NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES OF TEXAS

KARANKAWAS Lived on coast between Galveston and Corpus Christi Fishermen, used canoes pushed by poles Women were hard working, tatooed. Karankawas were very gentle with children and loved dogs Extinct as a tribe

COAHUILTECANS (Ko•ah•EEL•tay•kunz) Lived as nomads on southern coast of Texas and inland from Rio Grande to San Antonio Food included deer and rabbit, women gathered nuts, berries, lizards, cacti, insects, roots. Made the most of plants and wildlife and were known for their toughness and endurance Absorbed into Spanish society

Caddo Lived in Piney Woods of East Texas Developed complex societies Proficient farmers of pumpkin, beans, corn, etc. Hunted deer and bears Made crafts, baskets, and pottery Women controlled entire family Groups of Caddoes joined to form federations 5,500 remain

Caddoes, cont. Caddo Lake Caddo villagers worked together to build their tall, sturdy, dome shaped grass houses Caddo Lake Named after the Caddo Indians

ALABAMA-COUSHATTA Settlers along Trinity River in east Texas Lived in cabins Hunters of game and fish, gathered berries and other food, cultivated vegetables and fruit trees Skilled at making baskets and other crafts 550 enrolled in Tribe of Texas

ALABAMA-COUSHATTA, cont.

ATAKAPANS Lived in Louisiana and Southeast Texas (Houston, Beaumont, Tomball, Magnolia) Little is known about this band of tribes Hunters of small animals and deer Fishing with dugout canoes Gathered roots, berries, some raised crops Atakapan is Choctaw word for “man eater” It is unsure if cannibalism was for subsistence or ritual Some descendants remain today

TONKAWAS Tonkawa means “People of the Wolf” and they believed they were descendants from a mythical wolf and therefore never killed any wolves. Lived in Central Texas, between Austin and San Antonio Had many clans and were friendly with Karankawa and hospitable to other tribes

Tonkawas, cont. Because wolves were hunters, they were hunters and did not farm Tribe still exists Population 593

APACHES Migrated from Canada; Lived in Southern Great Plains and Central Plains Hunters; on foot before horses were brought by Spaniards, often used bison jumping technique Relied on buffalo/bison for food, shelter, weapons. Bones were used for tools, hide for teepees, clothing, shoes, blankets, etc. Famous for their toughness, bravery and fierce fighting

Clans lived independently under a chief APACHES, cont. Clans lived independently under a chief Many clans were nomadic (move from place to place) Population: 56,060 throughout Southwestern U.S. Who was this famous Apache Chief?

COMANCHES Migrated from Canada; Lived in Great Plains, North-Central Texas Fierce warriors; known for raids, taking goods and captives Skilled horsemen; could shoot up to 20 arrows per minute while riding full speed Depended on buffalo for their survival Population today: 14,700 Quanah Parker Great Comanche Chief

Additional Native Texan Facts Tribes used local materials for their housing needs East Texas: use of wood and grasses for beehives, cabins, wikiups. Central Texas: use of buffalo hide, brush, limited wood. West Texas: Adobe (building materials made from sun-dried earth and straw) Texas got its name from the Native Americans. “Tejas” is the original word, meaning “friend”

Cont. Arrival of Europeans spelled disastrous for most Native Americans Natives did not understand the concept of land ownership, felt that the earth belongs to everyone Many died as result of diseases Many entered treaties with Europeans only to find them broken by the Europeans Diseases and conflict has greatly reduced the number of Natives and their cultures. Some descendants live on reservations, many alongside other Texans throughout the state. A resurgence has started some years ago to preserve and continue many Native cultural traditions.