The world lost a remarkable woman on November 3, 2024, with the passing of Yolanda Imelda Zarate. Born on April 30, 1924, to Aminta Zarate and Julian Zarate Cantu, Yolanda’s life was marked by a profound dedication to her community and a relentless pursuit of justice and historical recognition.

A Career in Nursing

Yolanda’s professional journey began in the field of healthcare, where she served as a registered nurse for over 50 years. Her work was closely tied with the renowned heart transplant patients of Dr. Michael DeBakey in Houston, Texas. Her compassion and expertise helped save countless lives and provided comfort and care to patients undergoing critical treatments.

An Accomplished Author and Historian

Yolanda also made her mark as an author and historian. Her book, “1492-2020 Hispanic Heritage Timeline, Truth Versus Consequences: We Did Not Cross the Border from Mexico, the Border Crossed Us,” is a powerful testament to her commitment to preserving and sharing the rich history of Hispanic heritage. The book serves as both a historical account and a rallying cry for justice and recognition.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1492-2020-hispanic-heritage-timeline-yolanda-zarate/1140827357

A Champion for the Hispanic Community

Yolanda Imelda Zarate’s contributions to healthcare were noteworthy, but she is most renowned for her dedicated work within the Hispanic community. She followed the path of her mother, Aminta Zarate, and became a key figure in the Spanish Land Grant Movement. As a co-founder and organizer of the “Associacion De Reclamantes” she endeavored to identify the descendants of Spanish and Mexican land grantees and help them reclaim their ancestral lands as guaranteed by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Following Texas independence in 1836, Spanish and Mexican titles became the legal bedrock for land administration for the new republic and later, the state. Founding leaders prioritized the collection, organization, preservation, and translation of these documents. However, property records were widely dispersed. Some were kept in the archives of the ayuntamientos (municipal councils), others by individual land commissioners appointed by the Mexican government, and still others among the personal papers of surveyors or empresarios like Stephen F. Austin and Green De Witt.

Under these circumstances, the Texas Consultation (provisional government) closed all existing land offices and appointed agents to collect and safeguard the archives. The General Land Office was founded in 1836, with John P. Borden as the first commissioner a year later. He began the challenging task of consolidating all Spanish and Mexican land grant documentation. This centralization process was plagued by obstacles such as continuing hostilities with Mexico, shifting national boundaries, resentful empresarios, lack of funds, and the nearly deadly Archives War of 1842. By 1850, Borden and his successors had gathered most of the records of the empresario colonies and relevant documents from municipal collections. By that time, Texas had achieved statehood and won control of the disputed trans-Nueces (southern borderlands) with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848 after the Mexican-American War.

Founding “Associacion De Reclamantes”

Furthering her dedication to historical preservation and advocacy, Yolanda founded Associacion De Reclamantes, an organization aimed at uniting the descendants of the original Spanish land grantees. The movement Zarate founded worked tirelessly to address the loss of lands that occurred despite the promises made by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, fighting against the fraud, violence, and laws that favored European Texans at the expense of the rightful heirs.

Under Texas unclaimed property program which began in 1962 more than $3 billion in unclaimed money has been returned to the rightful owners. However, for people in South Texas many who were descendants of the Original Spanish settlers of Texas and land grantees few were receiving mineral royalties.  With scant evidence of efforts by oil companies to locate the descendants as well as sloppy record keeping ownership of mineral royalties was either appropriated by the oil companies or sent to the state as unknown heir.

It was not until the mid-1980s around the time when Zarate’s mother as well as Yolanda herself began their activism with Associacion De Reclamantes and began to question why none of the original land grantee descendants were receiving any royalties that South Texas courts demanded oil companies turn in their money to the State Comptroller’s Office.

Despite numerous instances of fraud, funds from mineral royalties are still accessible at the State Comptroller’s office for the descendants. However, due to the oil companies’ poor record-keeping, many names are either lost or unknown, rendering the claims process nearly impossible. Presently, the state holds over $6 billion in cash and other assets in this program.

A Lasting Legacy

Yolanda Imelda Zarate’s legacy embodies compassion, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to justice. Her life’s work has made a lasting impression on the Hispanic community and others, motivating future generations to persist in the struggle for recognition and rights. In remembering Yolanda, we celebrate her significant contributions and the lasting influence of her endeavors.

Her story stands as a powerful testament to the impact of perseverance and the significant difference an individual can make in the world. Rest in peace, Yolanda Imelda Zarate. Your legacy will remain a source of inspiration and guidance for us all.