Post by Okwes on Jan 6, 2006 0:59:32 GMT -5
Villalobos wants Aztecs, descendants to be historically recognized by
U.S. government
By Michelle Beaver, STAFF WRITER
www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_3369957
"Most Mexican Americans are ashamed of their Indian roots. They hate
them."
Whether it's true or not, it's the opinion of Hayward man Henry
Guzman Villalobos. The thought troubles him greatly. One of the only
thoughts that troubles him more is that the general populace doesn't
know much about those roots, and doesn't want to.
That's why Villalobos, 61, started an organization that intends to
educate the public.
It's called Aztecs of North America, Inc., and is three years old.
The main goal of the group is to help all Mexican-American
descendants receive historical recognition as American Indians from
the United States government.
Such recognition would enable Native Americans to travel freely over
the Mexico-United States border, and would be a radical change to
current immigration policies and other human-rights issues.
Villalobos is circulating a petition in favor of a historical
recognition bill that currently has more than 1,000 signatures. He
gives speeches every year and labors to learn more about American
Indian-related issues, but membership in his organization is low
(about a dozen people) and progress is tough.
He has decent support in other states and has tried to bring local
community leaders into his organization. Hayward Mayor Roberta Cooper
is one of them.
"I know he's doing a lot of educating about their (Native Americans')
situation and I'm very glad about that," Cooper said. "We often
ignore the plight of our Native American citizens."
Historical recognition has nothing to do with land or money,
Villalobos said. It's about respect, and history.
"What we want is to teach that the Aztecs are still here," he
said. "We still have our language. We want to strengthen our nation."
Villalobos and some scholars believe that the Aztec people lived not
only in Mexico, but also on what is now U.S. land. Villalobos is
working more with the U.S. than with Mexico, mostly because he was
born here. He said that Aztec descendants south of the border should
lobby Mexico.
Historical recognition will change what people read in textbooks and
will influence the self-image of Mexican Americans, according to
Villalobos.
"I want to help teach people who they really are," he said. "That
will take away the name of 'illegal immigrants.' The Mexican and
Mexican-American people are not awake to the fact that they are half-
breeds. We're talking about a race of people who are only about 500
years old."
Villalobos said that embracing all of one's lineage makes people more
complete.
"It makes a stronger person, not a confused person," he said.
He is especially interested in gaining recognition for Aztec
descendants, since many Latino Americans can claim some Aztec
heritage. The Aztec empire thrived
primarily in Mexico during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
The U.S. Census shows that there are only 7,453 Native Americans in
Alameda County. If a majority of Latinos were considered Native
Americans because of their probable Aztec lineage, Alameda County's
Native American population would skyrocket to almost 300,000.
Villalobos is three-quarters Aztec and one-quarter European. He was
raised by his European grandmother, who was kind to him, but
sometimes scolded him for his Aztec roots. She used to tell him, "Sit
up straight. You're acting like a savage."
When he was 7 years old, his full-blooded Aztec great-grandmother
visited him and changed his world forever.
"When I first saw her, something clicked between us," he said. "It's
hard to explain. We were sitting at the dinner table and I was
looking at her like there was a magnet between us. At 7 years old,
she planted a seed. She said, 'Let me tell you, you are an Indian."'
For the past 27 years, Villalobos has tried to uncover his roots. He
has lived with many tribes, including the Shoshone and Pima, and has
feverishly studied federal and California law as it applies to
American Indian affairs.
Villalobos, who is on disability and once worked odd jobs, got an
unlikely start in his academic studies.
Long ago, he robbed a bank in Texas and spent 12 years in federal
prison. It was there that he bonded with Native Americans from
various tribes and served as vice president of an American Indian
organization at the jail. He also took his first in-depth sociology
and history classes.
Villalobos grew up in Oakland and has lived in Hayward since 1951.
"If you know your past, you're stronger," he said. "In your mind you
don't feel like half a person, you're a whole person. I know where I
come from. And where I'm going."
Villalobos said he will work until his final day to see that Mexican
Americans receive historical recognition as Native Americans. It's a
tall order, but possible, he thinks.
