Apache
West Texas
Jumano
Basin Region- North
of Rio Grande
Comanche
High Plains
Tankawa
Central Texas
Wichita
East Texas
Food
The Apaches were not
farming people like
their cousins the
Navajos. Primarily
they were hunters.
Apache men hunted
buffalo, deer,
antelope, and small
game, while women
gathered nuts, seeds,
and fruit from the
environment around
them. Although they
were not farmers, the
Apaches still ate corn
frequently
The Pueblo Indians
were expert farming
people. They raised
crops of corn, beans,
squash, and
sunflowers, as well as
cotton and tobacco.
Pueblo men also
hunted deer, antelope,
and small game, while
women gathered nuts,
fruits, and herbs.
Favorite Pueblo
recipes included
hominy, popcorn,
baked beans, soups,
and different types of
cornbread.
The Comanche staple
food was buffalo.
Comanche men
usually hunted the
buffalo by driving
them off cliffs or
stalking them with
bow and arrow. As
they acquired horses,
the Comanche tribe
began to pursue the
buffalo herds for
communal hunts,
moving their villages
often as the buffalo
migrated. In addition
to buffalo meat, the
Comanche Indians ate
small game like
rabbits, fished in the
lakes and rivers, and
gathered nuts, berries,
and wild potatoes
The Tonkawas were
big game hunters.
Tonkawa men hunted
buffalo and deer and
sometimes fished in
the rivers. The
Tonkawas also
collected roots, nuts,
and fruit to eat.
Though the Tonkawas
were not farmers, corn
was also part of their
diet. They got corn by
trading with
neighboring tribes
The Wichitas were
farming people.
Wichita women
worked together to
raise crops of corn,
beans, squash and
pumpkins. Men
hunted deer and small
game and took part in
seasonal buffalo hunts.
The Wichitas also
collected fruits and
nuts to eat
Shelter
Most Apache people
lived in wickiups,
which are simple
A Pueblo is like a big
apartment building.
Most have two or
The Comanches lived
in buffalo-hide houses
called tipis (or
The Tonkawa Indians
lived in large buffalohide tents called tipis
The Wichitas built tall
beehive-shaped houses
thatched with grass.
Region
Karankawa
Coastal Plain
The Karankawa lived
around these bays and
along the lagoons,
mostly in the winter
There were many
kinds of fish and
oysters in the salt
water and brackish
water. Most of these
bays have large rivers
that empty into them,
such as the Colorado
and the Guadalupe.
There are also many
large creeks in the
coastal bend along
with swamps and
bayous and wetlands.
There are many kinds
of ducks and
waterfowl in this
environment.
Alligators and large
turtles are also found
in wetlands and
swamps and are good
to eat. Just inland
there are deer and
turkey along with
rabbits. In the spring
and early summer
there are blackberries
and many other kinds
of plants and roots to
eat.
The houses were small
huts made of long
sapling tree trunks or
Clothin
g
wooden frames
covered by a matting
of brush and
sometimes a buffalohide tarp
more stories. The
walls are usually made
from large mud bricks
called adobe bricks. If
the right kind of rock
is available, many
Pueblos would build
rock walls. The rooms
are small by our
modern standards. A
whole family would
live in one room.
teepees). Since the
Comanches moved
frequently to follow
the buffalo herds, a
tipi was carefully
designed to set up and
break down quickly,
like a modern tent. An
entire Comanche
village could be
packed up and ready
to move within an
hour
(or teepees). Tipis
were carefully
designed to set up and
break down quickly
Here are some pictures
of Native American
grass houses like the
ones Wichita Indians
used. When Wichita
men went on hunting
trips, they often used
small buffalo-hide
tipis(or teepees) as
temporary shelter,
similar to camping
tents. Unlike other
Plains Indian tribes,
though, the Wichitas
were not migratory
people, and did not
use tall teepees for
their regular houses.
Apache
Originally Apache
women wore buckskin
dresses and the men
wore leather war shirts
and breechcloths. In
the 1800's, many
Apache men began to
wear white cotton
tunics and pants,
which they adopted
from the Mexicans,
and many Apache
women wore calico
skirts and dresses. The
Apaches wore
moccasins or high
moccasin boots on
their feet. An Apache
lady's dress or
warrior's shirt was
Jumano
Originally, Pueblo
men didn't wear much
clothing-- only
breechclothsor short
kilts. Pueblo women
wore knee-length
cotton dresses called
mantas. A manta
fastened at a woman's
right shoulder, leaving
her left shoulder bare.
Missionaries didn't
think this dress style
was modest enough,
so in the 1900's many
Pueblo women started
wearing blouses or
shifts underneath their
mantas. This style is
still in use today. Men
Comanche
Comanche women
wore long deerskin
dresses, and the men
wore buckskin war
shirts and breechcloths
with leather leggings.
The Comanches wore
moccasinson their
feet, and in cold
weather, they wore
long buffalo-hide
robes. A Comanche
lady's dress or
warrior's shirt was
fringed and painted
with tribal designs.
Later, Comanche
people adapted
European costume
such as cloth vests and
Tankawa
Tonkawa women wore
wraparound deerskin
skirts. Tonkawa men
wore breechcloths.
Shirts were not
necessary in Tonkawa
culture, but some
Tonkawa warriors
wore elaborately
decorated war shirts
like those used by
northern Plains tribes.
In cooler weather,
Tonkawa women wore
shawls made of rabbit
fur and the men wore
painted buffalo robes.
The Tonkawas made
beautifully decorated
moccasins, but wore
Wichita
Wichita Indian men
wore breechcloths,
sometimes with
leather leggings to
protect their legs.
