The First Texans EQ How were the Native

The First Texans EQ: How were the Native Americans of Texas able to live in such different areas of the state?

Ancient Texans � People migrated to the Western Hemisphere 35, 000 years ago � These ancient Texans walked across the Bering Strait ice bridge � Over time, these people moved south and learned to adapt to their surroundings � We study these people using artifacts

Native People of Texas �Between 1600 -1800 Texas tribes spread throughout the 4 regions �We classify these tribes as: Southeastern, Gulf, Pueblo and Plains cultures

Southeastern Tribes � Lived in the coastal plains region � These people lived in small groups and shared responsibility for decision making � Believed in nature spirits � Many of the tribes were peaceful, but some were warlike � Some lived in communities while others lived nomadic lives � Caddo, Coahuiltecans

Caddos � Lived in the eastern part of Texas � 24 groups made up the Caddo > confederacies � Each group had its own government, both men and women help important position � Was the most agriculturally advanced of the tribes, growing squash, beans, pumpkins, and corn � Also gathered food and fished/hunted

Caddo cont. �Most Caddo lived in permanent villages, in dome-shaped homes that looked like beehives �Often engaged in warfare against other tribes, but worked well with French explorers

Coahuiltecans � Lived primarily in south Texas plains � All members of the tribe enjoyed equal status and shared work/food � Shamans, healers, led religious ceremonies and healed the sick � Was a nomadic tribe and moved often in search of food � When unable to hunt with bows/arrows (javelina or small boar) they ate cactus, plants, lizards, worms � Many died after being exposed to diseases brought

Gulf Coast-Karankawas � Lived along the Gulf Coast on small islands � Semi-permanent �March to Sept: built camps near forests and hunted/gathered �Oct-Feb moved to the coast & lived off seafood and water plants � Made and used dugout canoes � One of the first tribes to make contact with European explorers, by 1800 s most were displaced or killed

Pueblo Tribes �Lived in the Mountains and Basins region �Used adobe from the mountains to form their homes �Often very peaceful tribes

Jumano � Lived in the present day Texas, New Mexico & northern Mexico � Traded with other tribes and hunted buffalo � Very friendly with the Caddo and traded crops for animal skins/meat � Made pottery and jewelry making them very popular to trade with � Men had striped tattoos on their faces

Jumano �Jumanos living in the Big Bend area used farming techniques to grow crops �Lack of rain made farming quite difficult �Gathered cacti and hunted when possible �Jumano homes were made of adobe and very large 28 x 30 feet �Eventually were run off the land by the Apache

Plains Tribes � Life in the plains revolved around the buffalo � Horses introduced by Spanish in 1600 s � Outstanding hunters/warriors � 1850 20 million buffalo, by 1800 s nearly wiped out and along with them the tribes � Tonkawas, Apache, Commanche, Kiowa � http: //app. discoveryedu cation. com/search? Ntt= native+americans

Apache � Lived all throughout the plains territories > life fully centered on the buffalo �Nomadic � Tribes-Mescaleros and Lipan � Tribes led by a chief � Men expected to be warriors � Became the finest horsemen of the plains � Serious enemies of the Comanche; eventually left the plains and moved more towards the mountains/basins Geronimo

Tonkawa � Lived on the Edwards Plateau, near Austin �Some lived on the coastal plains � Unable to really hunt buffalo due to fierce competition from Comanche and Apache �Hunted small game, turtles, rabbits, snakes � Lost many people due to fighting with Europeans and other plains Indians �Eventually moved to reservations

Kiowa � Allies of the Comanche � Nomadic tribe �Could move whole camps in 30 minutes �Lived in large teepees of up to 20 tanned hides � Prized their history and wrote their stories on buffalo hides �Honoring the sun=great things �All males expected to be warriors � Satanta-great leader � Great hunters/fighters, but eventually forced onto reservations with the other plains Indians

Comanche �Territory was known as Comancheria �Covered Tx plains, OK, KS, CO, NM �Fiercest of the plains tribes �Divided into many small groups �Each group led by a council of older men who made decisions for the tribe

Comanche � Life centered on 2 activities: �Hunting-buffalo > excellent hunters, even better when horses were introduced �War-fought other tribes and white settlers for control over land (buffalo) � Often raid or steal horses from enemies � Fought until 1875, when loss of the buffalo