Native Texas CulturesCaddo ~ Wichita

Tonkawa ~ Apache ~ Comanche ~ Kiowa

Jumano ~ TiguaCoahuiltecan ~ Karankawa

First People in Americas Scientist believe the first people arrived in

North America from Asia Freezing temperatures of the Ice Age created

huge glaciers Ocean temperatures fell Bering Strait became dry forming a “land

bridge” called Beringia Asian peoples crossed “land bridge” between

Asia and Alaska

They were hunter-gatherers

First People in Americas In 1492, Christopher Columbus thought he

reached a part of Asia called the “Indies” Named the people he met “Indians” Today, we call them Native Americans

The Early Cultures How do we study past cultures?

Archeologists-scientists who study and learn about past cultures from artifacts they find

How were Indian cultures organized? Bands – consist of two or more extended

families that lived together under one leader. What is an extended family?

Tribes – multiple bands who follow the same leader and share the same territory and culture.

Southeastern Tribes

Caddo

Wichita

THE CADDO Region: Coastal Plains

Piney Woods Area Housing: Large, Cone-Shaped Houses in Villages

Could hold 8-10 families Decorated with colorful rugs, baskets, and

pottery Clothing: Deerskin (tanned to a deep black) and

Buffalo Hide (in winter) Tools/Weapons: Bow and Arrow

THE CADDO Unique Characteristics:

Organized into confederacies Clay Pottery Farming/Hunting/Gathering Contributed to Texas agriculture “Tay-yas” – Friends Most Advanced Culture

THE WICHITA Region: North Central Plains Housing: Tipis (nomads), Grass Huts Clothing: Deerskin and Buffalo Hide Tools/Weapons: Horses for hunting from

Kiowas Unique Characteristics:

Shorter and Darker “Raccoon Eyes” Tattoos Farmers

Plains Tribes

TonkawaLipan-

ApacheCom

anche

Kiowa

THE TONKAWA Region: Coastal Plains Housing: Tipis (nomads) Clothing: Buffalo Hide Tools/Weapons: Used buffalo to make tools and

weapons; Bow and Arrow Unique Characteristics: Became hunters and

gatherers after being pushed East from Comanches and Lipan-Apaches

Friendly tribe

THE LIPAN-APACHE Region: Great Plains/Coastal Plains Housing: Tipis (nomads) Clothing: Deerskin and Buffalo Hide Tools/Weapons: Used buffalo to make tools and

weapons; Bow and Arrow Unique Characteristics:

Among the first to ride horses – up to 100 miles per day

Some Farming

THE COMANCHE Region: Great Plains Housing: Tipis (nomads) Clothing: Buffalo Hide Tools/Weapons: Used buffalo to make tools and

weapons; Bow and Arrow Unique Characteristics: ENTIRE way of life

depended on the buffalo Pemmican Known as “warriors of the plains”

THE KIOWAS Geographic Location: Great Plains Types of Housing: Tipis (nomads) Types of Clothing: Buffalo Hide Tools/Weapons: Used buffalo to make

tools/weapons; Bow and Arrow Unique Characteristics: Sun Dance – “Unity”

Became allies with Comanches

Pueblo Tribes

JumanoTigua

THE JUMANO Region: Mountains and Basins

Small portion of Great Plains Housing: Adobe Housing (Pueblos)

Many families lived in each Pueblo Clothing: Capes and Ponchos Tools/Weapons: Farmers/Farming Tools

THE JUMANO Unique Characteristics:

Men did most of the farming Skilled Traders “Striped People” - horizontal FIRST to have horses

THE TIGUAS Region: Mountains and Basins Housing: Adobe Housing (Pueblos)

Shelters in the fields Kiva –tribal council meetings

Clothing: Capes and Ponchos Tools/Weapons: Farming Tools

THE TIGUAS Unique Characteristics:

Oldest group of Native Americans still living in Texas today – tiny reservation in El Paso

Western Gulf Tribes

Coahuiltecan

Karankawa

THE COAHUILTECANS Region: Coastal Plains Housing: Dome-shaped huts covered with reed

mats and animal hides Independent bands Very mobile

Clothing: Little clothing Breechcloths and sandals

Tools/Weapons: Bow and Arrow Pits to catch javelinas (wild pigs) Fires

THE COAHUILTECANS Unique Characteristics:

Hunter-gatherers Ate many things: snakes, snails, insects,

spiders,ROTTEN WOOD, Plants

THE KARANKAWAS Region: Coastal Plains Housing: Lean-To/Hut

Held 8 People Easy to move

Clothing: Deer Skin or Spanish Moss Tools/Weapons: Long Bow and Arrow

THE KARANKAWAS Unique Characteristics:

Ceremonial cannibalism Fishing, hunting and gathering wild plants Dugout canoes – from tree trunks Tallest Indians – 6 ft

TEXAS INDIANS TODAY 100,000 Native Americans live in Texas today 3 Tribes

Tigua in El Paso Alabama-Coushatta in East Texas Kickapoo near Eagle Pass

Most bands settled on reservations in Oklahoma