christi. This center will be overseen by the Tribal Curator Rey Salazar and will be a hands-on Center operating the gardens and character-building youth programs for our Lipan youths. As everyone knows and for those that do not, Rey Salazar is our Tribal one-man-wrecking crew that has taken to the "Warpath" against diabetes and childhood obesity. Rey who is our Curator/Horticulturalist oversees the gardens. Working with Rey, Tribal Secretary Juan Villareal will be managing the "Hunts" and the Survival school. Juan has recently returned from a trip to New Jersey where he spent time with the world renowned "Naturalist" Tom "Tracker" Brown who learned Lipan survival skills from Lipan Elder Stalking Wolf. Tom was adopted by Stalking Wolf and calls him "Grandfather."

        When you meet Juan, you immediately feel the sincerity of his heart and his fidelity to service for the People. Juan is retired from the United States Air Force and is a former Air Force Pararescue which are the Air Force Special Forces. Juan whose Warriors heart is as strong as that of a Puma is also an accomplished artist. You will be greatly rewarded when meeting Juan and his beautiful and wondeful wife, Melinda. Both Juan and Rey are very serious men who’s love for there People is strong.

        I speak highly of these men for personal reasons. My mother who has been ill has been in the hospital since May of 2007. She has suffered from complications of diabetes and has been kept alive breathing through a respirator tube placed in her trachea. She has damage to her heart and her kidneys have shut down. Her wish is never to be kept alive artificially. Her doctors had informed my family that because of infections in her body, the treatment was not working. She has congestive heartfailure, pneumonia and kidney failure, all complications from diabetes. My mother has since been placed in hospice. Rey has been a great source of encouragement thru his warfare against this disease and I have drawn strength from Juan. These two men as well as the entire Council have helped me and my family through a most difficult time.

        One thing that came to my attention was that I am not the only one going through the loss of a loved one. A good friend, Erwin Deluna, who is a Navajo needs prayers for his mother, his family, and himself.

        Recently, Joe Pompa, one of our Elders, is suffering from congestive heart failure. I wish to honor Joe and his family by telling his story. It is a story that is one of many. Afterwards, you will see why it is important to honor Elders like Joe.

        Joe Pompa is a 93-year-old Lipan Elder from Corpus Christi. His family was from the Lipanes De Abajo who relocated in Mexico and are predominantly from Nuevo Leon. In the late 1800's, his family came back to Texas and settled in Corpus Christi where Joe was born. Growing up in South Texas, Joe had many stories from his youth of the racism that Lipans went thru. On the Census rolls, the family was listed as "White" but they were never treated as such. He had to ride in the back of trains, use "Colored only" bathrooms and was exposed to all the segregation that was normal at the time. Because of his being Indian, Joe was not afforded the same opportunities to education so he learned the very basics. However, there was work. He went to work in the cotton fields picking cotton, he worked for the King Ranch, and, at one time, served as a Chauffer for Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, the future President of the United States. When the Country went to war against Germany and Japan, Joe enlisted in Sevice joining the Navy. He entered on June 6, 1942 and served until September 2, 1945. He fought in the Battle of Coral Sea and other engagements coming back a decorated war hero. As a warrior, he bled for our people being wounded four times: once to his head, once to his left side, and once to his left arm and left knee.

        After his return and recovery, Joe met his wife and decided to start his new life with his wife. They settled in New York where he became a Ironworker for Local 40. While in New York, he became known as "Indian Joe" and he became an activist fighting for better working conditions and pay for the people in his trade. He maintained his warrior "Spirit" working and raising a family. Joe never forgot using “colored only” restrooms and going into restaurants and bars that would not serve "Indians" and non-whites. Although suffering through the racism, he never stopped. He worked closely with the Mohawk Indian Ironworkers who were in Local 40, building many prominent buildings and bridges all along maintaining himself as Lipan. He shared stories with his children of staying strong and how on a hunt you would eat certain raw organs of the animals, telling his children how this would make and keep them strong. Joe while instilling this strong sense of Indian Pride of being Lipan, still worked so hard that he was able to put all of his children through Private school, providing the best he could to ensure their future. What makes this accomplishment extraordinary is that Joe had ten children. Imagine Joe’s sacrifice and expense to provide for his family. While hearing this story, my admiration for this Elder grew. I was able to draw strength from this and I knew in my heart how strong the blood runs through his veins. Like a heard of stampeding buffalo, the blood flows.

        This Elder's extraordinary story does not stop here. All of his male children have served to bring honor to their People and the country, serving in all the wars this country has fought in since World War II. This same "Warrior Spirit" that Joe's sons received has been transferred to Joe's Grandsons. One in particular is Jason Pompa. Jason is currently a Sergeant in the Army and has served two tours in Iraq. All of these "Lipan warriors" are proud of the honor they bring their People and are proud to serve America.

        We are thankful for Joe Pompa and all his family.

        Our Elder Joe is on his journey now but his family will carry on his greatness. All are enrolled members of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas and I am happy and honored to be able to share this Elder’s story who lived to see his People comeback. Joe’s spirit is so very good that I would be remiss in sharing his story. After suffering hardships and prejudice, he still maintained the Heart of his People and his living legacy of his children will ensure our Tribe’s future. This man bled for his people to keep us "FREE."

        These acts of sacrifice brings to mind so strongly the acts of men who believed so strongly in their values that they would suffer on to death to ensure these freedoms. Men like William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. William Penn was no stranger to adversity. Before founding Pennsylvania, he was in a fight for his very life. William Pen had been arrested and put on trial for violating English Law. He violated the "Conventicle Act" which was a law that made the Church of England the only Church you could belong to if you were a British citizen. William Penn was a Quaker. His story is truly amazing because when his trial went to Jury, four of the Jurors failed to convict him even though he was in violation of the law. At that time, he could have been sentenced to execution for being a Quaker but four jurors refused to convict him. They were placed in prison, lived in their own fecal matter, suffered tortures and other humiliations, and still maintained their beliefs. From this trial, all the Freedoms that the United States Government has in its Bill of Rights were born especially the Freedom of Religion. Here was a man who brought freedoms to us all because the people refused to convict him.

        After William Penn was released, he came to present day Pennsylvania. There he made a treaty with the First Nations that was called the "Great Treaty." The contribution to our country was great.

        These basic freedoms that so many take for granted must never be forgotten. WE have Warriors who fight to maintain them so that we may live. Right now as mentioned previously, Robert Soto is still dealing with the issue of religious freedom and the rights of the First Amendment to the Constitution. For those that do not know, Robert Soto had Eagle feathers taken from him at a gathering. The Eagle Feathers are sacred and used to carry our prayers to the Creator. Because of laws designed to protect the Eagle, Robert, although a Lipan Apache, lost his feathers as he is not a member of a federally recognized tribe. Please, continue to support him in this fight since it affects the basic freedoms that the United States government was built on.

        The change of this status is the ultimate goal that we are working hard for. As mentioned before, we are working for the Homecoming, establishing Tribal centers, and providing services for our youth and elderly. We are all in this together. Also, please work with Victor Cornejo and Nancy Minor in registering for our Tribal Rolls. The Council is aware that there are some who were still gathering family information. Victor will be able to work with these families.

        The Lipan Apache Tribe General Council hopes to see and meet you in January.


Until we Come together again,

Bernard F. Barcena Jr.
General Council Chairman