Wichita women wore
wraparound skirts and
poncho tops made of
woven fiber and
deerskin. Both genders
wore earrings and
moccasins. Wichita
men did not usually
wear shirts, but in cold
weather, both men and
women wore buffalo
robes. Here are some
photographs and links
about Indian regalia in
general.
limbs bent over and
tied together. They
would stick one end of
the tree limb or
saplings into the
ground in a big circle.
Then they would bend
them over towards the
middle and tie them
together making a
framework. They
would cover this
framework with
woven grass mats,
palm leaves or with
animal skins. They
would cover the floor
with woven grass
mats.
Karankawa
Living in a hot humid
climate that does not
get very cold very
often they did not
wear very much. Men
wore simple breach
cloths and women
wore grass skirts.
Often the men simply
went naked. The kids
always went naked in
warm weather.
Because their
environment has lots
and lots and lots of
insects that bite, they
would smear animal
fat and grease all over
their bodies.
Sometimes they would
often fringed and
beaded for decoration
and women both wore
deerskin moccasinson
their feet. For dances
and special occasions,
women painted their
moccasins white and
wrapped white strips
of deerskin called
putteearound their
shins as leggings
colorful blanket robes.
Here is a site about the
symbolism of Plains
Indian war shirts, and
some photos and links
about Indian clothing
in general.
The traditional style of
Comanche headdress
was a cap with eagle
feathers and ermine
tails trailing behind it.
In the 1800's, though,
some Comanche
Indian men preferred
to wear the long
feather head dressof
the northern Plains
tribes. Traditionally,
Comanche people
only cut their hair
when they were in
mourning. Comanche
men usually wore their
hair in two braids,
which they sometimes
wrapped in fur.
Comanche women
usually wore their hair
loose, and sometimes
painted the center
parts red. The
Comanches also
painted their faces for
special occasions.
They used different
patterns for war paint,
religious ceremonies,
and festive decoration.
them only for special
occasions. Normally
they went barefoot.
Here is a site about
Tonkawa regalia, and
some photos and links
about Indian clothing
in general.
Tonkawa Indian men
did not wear feather
warbonnets.
Sometimes they would
tie a few feathers to a
lock of their hair.
Tonkawa men wore
their hair long and
braided, but warriors
would sometimes cut
the hair on the left side
of their heads short.
Tonkawa women wore
their hair either loose
or in one long braid.
The Tonkawas wore
tribal tattoos and also
painted their faces for
special occasions.
They used different
patterns for war paint,
religious ceremonies,
and festive decoration.
The Wichitas didn't
wear long headdresses
like the Sioux.
Wichita men usually
cut their hair in the
Mohawkstyle or
shaved their heads
except for a
scalplock(one long
lock of hair on top of
their heads.)
Sometimes warriors
would make this
hairstyle more
impressive with a
colorful porcupine
roach. Wichita women
usually wore their hair
long hair, either
braided or in a bun.
The Wichitas wore
tribal tattoosand also
painted their faces for
special occasions.
They used different
patterns for war paint,
religious ceremonies,
and festive decoration
smear mud all over
their bodies too. This
would protect them
from bug bites. They
also liked tattoos. Men
and women would
tattoo themselves from
head to foot with bold
designs
Both men and women
sometimes wore tribal
tattooson their chests.
Religio
n/Ritua
ls
Econo
my/Go
vernme
nt
The Apaches traded
regularly with other
tribes of the Southwest
In the past, each
Apache band was led
by its own chief, who
was chosen by a tribal
council
In the past, the Pueblo
Indians had a
theocraticgovernment.
That means that the
head priest or
cacique(pronounced
kah-seek) was also the
town chief
The Zunis traded
extensively with other
tribes of the
Southwest. Pueblo
trade routes reached
into Mexico and to the
California coast,
supplying Pueblo
craftsmen with shells,
coral, and turquoise
for their jewelry. The
Navajosand
Comancheswere
favorite trading
partners, though they
often fought with each
other as well.
In the past, the
Comanche tribe was
made up of many
different bands, and
each band had its own
chief who was chosen
by a council of
important men. The
Comanches traded
regularly with other
tribes of the Great
Plains and the
Southwest. They
particularly liked to
trade horses, and
Comanche traders
were repsonsible for
the rapid spread of
horses throughout
Western America.
Some of their favorite
trading partners were
the Wichita and
Osage.
In the past, each
Tonkawa band was led
by its own chief. The
Tonkawas traded
regularly with other
tribes of the southern
Plains and the
Southwest. They
particularly liked to
trade buffalo products
to farming tribes like
the Caddo Pueblo
Indians in exchange
for corn
In the past, each
Wichita band was led
by its own chief, who
was chosen by a tribal
council. The Wichitas
traded regularly with
other tribes of the
Southern Plains and
the Southeast, such as
the Caddo and
Comanche.
the Karankawa would
share camps with and
trade with the
Coahuiltecans at the
west end of their
territory. Cabeza de
Vaca, who lived with
the Karankawa tells us
that the Karankawa
traded regularly with
inland tribes to the
north of them,
probably the Caddo
and Tonkawa. They
traded conch shells
and other sea shell for
pigments like ocher
and for buffalo robes.
Arts
and
Crafts
Apache artists are
famous for their fine
beadwork and
basketry.
Pueblo artists are
famous for their
beautiful potteryand
heishi jewelry. They
also made stone
carvings, baskets, and
colorful weavings.
Comanche artists are
famous for their silver
and copper jewelry
and fine beadwork.
Tonkawa artists are
known for their hide
paintings and copper
jewelry.
Wichita artists are
known for their
pottery, beadwork,
and hide paintings
The region's artistic
wealth is primarily
shell ornaments, bone
artifacts, and clay
pottery