Dear Editor,
Indigenous Cultures Institute is honored to receive the POSAC recommendation for project funding at the Tier 1 level in Round 2. We worked hard to create a superior proposal that reflects our commitment to establish an Indigenous Cultures Center that protects the surrounding open land and nearby waters to the benefit of our Hays County citizens.
The majority of people in Hays County who are labeled “Hispanic” have Indigenous ancestors, and some of these families have ties dating back 14,000 years. That’s how long Native Americans have populated this county. As the original people of this land, it is our responsibility to be good stewards of Mother Earth. Hays County will be proud to showcase our Indigenous Cultures Center as a state model for innovative best practices in environmentally sensitive land management and in green building for our facility. And our people will be proud to present our rich and vibrant culture as part of this amazing project.
Community support for our Center is flourishing even beyond Hays County, as we receive messages of support and positive comments on a daily basis. We’ve received support from individuals involved in organizations such as the Great Springs Project, Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, Barrio de la Victoria, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Downtown Association of San Marcos, Environmental Defense Fund, Texas Hill Country Alliance, Lifelong Learning — San Marcos, and the Council on the Indigenous and Tejano Community, and many community leaders and county residents. And support is growing.
We are the only minority organization requesting funds, and we have the capacity, capability, and commitment required to achieve this ambitious project for Hays County and for our people. We have high hopes that the Hays County Commissioners Court will consider funding this most extraordinary Indigenous Cultures Center.
Sincerely,
Mario Garza, Ph.D.
San Marcos
