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The Story of Bluebonnet – Native American Collection | Myths and Legends | EP04 | 4K Video

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S09E03  Reading Rainbow   The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

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2013 was the last appearance of the LAST survive of Navajo code talker from WWII. This entrance was a warriors honor.
Want to know more about code talkers?
http://navajocodetalkers.org/

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Honoring Navajo Code Talkers -  2013 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow - PowWows.com

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View More Pow Wow Videos on Pow Wow TV! http://tv.powwows.com Video Produced by MH Bulldog Productions and Audio Excellence. Buy the 2013 Gathering of Nations CD and DVD: www.gatheringofnations.com

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A read aloud of The Legend of Sleeping Bear by Kathy-jo Wargin

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Found out why it's called Big Bear Dunes

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Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore seen by the drone eye...

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Sleeping Bear Dunes Lake Michigan

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Fastforward 0:20 stop at 1:34

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The Loss of Native American Lands Within the US: Every Year

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From the point of view of The First Nation youth. What horses meant and still mean to the tribes.The song goes along with the legend of how the horse came to be in the Shoneshone tribe.

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The People of the Horse | National Geographic

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This is how the Texas Pow-Wow's begin every year. With a dance parade to celebrate every tribe. With the decedents of the First Nation of Texas wearing the traditional dress with a few modifications to the color pallet to represent the individual dancer.

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54TH ANNUAL TRADERS VILLAGE POW-WOW (GRAND ENTRY)

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54th Annual Traders Village American Indian Pow-wow in Grand Prairie, Texas 2016

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Native American language Native people Native American art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Wichita Indian tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit ourWichita language andculture pages for more in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Wichita pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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What are Wichita arts and crafts like?
Wichita artists are known for their
Wichita Tribe

Wichita is pronounced "wih-chih-taw," and it was the name of a tribal town.

The Wichita Indians were original people of southernOklahoma and northernTexas, but after Europeans arrived, population pressures forced them further north intoKansas, where the city of Wichita is named for them. Most Wichita people are living in Oklahoma today.

The Wichita Nation has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. However, the Wichitas are also US citizens and must obey American law. In the past, each Wichita band was led by its own chief, who was chosen by a tribal council. Today, the Wichita tribe is governed by councilmembers who are elected by all the tribal members.

The Wichita people speak English today. Some Wichita elders also speak their nativeWichita language. Though few people speak Wichita anymore, some young people are working to learn their ancient language again. If you'd like to know an easy Wichita word, "aah" (pronounced like the English word "ah") is a friendly greeting.

Today Wichita is anendangered language because most children aren't learning it anymore. However, some Wichita people are working to keep their language alive.

Here's a link to the homepage of theWichita Tribe. On their site you can find information about the Wichita people in the past and today.

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They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Wichita children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play in their daily lives, just like colonial children. But they did havedolls, toys, and games to play. Here is a picture of ahoop game played by Plains Indian kids. A Wichita mother traditionally carried a young child in acradleboard on her back--a custom which many American parents haveadopted now.

Wichita men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Wichita women were farmers and also did most of the child care and cooking. Only men became Wichita chiefs, but both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine.

The Wichitas built tall beehive-shaped houses thatched with grass. Here are some pictures of agrass house like the ones Wichita Indians used. When Wichita men went on hunting trips, they often used small buffalo-hidetipis (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.

Today, Native Americans only put up a tepee for fun or to connect with their heritage, not for housing. Most Wichitas live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Wichita Indian men worebreechcloths, 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. Like most Native Americans, Wichita people woremoccasins on their feet. Here is a website withmocassin pictures. Wichita men did not usually wear shirts, but in cold weather, both men and women wore buffalo robes. Here are some photographs and links aboutIndian regalia in general.

The Wichitas didn't wearwar-bonnet headdresses like the Sioux. Wichita men usually cut their hair in theMohawk hair style or shaved their heads except for ascalplock (one long lock of hair on top of their heads.) Sometimes warriors would make this hairstyle more impressive with a colorfulporcupine roach. Wichita women usually wore their hair long hair, either braided or in a bun. The Wichitas woreNative American Indian tattoos and also painted their faces for special occasions. They used different patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration.

Today, some Wichita people still have moccasins or a buckskin dress, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear traditional regalia on special occasions like a wedding or a dance.

No--the Wichita Indians weren't coastal people, and when they traveled by river, they usually built rafts. Over land, the Wichitas used dogs pullingtravois (a kind of drag sled) to help them carry their belongings. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.

What was Wichita food like in the days before supermarkets?
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. Here is a website with more information aboutAmerican Indian food.

Wichita hunters used bows and arrows. In war, Wichita men fired their bows or fought with war clubs and hide shields. Here is a website of pictures and information aboutAmerican Indian weapons.

What other Native Americans did the Wichita tribe interact with?

The Wichitas traded regularly with other tribes of the Southern Plains and the Southeast, such as theCaddo andComanche tribes.

The Wichitas also fought wars with other tribes. Plains Indian tribes treated war differently than European countries did. They didn't fight over territory but instead to prove their courage, and so Plains Indian war parties rarely fought to the death or destroyed each other's villages. Instead, their war customs includedWhat kinds of stories do the Wichitas tell?
There are lots of traditional Wichita legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Wichita Indian culture. Here is one story about acounting coup (touching an opponent in battle without harming him), stealing an enemy's weapon or horse, or forcing the other tribe's warriors to retreat. Some tribes the Wichitas frequently fought with included theOsage andApaches.
What about Wichita religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Wichita life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Wichita people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more about
pottery making,bead work, and buffalo hideCan you recommend a good book for me to read?
You may enjoypaintings.

two brothers who became stars. Here's a website where you can read more aboutHow do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organizationWichita legends.

Wichita traditions, or this site aboutNative American religions in general.

Hold Up The Sky, a collection of legends and folktales of the Wichita and other Texas Indians. If you want to know more about Wichita culture and history, a good source isThe Wichita Indians: Traders of Texas and the Southern Plains. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedNative American books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2015.

Thanks for your interest in the Wichita Indian people and their language!

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Wichita Indian Tribe
An overview of the Wichita people, their language and history.

Wichita Language Resources
Wichita language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Wichita Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Wichita tribe past and present.

Wichita Words
Wichita Indian vocabulary lists.

