HOUSE MEMORIAL 32

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Sarah Maestas Barnes and Miguel P. Garcia

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 2, 2016 "GUADALUPE HIDALGO TREATY DAY" AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RECOGNIZING THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO TREATY DAY AND COMMEMORATING THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, on February 2, 1848, the United States and the Republic of Mexico signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement, known as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, at the main altar of the old cathedral of Guadalupe at the Villa Hidalgo to end the war between the two nations; and

     WHEREAS, through the treaty, Mexico formally relinquished claims to over two hundred sixty-six thousand square miles of land in Texas and directly ceded more than five hundred

twenty-five thousand square miles of additional land from Mexico to the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the lands relinquished or ceded by Mexico, totaling over seven hundred ninety thousand square miles, now constitute all or parts of eight states in the American west, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming; and

     WHEREAS, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo included provisions for the protection of established property rights, including community land grants, within the transferred areas; and

     WHEREAS, Spanish and Mexican community land grants and Native American pueblo communities throughout New Mexico have relied on the provisions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to protect their current remaining common lands and as the basis to pursue a just recovery of their traditional, former common lands; and

     WHEREAS, on February 2, 1998, community land grant heirs and advocates from around the state came together at the state capitol to celebrate the first-ever Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty Day; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 12-5-10 NMSA 1978, the second of February is set apart each year and known as "Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty Day" in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, February 2, 2016 marks one hundred sixty-eight years since the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; and

     WHEREAS, over generations New Mexico's land grant communities have experienced phenomenal changes in government, culture and economy, and their resilience is demonstrated by their growing vitality as political subdivisions of the state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 2, 2016 be recognized as the eighteenth annual commemoration of Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty Day; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the house of representatives extend its esteem to the community land grant heirs for their continued, dedicated work throughout New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that state and federal legislative support for all Spanish and Mexican community land grants and Native American pueblos should continue far into the future; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the board of trustees of all community land grants registered in the state's official land grant registry, the governors and tribal councils of all the pueblos of New Mexico and the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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