The American Indian Council of Laredo, started in February 6th 1992, by Xavier Delapass Sanchez with the help from Tomas Tabares, Yvonne Walters, LaJuanda Burns, and Michael Peters. During that year, Gary Gabehart, Pres. of the San Antonio Council of Native Americans and Dr. Judy Victoria New also came to assist. This Indian Council was formed to honor my grandfather, ex-veteran, Theodore Roosevelt Delapass.

In May of 1993, the Memorial Day Pow Wow had its 1st pow wow at the Martin High School Cafetorium. The 1st and 2nd Pow Wows were held at Martin High School mainly because of my mom, Evita Delapass Sanchez assisted us in obtaining the location free of charge. These and from then on, the pow wows were made possible with the assistance of Robert Soto's South Texas Indian Dancers

Our 3rd one was the 1st held at the Laredo Civic Center. With the help of Saul Ramirez, the Mayor, and Larry Dovalina, plus my uncle Jose Delapass, as the main people helping to do the Pow Wow. From this 3rd year and for the next 5 years it was considered the best non-competition pow wow in the state of Texas, with the city of McAllen arguing about it.

It was during those last years, that the new Mayor, Betty Flores, Larry Dovalina, Irma D. Soto, assisted my uncle, and with the presence of Charles Chibitty, Last Comanche Code-Talker, that help it reach this level. By then my cousin Rose R. Rabin was coordinating the pow wow. It was also during those years that drum groups were formed and performed for the 1st time, songs were made and performed for the 1st time, a dancer returned to dancing after a 40 absence, and new dancers were brought into the Arena for their 1st time.

In the year 2000 that pow wow was postponed till 2001, and thats when Emiliano Flores and Sammy Aguilar took over for 3 years, coordinating it. In the meantime I was traveling all over the SE United States, and too far to attend.

During a small performance i did at the Laredo Pocahantas Celebration, it was suggested by Betty Flores that I return to coordinate the pow wow and bring it to its status of being the best in Texas. I have returned for the last 5 years, but it has not reached the level I wish it would. I have to give credit where credit is due. All the pow wows were still a success because of Mr. Soto's Dancers, and Drum, from the Rio Grande Valley.

During these years there have been many friends that have attended most of the pow wows. People like Emma Ortega, the story teller, Rudy Perez, the vendor, Uzziel Martinez, the actor from Hollywood, and John Benitez, and his wife Penny, my helpers, but people have also come from as far as Montana, Wisconsin, California, and Oklahoma.

So this year, 2010, the 17th annual, Robert Barrera has taken over the coordinating and with the the help of Mayor Raul Salinas, Irma D. Soto, and Blasits Lopez, Im hoping he will do a better job than I have done recently. Hoping,.... the pow wow again, will regain it state leading status, and detrone McAllen and San Antonio, as the best. I do want to mention this, Erica Rodriguez and Irma D. Soto help us behind the scenes so they might never been seen, but their help is greatly appreciated.

Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-29th are the days, lets attend, enjoy, see the beauty of the Native American Culture, and have fun!

Thank you
Xavier Delapass Sanchez
President
San Antonio Council Native Americans &
American Indian Council Laredo
lotp13@yahoo.com
(210) 461-4786