Native American group plans to sue San Antonio and Texas over cemetery issue at Alamo

Tejanos were at the Alamo to defend it, to support combatants or to take refuge, but their stories seldom are included in the story of Texas’ independence. Tejanos were at the Alamo to defend it, to support combatants or to take refuge, but their stories seldom are included in the story of Texas’ independence. Photo: Tom Reel /Staff File Photo Photo: Tom Reel /Staff File Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Native American group plans to sue San Antonio and Texas over cemetery issue at Alamo 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Claiming that sacred remains at the Alamo are not being adequately protected in an ongoing public-private project at the old mission and battle site, a Native American group plans to file a suit Monday in state district court against the city of San Antonio, the Texas General Land Office and two other parties.

The suit by the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation will be seeking “to ensure that the regulatory processes are followed, and that the historic cemetery and lineal descendant’s rights are protected,” according to a news release.

“No one wants this project to die. We want it to succeed. We feel this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for San Antonio to share the entire story of the Alamo,” said Ramón Vasquez, a spokesman for the Native American group.

On ExpressNews.com: Legal battle looming over Alamo 'cemetery' in downtown San Antonio

Claiming there is “undeniable genealogical evidence” that the Alamo was used as a cemetery for more than a century before the famous battle there in 1836, Vasquez has pressed for city, state and federal protections of the site.The group is demanding a comprehensive archaeological historic cemetery study and an in-depth archival report be included in the Alamo plan.

City, state and nonprofit officials overseeing the Alamo site have said the project is in compliance with all applicable laws. Although they are hopeful that human remains will not be disturbed in the project, officials have said a human remains treatment protocol has been written, in consultation with a committee of representatives from federally recnogized tribal groups, to ensure that any unearthed skeletal remains or funerary objects are handled properly.

Also named in the suit were the Texas Historical Commission and Alamo Trust Inc., a subsidiary of the nonprofit Alamo Endowment that holds a contract with the Land Office to provide daily operations at the Alamo.

John MacCormack is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | JMacCormack@express-news.net | Twitter: @JohnMacCormack