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
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