Border Patrol Presentation

Native Americans dance, exhibit unique heritage
BY ROBERT GARCIATimes staff writer
The Native American Indian Council of Laredo on Wednesday demonstrated its unique heritage with an exhibit, a dance performance and a brief lecture before a group of Border Patrol agents. The federal law enforcement agency recognized National American Indian Month as part of its equal employment opportunity program.
"We are the only Border Patrol sector that recognizes every national heritage. We had several ceremonies in observance of Hispanic week and others federal observances," Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Oscar Garza said.
Guest speaker at the ceremony, Xavier Delapass Sanchez, of the American Indian Council in San Antonio, told the agents that such presentations allowed the local council to educate the local community about the Indian heritage.
Laredo Indian Council member and a member of the Apache tribe, Emiliano Flores brought his two sons, Eric and Jimmy, to the ceremony to perform. "As a youngster I kept the tradition of our tribe alive. That is what I want for my sons, Eric and Jimmy to do," Flores said.
Flores said the education of the Indian culture at his home is continuous. "That is the reason for being here; my kids learn and so does the public. I take my family to pow-wows or Indian gatherings throughout Texas and Oklahoma," Flores said. "They need to keep the culture alive to pass it on to their children, our history, our blood and our ways.
Eric was ready to perform standing in the hallway, dressed in a traditional northern country Indian red, white and blue colored gear from the Sioux Indian Tribe. His younger brother, Jimmy had the traditional yellow-colored grass-dancer gear.
"The grass-dancers would be the first in front of the tribe and would basically flatten the grass for the rest of the tribe during a ceremony," Flores said. Delapass said many Indian traditions have been lost forever.
"We show what we still have and are passing it on to our children so it wouldn't be forgotten. That is what we'll talk about here today, about the missing facts of our heritage," Delapass said. About 30 agents and staff employees were present for the late Wednesday afternoon presentation.