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 Bay and Galveston Bay}
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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
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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
o Made important political decisions
o 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
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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
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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
o Food
o Shelter
o Clothing
o Weapons
o Tools
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 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…
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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
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Nomadic hunters…known for raiding other groups in West Texas and
Mexico
Lipan Apaches
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Hunted and farmed…lived on rancherías (farming communities) near
streams or rivers
o Grew beans, maize (corn), squash, and pumpkins
o Traded with neighboring groups
o Later moved to South Texas to get away from their enemies, the
Comanches
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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…
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Wichitas
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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}
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Latecomers
Cherokees
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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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