Return to Native Americans for Kids
Return to our menu of American Indian tribes

Native American ancestry Lenni Lenape Map of Arizona Native American drum

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Facts for Kids: Wichita Indians (Wichitas)

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Information about the Wichita Indians for students and teachers. Covers food, homes, arts and crafts, weapons, culture, and daily life of the Wichitas.

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Facts for Kids: Tonkawa Indians (Tonkawas)

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Information about the Tonkawa Indians for students and teachers. Covers food, homes, arts and crafts, weapons, culture, and daily life of the Tonkawas.

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Information about the Kiowa Indians for students and teachers. Covers food, homes, arts and crafts, weapons, culture, and daily life of the Kiowas.

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Indigenous languages Native American Indian tribes Native American Indian art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Kickapoos for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit our mainKickapoo website for more in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Kickapoo images and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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The Kickapoo Tribe

Kickapoo is pronounced "KICK-a-poo." It comes from a Shawnee word for "wanderer." In Mexico the tribal name is spelledKikapu, which is the Spanish way of representing the same pronunciation. Sometimes it is also spelledKikapoo.

The Kickapoo Indians originally lived in theMichigan andOhio area. They fled south and west to get away from British and American aggression, settling briefly in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Eventually the Americans forced some Kickapoos onto Kansas and Oklahoma reservations. Others escaped, and their descendants now live in Texas and northern Mexico. Few Kickapoos still live in their original homeland. Here is amap showing Kickapoo and other Indian migrations.

There are four Kickapoo tribes today, located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Mexico. In the United States, the Kickapoos live onreservations or trust land. An Indian reservation is land that belongs to the tribe and is under their control. Each Kickapoo reservation has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. In Mexico, Kickapoo Indians live in two villages with no special status. The Mexican Kickapoos preserve close relations with the American Kickapoo bands, but have their own tribal leadership.

In Mexico and Oklahoma, many Kickapoos still speak their traditionalKickapoo language. In fact, the Kickapoo tribes need this language to communicate with each other, because most Mexican Kickapoos do not speak English. Very few Kickapoo Indians in Kansas or Texas still speak their native language, but some young people are working to learn it.

Kickapoo is atone language, like Chinese. That means the pitch of a vowel can change a Kickapoo word's meaning. Because of this, Kickapoo can sound very musical when it is spoken. If you'd like to know some easy Kickapoo words, "ho" (pronounced like the English word "hoe") is a friendly greeting and "kepiihcihi" (pronounced keh-pee-chih-hih) means "thank you." You can see a Kickapoo picture glossaryhere.

None of the Kickapoo tribes has an online homepage, but here is a link to the Kickapoo page on theTexas Indians website. They have information on the culture and history of the Texas Kickapoos, with two photographs.

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They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Kickapoo children like to go hunting and fishing or camp outdoors. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just like colonial children. But they did have toys and games, and Kickapoo women madecornhusk dolls for their daughters. Like many Native Americans, Kickapoo mothers traditionally carried their babies incradleboards on their backs. Here is a website with Indian cradle board pictures.

What were men and women's roles in the Kickapoo tribe?

Kickapoo Indian men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Kickapoo women were farmers and did most of the child care and cooking. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine.

The Kickapoos didn't live in tepees. They lived in small dome-shaped houses calledwickiups. Here is a photograph of aKickapoo wickiup and some more information aboutwickiups and other Indian brush shelters. Kickapoo Indians in Mexico still live in traditonal homes like these today, but most American Kickapoos live in modern houses and apartment buildings now.

Because the Kickapoo tribe moved so many times, their style of dress changed frequently. Originally, Kickapoo men worebreechcloth and leggings and Kickapoo women wore wraparound skirts. Shirts were not necessary in the Kickapoo culture, but both men and women did wear deerskin mantles in cool weather. The Kickapoos also woremoccasins on their feet and fur caps or a beaded headband on their heads. Sometimes Kickapoo warriors wore aWhat was Kickapoo food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Kickapoo tribe's staple food was corn. Kickapoo women raised corn and baked cornbread calledporcupine roach instead. (These roaches are made of porcupine hair, not their sharp quills!)

Later, the Kickapoo Indians adapted clothing from other tribes they met during their travels, including feather headdresses, fringed deerskin dresses and shirts, bandoliers, and silver jewelry. Also, though the Kickapoos ignored many European-American customs, they did start using cloth for clothing, particularly calico blouses and tiered skirts. Those styles are still popular among Kickapoo women. Men dress even more traditionally, especially in Mexico. Some Mexican Kickapoo men still wear soft leather breechcloths and leggings. Here is a link to our page onNative American clothes in general, where you can find photos and more links about these traditional clothing styles.

Not usually. The Kickapoo Indians were farming people, and when they needed to travel, they usually walked overland. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe, but the Kickapoos adapted to the new animals quickly, and became known as excellent riders. Most of the Kickapoo tribe's long migrations were on horseback.

pugna. They also planted squash and beans. Kickapoo men hunted deer and small game, and sometimes went fishing in the river. Here is a website with more information aboutAmerican Indian food traditions.

Kickapoo hunters and warriors used bows and arrows, spears, and clubs. Here is a website with pictures and information aboutNative weapons.

Kickapoo artists were known for theirIndian pottery,quillwork, andwoodcarving. Like other eastern American Indians, the Kickapoos also craftedwampum out of white and purple shell beads. Wampum beads were traded as a kind of currency, but they were more culturally important as an art material. Thedesigns and pictures on wampum belts often told the story of an important incident or represented a person's family. After moving south, some of these traditional crafts disappeared in favor of arts like beadwork and silverwork.

What other Native Americans did the Kickapoo Indian tribe interact with?
Originally, the Kickapoos were allies of theOjibway,Ottawa, andSauk and Fox tribes. Together these tribes fought against theIllini and the British. After they were forced to leave their homeland, the Kickapoo Indians traveled across the country, picking up customs from many different tribes along the way. The Kickapoos in Oklahoma have been especially good friends with thePotawatomi, and the Kickapoos in Texas were trading partners of theComanches and wore some Comanche-style jewelry and clothing.
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
There's a nice photo-essay on the Kickapoo Indians called
There are lots of traditional Kickapoo legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Kickapoo Indian culture. Here is a story aboutWisaka, the Trickster.

Religions are too complicated and culturally sensitive to describe appropriately in only a few simple sentences, and we strongly want to avoid misleading anybody. You can visit this site to learn more aboutKickapoo traditions or this site aboutNative American religions in general.

