1. NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES OF TEXAS

2. KARANKAWAS Lived on coast between Galveston and Corpus Christi
Fishermen, used canoes pushed by poles
Women were hard working, tatooed.
Karankawas were very gentle with children and loved dogs
Extinct as a tribe

3. COAHUILTECANS (Ko•ah•EEL•tay•kunz)
Lived as nomads on southern coast of Texas and inland from Rio Grande to San Antonio
Food included deer and rabbit, women gathered nuts, berries, lizards, cacti, insects, roots.
Made the most of plants and wildlife and were known for their toughness and endurance
Absorbed into Spanish society

4. Caddo Lived in Piney Woods of East Texas Developed complex societies
Proficient farmers of pumpkin, beans, corn, etc.
Hunted deer and bears
Made crafts, baskets, and pottery
Women controlled entire family
Groups of Caddoes joined to form federations
5,500 remain

5. Caddoes, cont. Caddo Lake
Caddo villagers worked together to build their tall, sturdy, dome shaped grass houses
Caddo Lake
Named after the Caddo Indians

6. ALABAMA-COUSHATTA Settlers along Trinity River in east Texas
Lived in cabins
Hunters of game and fish, gathered berries and other food, cultivated vegetables and fruit trees
Skilled at making baskets and other crafts
550 enrolled in Tribe of Texas

7. ALABAMA-COUSHATTA, cont.

8. ATAKAPANS
Lived in Louisiana and Southeast Texas (Houston, Beaumont, Tomball, Magnolia)
Little is known about this band of tribes
Hunters of small animals and deer
Fishing with dugout canoes
Gathered roots, berries, some raised crops
Atakapan is Choctaw word for “man eater”
It is unsure if cannibalism was for
subsistence or ritual
Some descendants remain today

9. TONKAWAS
Tonkawa means “People of the Wolf” and they believed they were descendants from a mythical wolf and therefore never killed any wolves.
Lived in Central Texas, between Austin and San Antonio
Had many clans and were friendly with Karankawa and hospitable to other tribes

10. Tonkawas, cont.
Because wolves were hunters, they were hunters and did not farm
Tribe still exists
Population 593

11. APACHES
Migrated from Canada; Lived in Southern Great Plains and Central Plains
Hunters; on foot before horses were brought by Spaniards, often used bison jumping technique
Relied on buffalo/bison for food, shelter, weapons. Bones were used for tools, hide for teepees, clothing, shoes, blankets, etc.
Famous for their toughness, bravery and fierce fighting

12. Clans lived independently under a chief
APACHES, cont.
Clans lived independently under a chief
Many clans were nomadic (move from place to place)
Population: 56,060 throughout Southwestern U.S.
Who was this famous Apache Chief?

13. COMANCHES
Migrated from Canada; Lived in Great Plains, North-Central Texas
Fierce warriors; known for raids, taking goods and captives
Skilled horsemen; could shoot up to 20 arrows per minute while riding full speed
Depended on buffalo for their survival
Population today: 14,700
Quanah Parker
Great Comanche Chief

14. Additional Native Texan Facts
Tribes used local materials for their housing needs East Texas: use of wood and grasses for beehives, cabins, wikiups.
Central Texas: use of buffalo hide, brush, limited wood.
West Texas: Adobe (building materials made from sun-dried earth and straw)
Texas got its name from the Native Americans. “Tejas” is the original word, meaning “friend”

15. Cont.
Arrival of Europeans spelled disastrous for most Native Americans
Natives did not understand the concept of land ownership, felt that the earth belongs to everyone
Many died as result of diseases
Many entered treaties with Europeans only to find them broken by the Europeans
Diseases and conflict has greatly reduced the number of Natives and their cultures. Some descendants live on reservations, many alongside other Texans throughout the state.
A resurgence has started some years ago to preserve and continue many Native cultural traditions.