"The Hispanic-Latino Americans need some backbone and education to
acknowledge their roots," he said. "If we do that, we can do
anything. We can make history."
U.S. government
By Michelle Beaver, STAFF WRITER
www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_3369957
"Most Mexican Americans are ashamed of their Indian roots. They hate
them."
Whether it's true or not, it's the opinion of Hayward man Henry
Guzman Villalobos. The thought troubles him greatly. One of the only
thoughts that troubles him more is that the general populace doesn't
know much about those roots, and doesn't want to.
That's why Villalobos, 61, started an organization that intends to
educate the public.
It's called Aztecs of North America, Inc., and is three years old.
The main goal of the group is to help all Mexican-American
descendants receive historical recognition as American Indians from
the United States government.
Such recognition would enable Native Americans to travel freely over
the Mexico-United States border, and would be a radical change to
current immigration policies and other human-rights issues.
Villalobos is circulating a petition in favor of a historical
recognition bill that currently has more than 1,000 signatures. He
gives speeches every year and labors to learn more about American
Indian-related issues, but membership in his organization is low
(about a dozen people) and progress is tough.
He has decent support in other states and has tried to bring local
community leaders into his organization. Hayward Mayor Roberta Cooper
is one of them.
"I know he's doing a lot of educating about their (Native Americans')
situation and I'm very glad about that," Cooper said. "We often
ignore the plight of our Native American citizens."
Historical recognition has nothing to do with land or money,
Villalobos said. It's about respect, and history.
"What we want is to teach that the Aztecs are still here," he
said. "We still have our language. We want to strengthen our nation."
Villalobos and some scholars believe that the Aztec people lived not
only in Mexico, but also on what is now U.S. land. Villalobos is
working more with the U.S. than with Mexico, mostly because he was
born here. He said that Aztec descendants south of the border should
lobby Mexico.
Historical recognition will change what people read in textbooks and
will influence the self-image of Mexican Americans, according to
Villalobos.
"I want to help teach people who they really are," he said. "That
will take away the name of 'illegal immigrants.' The Mexican and
Mexican-American people are not awake to the fact that they are half-
breeds. We're talking about a race of people who are only about 500
years old."
Villalobos said that embracing all of one's lineage makes people more
complete.
"It makes a stronger person, not a confused person," he said.
He is especially interested in gaining recognition for Aztec
descendants, since many Latino Americans can claim some Aztec
heritage. The Aztec empire thrived
primarily in Mexico during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
The U.S. Census shows that there are only 7,453 Native Americans in
Alameda County. If a majority of Latinos were considered Native
Americans because of their probable Aztec lineage, Alameda County's
Native American population would skyrocket to almost 300,000.
Villalobos is three-quarters Aztec and one-quarter European. He was
raised by his European grandmother, who was kind to him, but
sometimes scolded him for his Aztec roots. She used to tell him, "Sit
up straight. You're acting like a savage."
When he was 7 years old, his full-blooded Aztec great-grandmother
visited him and changed his world forever.
"When I first saw her, something clicked between us," he said. "It's
hard to explain. We were sitting at the dinner table and I was
looking at her like there was a magnet between us. At 7 years old,
she planted a seed. She said, 'Let me tell you, you are an Indian."'
For the past 27 years, Villalobos has tried to uncover his roots. He
has lived with many tribes, including the Shoshone and Pima, and has
feverishly studied federal and California law as it applies to
American Indian affairs.
Villalobos, who is on disability and once worked odd jobs, got an
unlikely start in his academic studies.
Long ago, he robbed a bank in Texas and spent 12 years in federal
prison. It was there that he bonded with Native Americans from
various tribes and served as vice president of an American Indian
organization at the jail. He also took his first in-depth sociology
and history classes.
Villalobos grew up in Oakland and has lived in Hayward since 1951.
"If you know your past, you're stronger," he said. "In your mind you
don't feel like half a person, you're a whole person. I know where I
come from. And where I'm going."
Villalobos said he will work until his final day to see that Mexican
Americans receive historical recognition as Native Americans. It's a
tall order, but possible, he thinks.
"The Hispanic-Latino Americans need some backbone and education to
acknowledge their roots," he said. "If we do that, we can do
anything. We can make history."