The Texas Kickapoo, Keepers of Tradition. You can learn a lot about the Kickapoo tribe from this beautiful book. If you want to know more about Kickapoo culture and history, two interesting sources areThe Mexican Kickapoo Indians andKickapoos: Lords of the Middle Border. You can also browse through our reading list of recommended Indian books in general.

You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organizationhere. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2015.

Thanks for your interest in the Kickapoo Indian people and their language!

Sponsored Links

Kickapoo Indian Tribe
An overview of the Kickapoo people, their language and history.

Kickapoo Indian Language
Kickapoo language lessons, articles, and indexed links.

Kickapoo Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Kickapoo tribe past and present.

Return to Native American Kid Links
Return to our Native American Indian cultures homepage

Totem poles Round Valley tribe Creek Indian high school Quapaw casino Indian horse names

Would you like to help our organization preserve the Kickapoo Indian language?

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Facts for Kids: The Kickapoo Indians (Kickapoos)

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Indigenous languages Native American Indian tribes Native American Indian art Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Kickapoos for school or home-schooling reports.

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American Studies Indian Tribe photo story

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Caddo Tribe

Caddo man in the past Caddo girls at a dance today
(Courtesy of Texas
Beyond History.net)

Caddo is pronounced "CAD-oh." It comes from their own name for themselves, Kadohadacho. The original meaning of that name isn't known for certain. Some Caddo people believe it comes from the native words for "true chiefs," while others think it was a place name that comes from the Caddo word for "sharp."

The Caddos are original residents of the southern Plains, particularlyTexas,What was Caddo food like in the days before supermarkets?
Oklahoma,Arkansas andLouisiana. Most Caddo people today live in Oklahoma.

The Caddo Nation has its own government, laws, police, and other services, just like a small country. However, the Caddos are also US citizens and must obey American law. In the past, each Caddo band was led by a chief chosen by a council of warriors. Historically, all these chiefs were male. Today, Caddo councilmembers and chairmen are elected, just as senators and governors are, and can be either men or women.
What is Caddo music like?

Most Caddos speak English today, but some people, especially elders, also speak their nativeCaddo language. If you'd like to know a few easy Caddo Indian words, "kua'at" (pronounced koo-ah-aht) is a friendly greeting and "t'aybaw'ah" (pronounced tie-bow-ah) means "see you later!" You can read a Caddo picture glossaryhere.

Today Caddo is anendangered language because most children aren't learning it anymore. However, some Caddo people are working to keep their language alive.

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Caddo girl

They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Caddo children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play, just like colonial children. But they did have dolls, toys, and games to play. In one Caddo game, kids tried to throw a dart through a moving hoop. A Caddo baby was traditionally carried in a cradle board-- a custom which many American parents have adopted now.

What about Caddo religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Caddo life, and some people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Caddo people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more about
What were men and women's roles in the Caddo tribe?
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
You may enjoy

Caddo men were hunters and sometimes went to war to protect their families. Caddo women were farmers and also did most of the child care and cooking. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine. In the past, the chief and council members were always men, but today Caddo women can sit on the council too.

The Caddos didn't live in tepees. There were two different types of Caddo houses. The eastern Caddos in Louisiana built tall beehive-shaped grass houses like the one in this picture. The western Caddos, in Texas and Oklahoma, built earthen lodges with thatched roofs. Here are some more pictures of Native American houses like the ones Caddo Indians used. Each Caddo village also included a temple and a sports field. Sometimes villages were surrounded by log walls for protection. No one lives in these old-fashioned dwellings anymore. Today the Caddoes live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Caddo warrior
(Courtesy of Texas
Beyond History.net)

Caddo moccasin

Caddo Indian men wore breechcloths, sometimes with leather leggings to protect their legs. Caddo women wore wraparound skirts and poncho tops made of woven fiber and deerskin. Both genders wore earrings and moccasins. Caddo men did not usually wear shirts, but in cold weather, both men and women wore buffalo robes. In colonial times, the Caddos adapted European costume such as cloth jackets and calico dresses. Here is a webpage with pictures of Caddo ribbon shirts, and here are some photographs and links about traditional Native American clothing in general.

The Caddos didn't wear long headdresses like the Sioux. Caddo men usually cut their hair in the Mohawk style or shaved their heads except for ascalplock (one long lock of hair on top of their heads.) Sometimes warriors would make this hairstyle more impressive with a colorful roach headdress. Caddo Indian women usually wore their long hair in a bun. For special occasions, Caddo women fastened their buns with beaded hair ornaments and long trailing ribbons like this. Here is a website with pictures of these Native American hairstyles. The Caddos also wore traditional tattoos, and women painted their faces and bodies bright colors for special occasions.

Today, some Caddo people still wear moccasins or a ribbon shirt, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear roaches in their hair on special occasions like a dance.

Caddo canoe
(Courtesy of Texas
BeyondHistory.net)

The Caddos knew how to make dugout canoes from hollowed-out logs, but usually they preferred to travel by land. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe, so the Caddos used dogs to help them carry their belongings. Today, of course, Caddo people also use cars... and non-native people also use canoes.

Caddo farmer
(Courtesy of Texas
BeyondHistory.net)

The Caddo Indians were farming people. Caddo women harvested crops of corn, beans, pumpkins, and sunflowers. Caddo men hunted for deer, buffalo, and small game and went fishing in the rivers. Traditional Caddo foods included cornbread, soups, and stews. The Caddo Indians in Texas also mined salt from underground mines, which they boiled down to use in their cooking. Here is a website with more information about traditional American Indian food.

Caddo hunters primarily used bows and arrows. Caddo fishermen caught fish and shellfish in basket traps. Caddo warriors fired their bows or fought with lances or tomahawks. Farmers used tools such as hoes and spades, which they made from wood, carved bone, and mussel shells. The Caddos also made axes with heavy stone heads for chopping wood.

The most important Caddo instrument is the drum. Caddo drums are very large. A group of Caddo men stand around the drum and play it together, while other Caddos dance in a circle and sing. Here are some audio clips of Caddo songs. You can see Caddo dances today atpowwows, which are cultural festivals attended by many different tribes that are open to the public.

What other Native Americans did the Caddo tribe interact with?
The Caddos interacted frequently with all the other tribes of the Southern Plains, particularly theOsage, Comanche,Kiowa, andQuapaw. Sometimes the Caddos were friendly with these tribes, trading goods and intermarrying. Other times they fought wars against each other.

