Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas

Floresville, TX

In 2021, Climate Nexus launched an Energy Equity Regranting Project to help resource organizations, tribes, and community leaders on the frontlines of climate change and the impactful work they are doing to fight the gas industry. The energy equity transition grants prioritize grassroots groups with an annual budget of $1 million or less to boost their efforts in racially, ethnically, gender, and culturally diverse communities across the United States and at the intersections of public health and energy justice.

In our first year running the program, nine organizations received grants ranging from $20,000 to $40,000, including the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, whose work is detailed below. 

Overview

Based within the South Texas Rio Grande delta, the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas has faced a multitude of threats to its historic land. As temperatures increase, the dangers of extreme heat have become a focal point of the tribe, as well as fighting the construction of pipelines across the Southwest, increasing accurate history for the Texas Education Board, and increasing proper federal recognition of their related villages as part of the tribe.

Activities

The Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas has made great strides in protecting sacred sites and supporting claims to their ancestral lands. The work of the Tribe is expansive and never-ending, as they must fight endlessly on multiple fronts. In addition to the milestones presented below, the Tribe travels thousands of miles throughout Texas, monitoring pipelines, disposal wells, ongoing border wall construction, and fracking and flaring violations.

• The Tribe organized and held a Human Rights Tribunal, the first of its kind. This Tribunal presented expert and community testimony on the history and sovereignty of the tribe, created an official record of harm caused to tribal members individually and collectively (past and present with implications for future generations), and made known the environmental and economic damages of proposed LNG projects, and established grounds to hold governments and corporations accountable for historical and present harm. Data, evidence, and testimony gathered at this event are now being used by other Tribal Nations seeking to protect their land and inherent rights as Indigenous Peoples. 
• As a leader in the resistance against methane gas export terminals, the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, in partnership with other organizations and community members in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), has been successful in delaying permits for the Texas LNG and Rio Grande LNG facilities proposed in Brownsville, with one project, Annova LNG, pulling out altogether. 
• Local groups, including the Tribe, are pressuring FERC to cancel Rio Grande LNG’s request for an extension to their permit application, as they are now several years past previously extended target dates. The Tribe is writing opposition comments and trying to secure more meetings with various officials to request canceling this permit altogether.

Lessons Learned

The Tribe struggles with the state of Texas because the state refuses to acknowledge the Tribe or deal with them respectfully or equitably. This has resulted in the Tribe pursuing engagement at the federal level for relief and recourse. They have successfully petitioned meetings this past year with legislators and government officials at the EPA, USACE, FAA, FERC, and CPB. However, there remains a need for legal representation on many issues.

Future and Sustainability

The Tribe is a service organization that provides mutual aid to its members and many other tribal communities in need during disasters or difficult times. General operating support is always needed, especially as they build capacity. Currently, the Tribe is working with only three full-time employees, two part-time employees, and several occasional volunteers.

The Tribe would also like to increase and improve its technology and communication capabilities. They require more efficient and cost-effective internet and broadband services; equipment for a planned radio station; and improved facilities at their central location — the Ewaye’hii Esto’k Spiritual Center — for youth programs and education events, computers and technology equipment, and general support for utilities and office supplies. Of immediate need is an office location in Brownsville, Texas, to establish a field office to collaborate with the World Monuments Fund in the communities of Cameron County for the preservation and protection of Garcia Pasture and build resistance to SpaceX expansion, proposed LNG terminals, and two more pipelines crossing through the county, all in the same vicinity.

The Tribe is planning a monumental event later this year, the “Reclaiming the Land Ancestral Run/Walk – Connecting the Permian Basin to the Gulf.” This run/walk will be led by Native youth and will be based around Dia de los Muertos, a celebration of their Ancestors. The run will travel through many sacred sites impacted by the oil/gas industry, beginning at Big Bend National Park, traveling through Devil’s River, up through Midland/Odessa, and back down to Laredo with a final stop at Garcia Pasture, covering hundreds of miles.

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  Rio Grande International Study Center

  RGISC conducts independent research and community education to steward the environmental preservation and restoration of the Rio Grande Basin.

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  Mississippi Communities United for Prosperity

  MCUP is examining the feasibility of Duck Hill developing a solar and wind park to convert the town to 100% electric and renewable energy.

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  Miami Climate Alliance

  The Miami Climate Alliance works across three areas: climate and health, energy justice, and advancing The Gulf South for a Green New Deal.

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  South Carolina Interfaith Power and Light

  SCIPL develops programming and resources around food insecurity, high energy bills, electric vehicle infrastructure, and resilience hubs.

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  Beyond Toxics

  Beyond Toxics is fighting the fracking industry, educating Lane County residents on climate and fossil fuels, and advocating for renewable energy projects.

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  Youth vs The Apocalypse (YVA)

  YVA uses Zoom to both build community and practice key leadership skills from strategic planning to giving interviews to social media strategies.

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  Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas

  The Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe travels throughout Texas, monitoring pipelines, disposal wells, ongoing border wall construction, and fracking/flaring violations.