Lipan Apache Band of Texas


The Lipan Apache Band of Texas is a cultural heritage organization of individuals who identify as descendants of Lipan Apache people The organization LABT is based in Edinburg, Texas; with members living in Texas, Louisiana, California, and Mexico.
The Lipan Apache Band of Texas is an unrecognized organization. They are neither a federally recognized tribe nor a state-recognized tribe.
Other unrecognized organizations who also identify as Lipan Apache descendants, including the Apache Council of Texas, Cuelgahen Nde Lipan Apache of Texas, the Lipan Apache Nation, or the state-recognized Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.

Organization

The Lipan Apache Band of Texas, Inc., became a 501 nonprofit organization in 1999. It is based in Edinburg, Texas.
Daniel Castro Romero Jr. is the registered agent.
Officers of the organization include:
  • Director, and agent: Daniel Castro Romero Jr.
  • Director: Richard A. Gonzalez
  • Director: Rudy S. Perez
  • Secretary: Virginia C. Romero
Many members of the Lipan Apache Band of Texas left the organization to join the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, which incorporated in 2007, after a dispute involving Daniel Castro Romero Jr. In 2022, Richard Gonzalez became the tribal chairman. The Texas State Senate passed a congratulatory resolution to honor the Lipan Apache Band of Texas.

Petition for federal recognition

In 1999, Daniel Castro Romero Jr. of San Antonio submitted a letter of intent to petition the U.S. federal government for recognition of the Lipan Apache Band of Texas, Inc.; however, the group never followed up with a complete petition for recognition.

Activities

The Lipan Apache Band of Texas hosts an annual powwow in Fort Clark Springs, Texas, which has been honored in a congratulatory resolution. Each March, they participate in a living history celebration at Fort Clark.
The Mexican state of Coahuila invited LABT members to visit for a cultural exchange in 2009. In 2012, the group worked with the University of Texas Human Rights Clinic and LAW-Defense to create an "Early Action/Early Warning procedure report to stop racial discrimination.
Lucille Contreras, an LABT member, launched the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project in 2021. She purchased in Waelder, Texas; formed a nonprofit organization; and developed a herd of American bison. The Nature Conservancy helped provide five bison to the project.

Notable members