Plains Indian tribes treated war differently than European countries did. They didn't usually fight over territory but instead to prove their courage, and so Plains Indian war parties rarely fought to the death and almost never destroyed each other's villages. Instead, they preferred tocount coup (touch an opponent in battle without harming him), steal an enemy's weapon or horse, or force the other tribe's warriors to retreat. The Europeans who first met them were surprised by how often the Caddos fought with their neighbors, yet how easily they made peace with each other when they were done fighting.

There are lots of traditional Caddo legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Caddo Indian culture. Here is a story aboutCoyote trying to imitate other animals. Here's a website where you can read more aboutCaddo stories.

Caddo traditions, including a section on religious rituals, or this site aboutIndian religion in general.

The Wonderful Sky Boat, which is a collection of traditional tales from several Southeastern tribes including the Caddos. For information about Caddo culture and history, one excellent source for schools isCaddo Indians: Where We Came From, written by a Caddo historian. Two nice overviews of Caddo culture for younger kids areCaddo Native Americans andThe Caddo of Texas. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedIndian books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organizationhere. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thanks for your interest in the Caddo Indian people and their language!

Sponsored Links

Caddo Indian Tribe
An overview of the Caddo Native Americans, their language and history.

Caddo Language Resources
Caddo language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Caddo Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Caddo Indians past and present.

Caddo Indian Words
Caddo Indian vocabulary lists.

Return to American Indians for Children
Return to our menu of Native American peoples

Native American heritage Indian names Red Lake Chippewa Penobscot County Indian words

Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered Caddoan languages?

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Caddo Tribe Caddo man in the past Caddo girls at a dance today (Courtesy of Texas Beyond History.net) Caddo is pronounced "CAD-oh." It comes from their own name for themselves, Kadohadacho. The original meaning of that name isn't known for certain.

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American Indian languages Native American Indian cultures Native American art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Comanche Indian tribe for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students and teachers to visit ourComanche language andculture pages for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Comanche pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

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Comanche Tribe

Comanche is pronounced "kuh-MAN-chee." It means "enemy" in the language of their Ute neighbors. In their own language, the Comanches call themselves Numinu (the people.)

The Comanche Indians were once part of the northern Shoshone tribe of Wyoming, but split off from them and migrated to their modern location in the Southern Plains. By the time Europeans encountered them, the Comanches were primarily living inTexas,Oklahoma, and andNew Mexico. Most Comanche people today live in Oklahoma.

The Comanche tribe has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. However, the Comanches are also US citizens and must obey American law. 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. Today, the Comanche councilmembers and tribal chairperson are popularly elected.

The Comanche people speak English today. Some Comanches, mostly elders, also speak their nativeComanche language.If you'd like to know a few easy Comanche words, "maruawe" (pronounced mah-ruh-ah-way) is a friendly greeting, and "ura" (pronounced ur-ah) means "thank you." You can read a Comanche picture glossaryhere.

Today Comanche is anendangered language because most children aren't learning it anymore. However, some Comanche people are working to keep their language alive.

Here's a link to the homepage of theComanche Nation. On their site you can find information about the Comanche people in the past and today.

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They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Comanche children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play in their daily lives, just like colonial children. But they did havedolls, toys, and games to play. Here is a picture of ahoop game played by Plains Indian kids. Once the Comanches acquired horses, girls and boys as young as five years old learned how to ride. A Comanche mother traditionally carried a young child in acradleboard on her back. Here is a website with Native American cradleboard pictures.

Comanche women were in charge of the home. Besides cooking and cleaning, a Comanche woman built her family's house and dragged the heavy posts with her whenever the tribe moved. Houses belonged to the women in the Comanche tribe. Comanche men were hunters and sometimes went to war to defend their families. Nearly all Comanche chiefs and warriors were men. Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine.

The Comanches lived in buffalo-hide houses calledtipis (or teepees). Here are somepictures of tipis. 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.

Today, Native Americans only put up a tepee for fun or to connect with their heritage, not as shelter. Most Comanche people live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

Comanche women wore long deerskin dresses, and the men wore buckskin war shirts andbreechcloths with leather leggings. The Comanches woremoccasins on 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 colorful blanket robes. Here is a site about the symbolism ofPlains Indian war shirts, and some photos and links aboutIndian 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 featherhead dress of 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. Here is a website with pictures of theseIndian hair styles. The Comanches also painted their faces for special occasions. They used different patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration. Both men and women sometimes woretribal tattoos on their chests.

Today, some Comanche people still have moccasins or a buckskin dress, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear traditional regalia on special occasions like a wedding or a dance.

No--the Comanche Indians weren't coastal people, and rarely traveled by river. Originally they just walked. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe, so the Comanches used dogs pullingtravois (a kind of drag sled) to help them carry their belongings. Here is a website withpictures of travois. Once Europeans brought horses to America, the Comanches quickly became known as expert riders and could travel much more quickly than before.

What was Comanche food like in the days before supermarkets?
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. Here is a website with more information aboutAmerican Indian food.

Comanche hunters used bows and arrows. In war, Comanche men fired their bows or fought with long spears and buffalo-hide shields. Here is a website with pictures and information aboutComanche Indian weapons.

What other Native Americans did the Comanche tribe interact with?

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 theWichita andWhat are Comanche arts and crafts like?
Comanche artists are famous for theirOsage. These tribes usually communicated using thePlains Sign Language.

The Comanches also fought wars with other tribes. Plains Indian tribes treated war differently than European countries did. They didn't fight over territory but instead to prove their courage, and so Plains Indian war parties rarely fought to the death or destroyed each other's villages. Instead, their war customs includedcounting coup (touching an opponent in battle without harming him), stealing an enemy's weapon or horse, or forcing the other tribe's warriors to retreat. So the Comanche sometimes were enemies of neighboring tribes like theWhat kinds of stories do the Comanches tell?
There are lots of traditional Comanche legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Comanche Indian culture. Here is one story aboutKiowas, Apaches, andUtes, and other times they were allies. The Europeans who first met them were surprised by how often the Comanche tribe fought with their neighbors, yet how easily they made peace with each other when they were done fighting.
What about Comanche religion?
Sorry, but we cannot help you with religious information. Religions are too complicated and culturally sensitive to describe appropriately in only a few simple sentences, and we strongly want to avoid misleading anybody. You can visit this site to learn more about the
silver and copper jewelry and finebeadwork. Here is the website of a modernCan you recommend a good book for me to read?
For younger kids,Comanche artist with photographs of his art.

how the buffalo herds came to earth. Here's a website where you can read more aboutComanche mythology.

