Section 2

Native American Groups in Texas

Native Texans of the Gulf Coast

Native Texans developed lifestyles that made the most of the plants and the wildlife in their areas…

Coahuiltecans

Nomadic {moved from place to place with no permanent home}

Temporary dwellings {mud, animal skins, and brush}

Lived on the Southern Coast {hot, semi-arid brush country with little food or shelter}

Hunted deer, small animals {rabbits}…occasionally buffalo

Gathered food {mesquite beans, nuts, berries, cacti, worms, lizards, insects, and roots}

Tough…great deal of endurance {run all day}

Karankawas

Lived on Coast near marshy areas {between Corpus Christi Bayand GalvestonBay}

Dugout canoes {used cane traps…bows and arrows to fish}

Gathered {mollusks, clams, oysters} Hunted {small game}

Covered bodies with alligator or shark grease {ward of mosquitoes}

Clothing made from deerskin and moss

Painted and tattooed their bodies

Gentle with children…loved their dogs

Native Texans of East Texas

Piney Woods of East Texas have plenty of rainfall and fertile soil

Cleared forests to plant pumpkins, beans, and corn

Hunted deer, bears, and occasional buffalo

Built permanent dwellings

Created colorful crafts {rugs, baskets, pottery}

Developed trade networks

Complex Society

Caddoes

Lived along the Angelina and Neches Rivers

Built sturdy grass lodges

(up to 50 feet high)

Lived in large villages

Ruled by a major chief (caddi)…

assisted by other chiefs

  • Made important political decisions
  • Led the war council

Oldest woman in each family

controlled the entire family…including the chiefs and warriors

Built hugh temples and burial mounds

Groups of Caddoes joined together to form the Hasinai Confederacy

Atakapans

Lived in marshy wetlands {southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana}

Hunted small animals, deer

Fished from dugout canoes

Gathered {berries, roots, shellfish}

Some raised crops

Alabama and Coushatta

Settled along the Trinity River

1780’s moved into the Big Thicket area

Hunted deer and other game

Fished

Gathered berries

Lived in cabins surrounded by fields of vegetables and fruit trees

Skilled in basket making and other crafts

Native Texans of the Plains

Lives and culture based on the buffalo

  • Food
  • Shelter
  • Clothing
  • Weapons
  • Tools

Before horses…hunters ran the buffalo into streams or over cliffs for the kill

After horses…more efficient

Hunted elk, deer, antelopes,

or rabbits

Gathered plants for food

Once a buffalo was killed…

roasted most of the meat and preserved some {jerky}

Pemmican – mixture of dried meat, nuts, and berries…Trail Mix

Bones made into tools

Hide…teepees, clothing, shoes, blankets

Nomadic…

Dwellings (teepees) …easy to take apart and carry on long journeys

Before horses…domesticated dogs dragged small wooden sleds

Families…basic social organization

Bands…groups of families under the leadership of a chief

***warriors held high status because of their bravery

Mescalero Apaches

Nomadic hunters…known for raiding other groups in West Texas and Mexico

Lipan Apaches

Hunted and farmed…lived on rancherías (farming communities) near streams or rivers

  • Grew beans, maize (corn), squash, and pumpkins
  • Traded with neighboring groups
  • Later moved to South Texas to get away from their enemies, the Comanches

Comanches

Fierce Warriors

Skilled at riding horses…

”LORD OF THE PLAINS”

Skilled traders

Depended on the horse to hunt

and raid other groups…taking

goods and captives

Women wore finely decorated

Buckskin dresses

Kiowas

Often joined Comanches to drive Apaches from their territories

Painted pictures of important events on teepees

Made beautiful beaded crafts

Developed a calendar

Master riders

Among most feared native

groups on the plains.

Natives of North Central Texas

Tonkowas

Lived in Central Texas {Austin}

Hunted buffalo deer…traded hides

Fished rivers and springs

{fish, crawfish, clams}

Settled in villages {grass houses}

Later joined Europeans settlers

fighting the Comanches…

Wichitas

Settled near present day Waco, Dallas, and Corsicana

Farmers {corn, beans, pumpkins, squash, melons}

Hunted buffalo

Skilled artisans {clay pots, jars, leather bags}

Lived in large villages {1,000 people}

sturdy grass lodges {8-10 people}

Warriors elected chiefs {enforced rules}

Women held in high regard

Native Texans of the Far West

Jumanos

Lived in farming villages along the Rio Grande from El Paso to the Big Bend area

One-room houses {square, flat-roofed… made of adobe}

Planted crops beside rivers {take advantage of limited water supply}

Tiguas

Came to Texas with Spanish {fleeing

revolt in new Mexico}

Settled near El Paso

Adobe houses

Hunted and fished

Farmed {corn, tomatoes, squash, beans, grapes}

Made beautiful pottery (stored and cooked food}

Grew cotton {wove into cloth}

Latecomers

Cherokees

1819-1820 -fleeing pressure from settlers of north and east

Settled along the Sabine, Neches, and Angelina Rivers

Farmers {corn, beans, pumpkins, squash}

Used metal tools

Lived in log cabins in villages

Some maintained lifestyle…others intermarried with Southerners

Owned lard farms and plantations {slaves}

Kickapoo

Arrived from the Great Lakes

region

Lived in villages

Raised crops

Women built homes

{round structures covered with

woven mats}

Women made baskets,

buckskin clothing, crafted fine beadwork

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