Here is the full text of the reply to our statement:

Dear Jose:

On behalf of my mother, Eloisa Garcia Tamez, and the elders of El Calaboz, El Ranchito and La Paloma, of the San Pedro de Carricitos Land Grant of the Place Where the Lipan Pray, I want to thank you for your stand in support of the indigenous families of the Lower Rio Grande valley whose lands, cultures and way of life is threatened by the Department of Homeland Security and the settler nation of the United States government.

Your support at this moment is critical, as we have been working with indigenas all throughout the hemisphere, through listening and learning to the immense stories we carry in our bodies, hearts, minds, and spirits of being directly impacted communities throughout the occupied “International Boundary” region. Your solidarity statement helps immensely in the education process, by raising awareness of the Nde’ peoples all along the Texas-Mexico conflict region, and means a great deal to the aboriginal peoples of these lands, and by situating our struggles together, side by side. Through intense adversities our people have persevered and continue to make the necessary relationships which are necessary in order for critical changes and new solutions to come forth from the people themselves, in unity, and this is a good day.

I acknowledge the strength, vision, and leadership of the people of the Yoeme, Yoreme, O’odham, Opata, Mayo and Nde people of the Sonora-Arizona corridors who have stepped forward in the last two weeks –daily–to share their hearts, spirits, and ceremonial support for our people and the intense impacts this violent aggression by the colonialist U.S. nation-state, is causing on our people.

Your statement which you offered to our people in a public forum is a very important step in opening relationships, indigenous to indigenous, that are necessary in the movement towards restoring indigenous democracy in our lands and lives.

I am truly grateful for your public cry of solidarity–ahi’i'e da go tee gozhoo– thanks and all around joy. We look forward to this new relationship, and we also encourage indigenous leaders–from the people–to affirm this step you’ve taken at this moment.

Margo Tamez
Lipan Apache — Jumano Apache