How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organizationComanche worldview or this site aboutIndian religious traditions in general.

The Legend of the Bluebonnet is a charming version of a traditional Comanche legend. Older kids may enjoy reading a biography ofCynthia Ann Parker, a white girl raised by the Comanches, or her son Chief Quanah Parker. If you want to know more about Comanche history and culture, three good books areComanche History and Culture,The Comanche, andComanche Today. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedNative American books in general.

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thanks for your interest in the Comanche Indian people and their language!

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Comanche Indian vocabulary lists.

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Facts for Kids: Comanche Indians (Comanches)

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American Indian languages Native American Indian cultures Native American art Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Comanche Indian tribe for school or home-schooling reports.

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American Indian languages Native American Indian cultures Native American art
Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Apache Indian tribe for school or home-schooling projects. We encourage students and teachers to visit ourApache language andculture pages for in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with Apache pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.

Sponsored Links What are Apache arts and crafts like?
Apache artists are famous for their fine

Apache Tribe

Apache is pronounced "uh-PAH-chee." It means "enemy" in the language of theirZuni neighbors. The Apaches' own name for themselves was traditionallyNde or Ndee (meaning "the people"), but today most Apache people use the word "Apache" themselves, even when they are speaking their own language.

The Apache are natives of the Southwest deserts (particularly inArizona,New Mexico, andTexas). Some Apache people were also located across the border in northern Mexico. One Apache band, the Na'ishan or Plains Apache, lived far away from the other Apaches, in what is nowOklahoma. Their customs were different from other Apaches, more similar to theirKiowa allies. For that reason, the Americans often called the Na'ishan "Kiowa-Apaches." Here are somemaps of the different Apache communities today.

The Plains Apaches are still living in Oklahoma today. Some Apaches from other bands were captured and sent to live in Oklahoma by the Americans in the 1800's, while other Apaches resisted being moved and remain in Arizona and New Mexico today. The total Apache Indian population today is around 30,000.

There are thirteen different Apache tribes in the United States today: five in Arizona, five in New Mexico, and three in Oklahoma. Each Arizona and New Mexico Apache tribe lives on its ownreservation. Reservations are lands that belong to Indian tribes and are under their control. The Oklahoma Apaches live on trust land. Each Apache tribe has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. However, the Apaches are also US citizens and must obey American law.

In the past, each Apache band was led by its own chief, who was chosen by a tribal council. Most important decisions were made by the council, and all the Apache councilmembers had to agree before an action could be taken. An Apache chief was more like a tribal chairman than a president. Most of his job was mediating between other Apaches. Most Apache tribes still use tribal councils for their government today.

Almost all Apache people speak English today, but many Apaches also speak their nativeApache language, which is closely related to Navajo. Apache is a complex language with tones and many different vowel sounds. Most English speakers find it very difficult to pronounce. If you'd like to know a few easy Apache words, "ash" (rhymes with 'gosh') means "friend" in Western Apache, and "ahéhe'e" (pronunciation ah-heh-heh-eh) means "thank you." You can read a Apache picture dictionaryhere.

Here are the homepages of theJicarilla Apache Nation andWhite Mountain Apache Tribe. On their sites you can find information about the Apache people from ancient times until today. You can also visit this site about theApache Jii Festival, which has information and photographs about San Carlos Apache culture for kids.

They do the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Apache children like to go hunting with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more chores and less time to play in their daily lives, just like colonial children. But they did havedolls, toys, and games to play. Apache children liked to run footraces and play archery games. Once the Apaches acquired horses, girls and boys as young as five years old learned how to ride. An Apache mother traditionally carried her baby in acradleboard on her back. Here is a website with Apache cradleboard images.

Apache women were in charge of the home. Besides cooking and taking care of children, Apache women built new houses for their families every time the tribe moved their location. Though it was rare for an Apache woman to become a warrior, girls learned to ride and shoot just like the boys did, and women often helped to defend Apache villages when they were attacked. Apache men were hunters, warriors, and political leaders. Only men were chiefs in the Apache tribe. Both genders took part in story-telling, artwork and music, and traditional medicine.

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Most Apache people lived inwickiups, which are simple wooden frames covered by a matting of brush and sometimes a buffalo-hide tarp. Wickiups were small dwellings, often the size of a modern camp tent, and an Apache woman could build a new wickiup in two hours if there was enough brush available. Here are somepictures of Indian brush houses. The Plains Apaches and some Lipan Apaches used buffalo-hidetipis as housing instead, which are more spacious and easier to heat than wickiups.

Apache people today do not normally use old-fashioned houses like a teepee or wickiup for shelter, any more than you live in a log cabin. Most Apaches live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you. However, some followers of the traditional Apache religion do live in modified larger wickiups, because their beliefs require them to burn down and rebuild their houses whenever there is a death in the family, which can't be done in an apartment.

Originally Apache women wore buckskin dresses and the men wore leather war shirts andbreechcloths. In the 1800's, many Apache men started to wear white cotton tunics and pants, which they adopted from the Mexicans, and many Apache women wore calico skirts and dresses. The Apaches woremoccasins or high moccasin boots on their feet, and rabbit-skin cloaks in cooler weather. An Apache lady's dress or warrior's shirt was often fringed and decorated with beaded designs. Here is a site about the symbolism ofPlains Indian war shirts, and some photos and links aboutIndian costume in general.

The Apaches did not traditionally wearfeather warbonnets, but the Plains Apaches adopted these headdresses from their friends the Kiowas. Other Apache people wore leather or cloth headbands instead. For ceremonies Apache people sometimes wore special wooden headdresses and masks, likethese Apache Crown Dancers. Women usually wore their hair long and loose or gathered into a bun. Many young Apache women fastened their buns with hourglass-shaped hair ornaments callednah-leens. We haven't yet found a good photo of a nah-leen to share with you, but here is a photograph of someCaddo women wearing the same type of hair fastener. Apache men often cut their hair to shoulder length (except in the Plains Apache tribe.) Here is a website with pictures of theseIndian hair styles. Both sexes liked to wear shell jewelry, especially choker-style necklaces. The Apaches also painted their faces for special occasions. They used different patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration.

