Coastal Plains

Karankawa (Gulf Coastal ) Lived in the coastal plains near the Gulf Got their food by fishing-ate fish, shellfish, and small animals Lived in Wood Framed Homes with woven grass walls Had appointed chiefs to lead villages Nomads, made dugout canoes, died out from European diseases Click on picture

Karankawas Lived in the are of Galveston to Corpus Christi near the Gulf. Their clothes were made out of deerskin, grass, or moss. Men would pierce pieces of sharpened bone through their lips and chest to show how macho they were. Taller Indians so they carried bows that were up to 6 feet tall.

Karankawas Gathered food by fishing Ate fish, shellfish and small animals Lived in wood framed homes with woven grass walls called Wigwams Had appointed chiefs to lead the villages Nomads and hunter-gatherers Died out from European diseases

Scavengers of the desert…ate anything that wiggled or crawled. Coahuiltecans – hunted and gathered food in south Texas. Nomadic: covered long distances following buffalo, deer and small animals; fished, and ate seeds, berries, roots, plants, nuts, insects, lizards, snakes, spiders and worms did not build permanent homes; worked hard, but liked to gather for feasting and dancing. Scavengers of the desert…ate anything that wiggled or crawled.

Southeastern Tribes

Caddo Tribal Song click on picture Caddo (Plains Group) Lived in the coastal plains and gave Texas its name Expert farmers, who practiced crop rotation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_rotation -Grew beans, corn, squash, melons and tobacco Lived permanent Grass Huts made out of wooden frames and dry grasses -Organized their tribe as a confederacy (religious, political, healers/crafts people) -both men and women tattooed and painted their bodies -Built religious mounds and temples -non-nomadic Caddo Tribal Song click on picture Jumano Tribe Tribute Click on shape

Atakapans -settled between the Caddo and Gulf of Mexico -Farmers- main crop was corn Hunted wild game and alligator Thought to have lived in huts made from brush Non-nomadic

Comanche Fierce warriors Originally lived in western US-Migrated to Great Plains after acquiring horses Lived in bands and not a tribe- each band had a head peace chief During wars and raid- the best fighter/rider would become leader called a war chief Thought to be the most skilled horsemen of all Indians. Skilled buffalo hunters- soon controlled much of the plains because of their skills Only about 1% can still speak their language today. Mostly nomadic

Puebloan Tribes

Jumano (Pueblo Group) Lived in large villages with permanent houses made of Adobe, called Adobe Pueblos Lived in the mountains near the Rio Grande River Farmers- grew corn, squash and gathered wild plants Hunted buffalo Each village had a leader with its own government traded with other tribes Used bows and arrows and clubs in battle Click on picture

Plains Tribes Stretch from Canada to Southeastern Texas Many Plains Indians became excellent Horsemen It would take several arrows to bring down one buffalo because of their size.

Witchita Called themselves “Kitikiti'sh”-meaning raccoon-eyed because they (tattooed eyes) Settled along Red River Farmers-beans, corn, melons and squash. Horseman, used horse to hunt buffalo Lived in permanent villages with similar houses to Caddo

Apache Indians Migrated to Texas from Canada, just east of the Pecos The word Apache is thought to be Zuni-meaning “enemy” After acquiring the horse from the Spanish they moved farther south into the Hill Country following Buffalo. Apache men tied feathers and decorations to hair Men had no facial hair Women wore earrings The Comanche warriors eventually pushed the Apache out splitting them into two tribes The Lipan and Mescalero Apache Indians

Lipan Apache (Plains Group) Originated in Canada but migrated to the Great Plains- South Texas Skilled horsemen Got their food by hunting mostly buffalo -were also farmers which was unusual for Apache Lived in teepees (usually made of about 8 hides) One chief led the tribe Nomads, made pottery, moved to reservation in early 1900’s Click on picture Lipan Warrior

American Indians in Texas Caddo-Atakapan Karankawa-Coahuiltecan Jumano-Tigua Apache Witchita Comanche Chris Aigner - 2011