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Native American Tribes of Texas

Did you know the name "Texas" comes from a Caddoan Indian word? It is a Spanish corruption of the Caddo word Taysha, which means "friend." The Caddo were not the only native people of this region, however.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Texas included:

About Our Maps
 *The Apache tribes
*The Bidai tribe
*The Coahuilteco and Carrizo tribes
*The Caddo tribe
*The Comanche tribe
*The Jumano, Suma, Piro, and other eastern Pueblos
*The Karankawa tribe
*The Kiowa tribe
*The Kitsai tribe
*The Tawakoni tribe
*The Tonkawa tribe
*The Wichita tribe

Other Indian tribes driven into Texas after Europeans arrived included:

 *The Alabama tribe
*The Cherokee tribe
*The Coushatta tribe
*The Kickapoo tribe
*The Tigua Pueblo tribe

There are three federally recognized Indian tribes in Texas today.
Here are the addresses of Texas' Indian reservations:

1 Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas:
Rt 3 Box 640
Livingston, TX 77351

2 Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas:
HC1 Box 9700
Eagle Pass, TX 78852

3 Ysleta del Sur Pueblo:
PO Box 17579, Ysleta Stn
El Paso, TX 79917

Teaching and learning activities about Texas Native Americans:

 Feel free to print these out for classroom use!

*Texas Indian Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of Texas' Indian tribes.
*Texas Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native Texas languages.
*Write Your Name In Cherokee: Directions for using the Cherokee writing system to spell English names.
*Texas Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the Indian tribes of Texas.
    We currently have pages for the Apache, Caddo, Comanche, Kiowa, Cherokee, Coushatta, Kickapoo, and Wichita tribes.

Recommended books about Texas Native Americans:

 *Texas Indians: Introducing Texas' Native American history and culture to kids.
*Texas Native Peoples: Another good book on Texas tribes for kids.
*The Texas Indians: A more in-depth look at Texas Native Americans, well-written and informative.
*The Rock Art of Texas Indians: Art book of prehistoric Texas Indian petroglyphs.
*When The Storm God Rides: Collection of Native Texas legends.
*The Last Comanche Chief: Biography of Texas Indian leader Quanah Parker.
*Cynthia Ann Parker: Biography of his mother, a Texas colonist captured and adopted by the Comanches.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Texas state:

 *American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions:
     Nonprofit organization working on behalf of the Coahuiltecan Indians of Texas.
*Texas Indians:
     Articles aimed at kids about the native tribes of Texas.
*Texas Indian History:
     Historical profiles of the American Indian tribes native to Texas.
*Texas Native American Webquest:
     An online lesson plan for teaching kids about Texas Indians.



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