Today, some Apache people still have moccasins or a buckskin dress, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear traditional regalia on special occasions like a wedding or a dance.

No--the Apache Indians weren't coastal people, and rarely traveled by river. Originally they just walked. There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe, so the Apaches used dogs pullingtravois (a kind of drag sled) to help them carry their belongings. Once Europeans brought the horse to America, the Apaches quickly became expert riders and could travel much more quickly than before.

What was Apache food like in the days before supermarkets?
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. Most traditional Apache people do not go fishing, since eating fish is prohibited in their religion. However, some Plains Apache people did pick up the custom of eating fish from their Kiowa neighbors. Although most Apache people were not farmers, the Apaches still used to eat corn frequently. They got it by trading with the Pueblo tribes and the Spanish, or by capturing it during raids. Favorite Apache recipes included cornbread, sunflower cakes, and acorn stew. Here is a website with more information aboutSouthwest Indian food.

Apache hunters used bows and arrows. In war, Apache men fired their bows or fought with long spears and buffalo-hide shields. Here is a website with pictures and more information aboutApache Indian weapons.

What other Native Americans did the Apache tribe interact with?

The Apaches traded regularly with other tribes of the Southwest. They particularly liked to trade for corn from agricultural tribes like theNavajo andWhat is Apache Indian music like?
Pueblo tribes. More often, though, the Apaches were known forraiding neighboring tribes and stealing horses, corn, and other goods. The Apaches had different ideas about war than Europeans did. The Europeans considered a direct attack honorable but thought sneaking in and stealing things was cowardly. But to the Apaches, stealthily raiding another tribe's camp was a brave deed because it meant risking their own lives, but attacking the camp openly would be shameful, because children and old people were likely to be hurt. Apache warriors usually only fought real wars over matters of revenge or defending their territory from invaders, like when they fought against the Mexicans and Americans. At other times, Apache men went on raids primarily to prove their courage.

beadwork andbasketry. Eastern Apache people sometimes madeSouthwestern pottery like the Pueblo Indians. Here is a webWhat kinds of stories do the Apaches tell?
There are lots of Apache legends and oral traditions. Storytelling is very important to the Apache Indian culture. Here is a Jicarilla Apache myth about site with many pictures ofApache baskets, and one about the history ofApache pottery.

What about Apache religion?
Spirituality and religion were important parts of Apache life, and many people continue to practice traditional beliefs today. It is respectful to avoid imitating religious rituals for school projects since some Apache people care about them deeply. You can read and learn about them, however. You can visit this site to learn more about Music is very important to Apache Indian culture. There are different types of traditional Apache songs for ceremonial, social, and entertainment purposes. Singing together in the Apache language is the most import ant part of Apache music, but musical instruments such asdrums,Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
You may enjoy this book offlutes, and rattles are also used. Drums and rattles are especially used during dances, while flutes are particularly associated with love songs. Some Apache groups also played a sort of fiddle made out of agave stalks. Here is a website with someexamples of traditional Apache Indian songs you can listen to, and aYouTube video of Apache singers and dancers performing at Fort Sill.

how fire came to the Apaches, and here are some funny Western Apache folktales aboutthe trickster Coyote swindling people. Here's a page where you can read more aboutApache mythology.How do I cite your website in my project's bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the report format he or she wants you to use. The authors' names are Laura Redish and Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. We are a nonprofit educational organization working to preserve and protect Native American languages and culture. You can learn more about our organization

Mescalero Apache spiritual beliefs or this site aboutNative American belief in general.

Chiricahua Apache legends, or the charming illustrated legendThe Flute Player for a younger child. Or you may enjoy reading this interesting biography ofGeronimo, the famous warrior and holy man of the Chiricahuas. If you want to know more about Apache culture and history, two good books for children areThe Apache Indians andApache Children and Elders Talk Together. For older kids, we recommendCulture and Customs of the Apache Indians, a much more in-depth book on Apache culture and family life. You can also browse through our reading list of recommendedNative American books in general. Disclaimer: we are an Amazon affiliate and our website earns a commission if you buy a book through one of these links. Most of them can also be found in a public library, though!

here. Our website was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2020.

Thanks for your interest in the Apache Indian people and their language!

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Apache Indian Tribe
An overview of the Apache people, their language and history.

Apache Language Resources
Apache language samples, articles, and indexed links.

Apache Culture and History Directory
Related links about the Apache tribe past and present.

Apache Words

Apache Indian vocabulary lists.

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Return to our index of American Indian nations

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Facts for Kids: Apache Indians (Ndee, Dine'e. Apaches)

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Information about the Apache Indians for students and teachers. Covers food, homes, arts and crafts, weapons, culture, and daily life of the Apaches.

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Check at these dance moves from the Texas Pow Wow in 2007. Preformed by a descent of the Apache tribe. He even wears the traditional dress for the celebration. You can even hear drummers and singers in the background.

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Indian dance - Jamer Kunestsis Apache Crown Dancers

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The Neches were a small group that was once apart of the Cherokee tribe. The share a lot of similarities. This subgroup of the Cherokee were renamed once the settled along the Neches river here in Texas after the Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced them out of their territory.

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Facts for Kids: Cherokee Indians (Cherokees)

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Information about the Cherokee Indians for students and teachers. Covers Cherokee tribes in Oklahoma and North Carolina,
with facts about Cherokee Indian food, clothing, houses, villages, art and crafts, weapons and tools, legends, and customs of the Cherokee people.

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Here from kids your age what they learned. They report their findings and included illustrations. We won't be as detailed as them. This is just to give you an idea and to learn from your Texas peers.

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Here is an excellent example of the type of notes you should have. Short simple and contain any vocabulary that you think is important.

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Here is a list of more links and websites. If you wish to explore and learn more about Native Americans. You don't have to use this web link for your project.

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This page contains links to American history relating to Native Americans.

During November we celebrate Native American/Alaskan Native Heritage Month. Check out these statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as the reference links below.

NARA Resources

American Indians NARA Microfilm Publications

Microfilm publications of NARA records relating to American Indians, including records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, census rolls, and treaties relating to territories.
To search the catalog:

1. From the main Microfilm Catalog page, click Advanced Search (next to the Search button).

2. In the right hand column, under Subject Catalog, select "American Indians."

3. Hit "Search."

Indian Bounty Land Applications

A Fall 1993 article from the NARA publication Prologue by Mary Frances Morrow.

Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Record Group 75, from the Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives & Records Administration.

