1. Southeastern and Gulf Cultures
Essential Questions: How does geography influence the way people live? What makes a culture unique?

2. Native American Cultures
Similarities
Lived in bands (small units)
Spiritual beliefs – Spirits walked the Earth and caused natural events
Shaman (summon spirits, heal sick, serve as leaders of the band)
Differences
Own culture (way of life)
Spoke own languages
Organized bands differently
Some were peaceful. Some were warlike.
Some lived in permanent communities. Some were nomadic.
Lifestyles varied because tribes depended on the geography to survive.

3. Southeastern and Gulf Coast
Caddo
Wichita
GULF COAST
Karankawa
Coahuiltecans
Atakapa

4. The Caddo East Texas Formed confederacies (union or group)
Connected by shared ancestry
Matrilineal society (traced kinship through the mother)
Developed Complex Social System
Based on status (rank)
Had political and spiritual leaders
Agricultural Society (grew crops – corn was the #1 crop)
Trade network
Known for pottery
TODAY: Caddo have been relocated to reservations
in Oklahoma

5. Karankawa Gulf Coast Hunters, Fishers, and Gatherers
Large Canoes (held whole family and goods)
Some traveled in small bands (Have a chief – send smoke signals to other bands)
1st tribe to meet Europeans (TODAY: Extinct)

6. Coahuiltecans Dry, South Texas Plains
Used bows and arrows to hunt deer and small animals
Fished in streams and gathered fruits and nuts
Europeans brought diseases (TODAY: Extinct)

7. Atakapa Southeastern Texas (bayous near Louisiana border)
Alligators (ate meat and used oil as insect repellent)
Europeans brought diseases (TODAY: Extinct)

8. Wichita Arrived later in Texas (1700s) Northern Texas (Dallas area)
Farmed and hunted
Lived in villages (Grass Huts)
TODAY: In the late 1800s, Wichita have been relocated to reservations in Oklahoma.

9. 1. Write a sentence using the word matrilineal relating to the Caddo people of Texas.
The Caddo had a matrilineal society and traced kinship on the mother’s side.

10. 2. Why were shamans important to Native Americans of Texas?
Most groups believed that the actions of spirits caused illness. Ill people needed the help of a shaman, someone believed to have the power to summon spirits and heal the sick. More than just healers, shamans were also the spiritual leaders of their bands.

11. 3. Which group of the Southeastern and Gulf Coast cultures had the most complex society? In what way was it complex?
The Caddo had the most complex society, with different levels of status and both spiritual and political leaders.

12. 4. How were the ways of life of the Karankawa and Coahuiltecan similar?
Both of these groups were mobile, moving every few weeks.

13. 5. What happened to the Caddo and the Wichita after Europeans arrived
5. What happened to the Caddo and the Wichita after Europeans arrived? What happened to the Karankawa and Coahuiltecan?
The Caddo and Wichita were moved to reservations in Oklahoma, where they live today. The Karankawa disappeared, and the Coahuiltecan either died off from diseases brought by Europeans or moved from the area.

14. 6. Which Native American group do you think had the most difficult way of life? Write a paragraph identifying the group and giving reasons to support your choice.
The Coahuiltecans had the most difficult lives because they lived in a harsh environment where food was scarce. The fact that they had to move every few weeks because they had used up the food resources of an area shows how difficult that environment was.