Indians of the Mountain and Basin Region
Jumano Tribe
The Jumano were a very large tribe. The Jumano built permanent homes made
of wood and adobe bricks, which they made by drying clay mud in the sun. The
roofs were flat and were made from tree branches. They would paint the inside
walls with black, red, white, red, and yellow stripes. They built their homes along
the Rio Grande River. This region is dry and rugged, but they still managed to
grow crops of corn because they would place their farming fields near the river.
They also gathered wild plants and hunted buffalo with bows and arrows. The
buffalo was important to them because they would make tools and clothes, then
they would trade goods with other Indian tribes, just like we use money today.
They would also make jewelry from copper, coral, and turquoise, which they
would also trade. They painted their faces with striped lines and wore clothing
and shoes made from buffalo skin. They wore their hair in certain ways. The
women wore their hair long and tied to the head. The men have their hair cut
very short, up to the middle of their heads, and from their up they leave it two
fingers long and curl it. Then, they would paint it so it looked like they were
wearing a cap and placed black and white feathers on top. The Jumano were
eventually attacked by the violent apache tribes, faced a drought (lack of rain),
and died from diseases brought by the Europeans.
Indians of the Coastal Plains Region
Caddo Tribe
The Caddo Indians were expert farmers, so they did not move from place to
place. The Central Plains provided them with good soil and a lot of rain, so they
were able to grow many crops. They would set aside seeds each year, so they
could replant the same crops again the next year.
They burned forests so they would have land to grow
crops. They grew beans, corn, squash, sunflower
seeds, and tobacco. Both, women and men farmed
the land.
They made hoes from wood and the
shoulder blades of buffalo. Because farming was so
good, they built homes that lasted. The men built
houses with mud. Women cleaned the houses and
gathered wild plants. Men also hunted buffalo and
deer with bows and arrows. They were a very large
group, so they had their own government. When
problems would arise, the tribes would come
together and solve the problem. Unlike we do today, the children took the name
of the mother’s side instead of the father. Women also ran the household and
made important decisions for the family. Because it was colder in this region, the
Caddo wore clothing made from buffalo skin. They also painted their bodies.
They became an important part of Texas history.
Karankawa Tribe
The Karankawa lived along the Texas coast.
The
Karankawa were nomads, or people who moved from place to
place. They hunted sea turtles, fished, and collected shellfish.
They hunted deer, bird’s eggs, and small animals. The Gulf
Coast has hot summers and mild winters, so some men did not
wear anything and others wore cloth made from deerskin or
grass. Women wore skirts made of the same material. They
painted themselves with bright colors. In order to keep insects
away, they covered themselves with alligator fat and dirt. They
built wigwams, or circular huts from bent poles covered with
animal skins and reed mats. The Karankawa treated their children with kindness.
They had two names, one of which was known only to close family members.
When explorers came from other lands, they brought diseases that killed the
Karankawa at an alarming rate. By the mid 1800’s there were none left.
Coahuiltecan Tribe
The Coahuiltecan were hunters and gathers. That means they hunted for their
food and gathered food from plants and trees. The Gulf Coast was too hot and
dry for farming. They were also nomads which means they moved from place to
place. They were in search for buffalo, deer, and small animals.
They also fished and ate ant eggs, lizards, snakes, and worms.
They did not make permanent homes because they moved around
a lot. They used animal skins placed on top of tree branches to
make a home. The men wore very little clothing and women and
some men also wore skirts made of grass and deerskin. They wore
their hair long down to their waist. The Coahuiltecan tribe also died
out because of diseases brought by explorers.
Indians of Central Plains
Comanche Tribe
The Comanche were known as great hunters and
fighters. They were nomads who moved across the great
central plains of Texas. They followed the paths of the
buffalo herds, hunting them for food and supplies. They
relied on the buffalo for everything they needed: clothing,
food, and tools. The Comanche lived in tepees made of
buffalo hides that were easy to move as they hunted
across the plains. After the Spanish brought horses to
North America, the Comanche became some of the first
Native Americans to ride them. With horses, the
Comanche were able to take over more and more territory across the central plains,
often defeating other Native American tribes. They traveled in bands following one
leader. In order to better defeat enemies, the bands would often unite together under
one war chief. During times of peace, the Comanche would trade with other tribes such
as the Caddo and Wichita for food and other supplies.
Wichita Tribe
The Wichita lived along rivers and creeks, where they
grew beans, corn, melons, and squash. They used horses to
hunt buffalo and deer. They also lived in permanent homes.
Their homes were made from poles and dry grass. The
houses were large enough to fit 8 to 10 people. The Wichita
used tattoos and made unusual designs. Women drew
circles around their eyes and lines from their lips to their
chins. Men tattooed their eyelids and drew a short line at
the corner of each eye. This made them look like raccoons.
Indians of Great Plains
Tonkawa Tribe
The Tonkawa depended on buffalo for their food, clothing and shelter. They were
hunter-gathers. They hunted small animals, like rabbits, snakes, and skunks.
They gathered berries, fruits, and nuts. They wore clothing made from buffalo
skins. The men wore their hair long and parted in
the
middle. The women wore their hair either long or
short.
The Tonkawa also pointed their bodies. They were
eventually
driven away by the Apache tribe. They tried to
farm, but
were not successful. They eventually died out.
Apache Tribe
There are two types of Apache tribes. One is the Lipan and the other is
Mescalero. They traveled, hunted, and fought together. They had leaders, called
chiefs. They were skilled at riding horses. They worked together to kill a buffalo.
They surrounded herds and used bows and arrows to kill them. They also used
the buffalo for other tools. For example, if they needed to cross a river, they
stretched the hides over branches to make tub-shaped boats. It was not typical
for Plains Indians to farm, however the Lipan Apache farmed crops like beans,
corn, pumpkins, and watermelons. They would cut their hair very short on the
left side and leave it long on the right. They plucked out all of their beard and
eyebrow hair. Both, men and women wore earrings. Women wore copper
bracelets. They were a violent tribe. They would attack the other tribes for their
goods. They became feared throughout Texas. The arrival of the Comanche
soon caused them to die out. They also died from diseases brought from
Europeans.