"Semper Fidelis, Code Talkers"

The winter 2001 issue of NARA's publication Prologue features an article on the Navajo "code talkers" used by the Marine Corps in World War II. The original twenty-nine Navajo code talkers received the Congressional Gold Medal for their wartime contributions in maintaining an unbreakable code.

"Snakes & Scribes: The Dawes Commission and the Enrollment of the Creeks"

This article by Kent Carter appeared in the Spring 1997 issue of Prologue.

"Thus Spoke Chief Seattle: The Story of an Undocumented Speech"

An analysis of an Indian chief's oration, supposedly spoken in 1855, which dealt with the "woes and wrongs done to American Indians." Published in Prologue.

National Park Service Resources

Digital Collections

Edward S. Curtis's The North American Indian

"Edward Sheriff Curtis published The North American Indian between 1907 and 1930 with the intent to record traditional Indian cultures. The work comprises twenty volumes of narrative text and photogravure images. Each volume is accompanied by a portfolio of large photogravure plates. The entire work is presented here, supported largely by funds from the Institute for Museum and Library Services." Part of Northwestern University's Digital Library Collections.

Genealogical Resources

Historical Background

Laws and Treaties

Indian Affairs: Laws & Treaties

Edited by Charles Kappler, this seven-volume set is a compilation of U.S. laws, treaties, and executive orders pertaining to Native American Indian tribes, covering the years 1778 to 1970.

Tribal Resources

American Indian and Alaska Native Resources

Links to American Indian and Alaska Native Policy and Handbook for Consultation with Federally - Recognized Indian Tribes on the United States Census Bureau website.

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This page contains links to American history relating to Native Americans. During November we celebrate Native American/Alaskan Native Heritage Month. Check out these statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as the reference links below.

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Click view original to visit this cool website. There is a digital scan of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 under President Jackson. That limited the land of the Native Americans and pushed the people onto reservations. A reservation is land that is set aside by the government.

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OurDocuments.gov. Featuring 100 milestone documents of American history from the National Archives. Includes images of original primary source documents, lesson plans, teacher and student competitions, and educational resources.

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Take note how their steps change with the drums. The Dance off starts with 40-50 girls then is narrowed down by 5 dances to two finalist.

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Tonia Jo Hall Queen of Contemp - 2016 Gathering of Nations Powwow

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Acosia Red Elk vs. Lacy Albert - Tonia Jo Hall Queen of Contemp - 2016 Gathering of Nations Powwow

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October 17th.
That is ten days to research, record your facts, collaborate with your group, and put all your findings into a PowerPoint. So that your group will be the teachers for the day as we learn about your tribe.

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Native American Texans quick facts

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All these terms have been used to describe the various indigenous groupings that populated this region. Some, like the Karankawas and Jumanos, show up only briefly in modern history, having disappeared about the time of the first European settlement.

Often, two named "tribes" encountered by adventurers were actually the same tribe but labeled differently by French and Spanish.

In prehistoric times - as far back as 37,000 years ago, some anthropologists estimate - primitive peoples who are the ancestors of modern American Indians existed in Texas.

A burial site in the Permian Basin, dated to 12,000 years ago, was discovered in 1953 and the skeletal remains labeled "Midland Minnie." Lubbock Lake park is at the site of a primitive civilization dated to 12,000 years ago, as well.

These early migrants arrived here possibly by crossing over the land bridge between Alaska and Asia and moving south. Scholars say that in 1492 nearly 10 million natives inhabited North America, but by the middle of the 19th century this population had dwindled by 90 percent. In 1830, according to Walter Prescott Webb, there were "more Anglo-Americans in Texas than there were Mexicans and Indians combined."

It should be kept in mind that all these figures on "Indians" do not include descendants of the indigenous people who were enculturated or Christianized and mixed into la raza. The Institute of Texan Cultures puts it well: "It is almost forgotten that through many Texas families there runs a strong strain of Indian blood. Texans of Mexican heritage are descended from the proud peoples who created great civilizations south of the Rio Grande long before the Spaniards came," says The Indian Texans, a booklet published by the institute.

Never static, the aboriginal populations pushed and shoved each other from territory to territory. By the time Europeans arrived, there was never simply one frontier of European and Indian. It was much more complex. It was more a matter of Spanish-Anglo-French-Comanche-Caddo-Apache etc., frontiers.

Major players in the drama of 19th-century Texas were definitely the Comanches who at this time swept down from the cool highlands of the southern Rockies, and, mounted on horses, drove other tribes from West Texas. Lipan Apaches were principal victims in this new arrangement.

To a lesser extent, Tonkawas and Wichitas were caught in the battle over territory above the Balcones Escarpment, where the Texas Hill Country begins.

The only other group to have inhabited western Texas, the Mescalero Apaches, left for Mexico or for the New Mexico reservation in the 1870s. In January 1881, a band of Mescaleros raided a stagecoach in Quitman Canyon in Hudspeth County. "Texas Rangers pursued, killed eight, and dispersed the rest. This was the last Indian fight on Texas soil." (The Indian Texans).

About a quarter century before the 1900 census count, the last major military campaign against Indians occurred following the Battle of Adobe Walls in the Panhandle. On June 27, 1874, a Kiowa and Comanche war party led by Quanah Parker attacked buffalo hunters encamped in the abandoned trading post on the Canadian River. At the end of the encounter, three hunters were dead and 13 Indians killed. This battle spurred the military action of 1875 that forced the last Indians living east of the Pecos River into the Oklahoma territory.

This kind of forced migration into Oklahoma had occurred decades earlier in East Texas in another historic moment - the Battle of the Neches in Van Zandt and Henderson counties, near present-day Chandler. Here, in 1839, it was the armed forces of the Republic of Texas against the Cherokee people led by Chief Bowles, also called Duwali. These Cherokees had been pushed into Texas from the southeastern United States after the War of 1812 by the U.S. government. At the same time, a policy of welcome from Spanish officials, who wanted a buffer to Anglo-American migration, drew the Cherokees to land northeast of the Trinity River.

Despite the conciliatory influence of Sam Houston, Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar was able to enforce his hostile Indian policy and drive the Cherokee farmers north across the Red River.

In the decades between this East Texas battle of 1839 and the Adobe Walls battle of 1874, few public lands were reserved for Indians. Unlike other states in the U.S. West, the federal government did not have public land in Texas to give to the Indians.

The Texas legislature made 53,000 acres of land near the Brazos River available for two reservations in 1854. However, Clear Fork Reservation and Brazos Reservation near Fort Belknap soon encountered suspicion and hostility from white settlers in the area.

In 1859, the Comanche remnant at Clear Fork and the Tonkawas, Wichitas and the Caddo remnant at the Brazos Reservation were forced north across the Red River into Indian Territory.

Long before Anglo-Americans and these Plains Indians of West Texas encountered each other, the Spanish missions of South and East Texas impacted other groups of natives, most prominently the Caddoes.

In 1690, the Caddo confederation of East Texas became the focus of the missionary zeal of Franciscan friars.

These Indians were part of the mound cultures that surround the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan to the less-developed groups of the southeastern United States. The Caddoes were a sedentary, planter people.

One of the Caddoan tribes, called Tejas by the Spanish, is the origin for the name Texas.

Coahuiltecans in South Texas were the impetus for the San Antonio missions. The European diseases to which they were not immune diminished their number. Comanches and Apaches killed many more. And the rest were absorbed into the Mexican people.

Other Indians such as the Tlaxcalans were brought up from Mexico by the Spanish Franciscans to help establish the missions. These Indians are a primary example of those who became enculturated, and their descendants still live in South Texas.

There are three reservations in Texas today. The oldest is the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation in Polk County in southeast Texas, where some 650 live. These Creek remnants were forced into Texas from the southern United States and later allied with the cause of Texas independence from Mexico.

They were the only group ever able to have Republic, state, and federal governments sustain guarantees to certain land.

The two other tribes - both along the Rio Grande - received state legal recognition only since 1960. These two groups arrived in Texas after the arrival of Europeans.

The Tiguas, who moved down from the area around present-day Albuquerque, live on trust land in El Paso County, and, in 1994, tribal rolls listed 1,463 members of one-eighth blood quantum or greater.

The Kickapoos, originally from the Great Lakes region, received land in 1985 for a reservation south of Eagle Pass, but the semi-nomadic people continue to move each year from Mexico to the southwestern United States as hired farmworkers. They spend the winter months at the small reservation. There are about 650.

Starting in the 1950s and until 1980, the federal government resettled as many as 40,000 Indians in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in a program of integration into the wider American culture.

For many of these Indians, the program was only a brief experiment in urban life. Most chose to return to their reservations in other states, but many stayed and provided the core for the resurgence of American Indians in Texas.

Today there are about 20,000 urban Indians in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and the majority of the other Indians in Texas are living and working in urban environments, although most counties number a few American Indians among their citizens.

American Indian culture is celebrated in many different powwows and other festivals. The powwows are gatherings where participants dance to the beat of drums accompanied by chants.

Chandler, the site of the Battle of the Neches, has an annual Duwali Hoop the last weekend in September. It includes Indian food, archery competition and tours of historic Native American locations.

More than 5,000 meet every year at the Texas Red Nations Powwow in Dallas. The event is held in November.

Grand Prairie stages the National Championship Powwow at Traders Village in early September.

In Crowley, south of Fort Worth, the annual Texas Kiowa Tia-Pia powwow is held in early May.

The Inter-Tribal Council of Houston has its annual powwow in May.

Laredo is the site of an annual powwow the last Sunday in May.

San Antonio plays host to a powwow in July.

In Corpus Christi, the Coastal Bend Council of Native Americans holds its annual powwow in the early fall.

The Texas A&M University Native American Student Association sponsors a powwow at the College Station campus each February.

In November, the Austin Independent School District sponsors a celebration the first Saturday of November.

The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation between Livingston and Woodville stages an annual powwow the first weekend in June.

Other cultural events around the state include the St. Anthony Festival in El Paso. The Tiguas, for whom the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo was established in 1681 and one of the oldest ethnic groups in Texas, honor their patron saint with ceremonies, authentic dances and ethnic foods.

Visitors are also welcome at the Tigua and Alabama-Coushatta reservations all year.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Canyon is the site of the Kwahadi Indian Summer Ceremonials in early October.

In Post, the annual Indian ceremony for crops is in late March. A Plains Indian dance is performed at sunrise the day after the first day of spring. The wind's direction at sunrise determines success of the coming year. There is a traditional ceremony and early-morning breakfast.

Indian arts and crafts are celebrated at two North Texas events each year. Downtown Dallas is the site of the annual American Indian ArtFestival & Market in October.

And in Fort Worth, the Museum of Science and History hosts the annual Shared Worlds: Native American Day each October.

- written by Robert Plocheck for the Texas Almanac 1998-1999.

FOR FURTHER READING:

* England, Nelson, "Urban Indians: Trails of Hope," Texas Highways, October 1995.

* Institute staff, The Indians of Texas, Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio, 1970.

* Newcomb, W.W. Jr., The Indians of Texas, University of Texas Press, 1961 (Fourth Paperback Printing 1978).

* Utley, Robert M., The Indian Frontier of the American West 1846-1890, University of New Mexico Press, 1984.

- Photo by Lisa LeVrier.

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American Indians in Texas | Texas Almanac

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All these terms have been used to describe the various indigenous groupings that populated this region. Some, like the Karankawas and Jumanos, show up only briefly in modern history, having disappeared about the time of the first European settlement. Often, two named "tribes" encountered by adventurers were actually the same tribe but labeled differently by French and Spanish.

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Native Americans today

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The Settlement Of Texas, Part One: The Native Americans

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The settlement of Texas dates back almost 12,000 years ago, to the first evidence of Native American occupation. This two-part video traces the settlement of our Lone Star State up through 1836: from those early times, up to the arrival of the Spanish and French, and including the influx of the Americans.

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Click on the image or information to view closer.
Then to visit a website click on the tab labeled "view original". It will take you directly to the website and information.

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Apache
Caddo
Comanche
The Jumano
Karankawa
Kickapoo
Kiowa
Neches (sub group of Cherkeee)
Tonkawa
Witchita

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You will be working in a group of 4-5 students all researching facts about the tribe you choose.
Each person will have a part or role in the project. Everyone will have one of the following topics they will research.
1. Ruler
2. Traditions
3. Culture (way of life where did they live in Texas?)
4.Food

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The Native American Story | Texas State History Museum

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Thousands of native people lived in Texas for at least 11,000 years before the first Europeans arrived. There were hundreds of groups, their lives shaped by the distinct landscapes and climates in which they lived.