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Native American tribes in Texas

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A sign marking the border of the Alabama–Coushatta Indian Reservation in Texas.

Native American tribes in Texas are the Native American tribes who currently live in Texas and the Indigenous peoples of the Americas who lived there long ago.

During early colonial times, Native American tribes often lost their land and political power because of unfair treaties and government policies. Many tribes were pushed off their land and moved to reservations or left Texas completely.

Today, many Native Americans from tribes based in other states live in Texas. The Texas Historical Commission works with three federally recognized tribes in Texas and 26 other tribes from nearby states.

In 1986, Texas created a group called the Texas Commission for Indian Affairs to help these tribes. But this group stopped working in 1989.

Federally recognized tribes

Texas has three federally recognized tribes. They are:

Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas reservation

These three tribes meet the seven rules to be an American Indian tribe. They have been a group since at least 1900, have a strong community, have leaders, have rules for who can join, come from old American Indian tribes, are not part of any other tribes, and were not removed by the U.S. Congress. These tribes are helped by the Southern Plains Regional Office of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs in Anadarko, Oklahoma.

American Indian reservations

Texas is home to three special areas called Indian Reservations, where some Native American tribes live today. These are:

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center in El Paso, Texas

State-recognized tribes

State-recognized tribes are groups that are not officially recognized by the United States federal government in the same way as federally recognized tribes. In Texas, there is no official way for the state to recognize tribes. The Texas Commission for Indian Affairs, later called the Texas Indian Commission, only worked with three federally recognized tribes and stopped existing in 1989.

Some groups, like the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, have been honored with special statements called resolutions, but these do not make them officially recognized. For example, they received Texas Senate Resolution 438 in 2009 and other resolutions in 2019. Several bills to officially recognize tribes, including the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas and the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, were introduced but did not pass.

Historical tribes of Texas

Many tribes once lived in what is now Texas. In the 1800s, many were moved to places like Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, or to New Mexico and Louisiana. Some tribes no longer exist as groups, but their people may still have descendants today.

Since the late 1900s, rules about how the government treats Native American tribes have changed to help protect their culture and rights. In 1975, special studies began to see how government actions might affect Native American cultural places. In 2011, Texas started more programs to help Native American tribes with jobs, health care, and schools. A law called House Bill 3884 says that government agencies must think about what tribes want when making decisions that could change the land or environment where tribes live.

  • Adai people, formerly eastern Texas

  • Apache people, formerly western Texas; now Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma

  • Lipan Apache, formerly southwest, now New Mexico

  • Salinero, formerly west

  • Teya, formerly Panhandle

  • Vaquero, also Querecho, formerly northwestern Texas, possible ancestral Apache people

  • Aranama, formerly southeast

  • Atakapa, formerly Gulf Coast

  • Akokisa, formerly Galveston Bay, Gulf Coast

  • Bidai, formerly Trinity River, Gulf Coast

  • Deadose, formerly southeast

  • Patiri, formerly San Jacinto River

  • Biloxi, formerly Neches River in the 19th century, now Louisiana

  • Caddo, formerly eastern Texas, now Oklahoma

  • Cacachau, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Eyeish, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Hainai, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Kadohadacho, formerly northeast, now Oklahoma

  • Nabedache, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Nabiti, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Nacogdoche, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Nacono, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Nadaco, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Nanatsoho, formerly Red River, now Oklahoma

  • Nasoni (Upper), formerly Red River, now Oklahoma

  • Natchitoches, formerly Red River, now Oklahoma

  • Nechaui, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Neche, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

  • Comanche, formerly north and west, now Oklahoma

  • Coahuiltecan, formerly southern

  • Comecrudo, formerly southern

  • Ervipiame, formerly south and central Texas

  • Geier, formerly south-central

  • Pajalat, formerly central

  • Pastia, formerly south-central

  • Payaya, formerly south-central

  • Quepano, formerly south-central

  • Unpuncliegut, formerly south coast

  • Xarame, formerly south-central

  • Dotchetonne, formerly northeastern

  • Escanjaque Indians, formerly north-central

  • Jumano, formerly southwestern

  • La Junta, formerly west

  • Karankawa, formerly south coast

  • Kiowa, formerly Panhandle, now Oklahoma

  • Manso, formerly west

  • Quems, formerly southwest

  • Quicuchabe, formerly west

  • Quide, formerly west

  • Suma, formerly west, joined Apaches

  • Teyas, formerly Panhandle

  • Tonkawa, formerly southeast, now Oklahoma

  • Mayeye, formerly south

  • Yojuane, formerly east-central

  • Wichita, formerly north-central, now Oklahoma

  • Kichai, formerly north, now Oklahoma

  • Taovaya, formerly north in the 19th century, now Oklahoma

  • Tawakoni, formerly north and east in the 19th century, now Oklahoma

  • Waco, formerly north, now Oklahoma

Caddo

The Caddo lived in East Texas and often stayed in one village for a long time. They were known for being friendly and made alliances with French settlers. They grew crops like corn and were skilled at making pottery. They also had good trade networks. Today, the Caddo live in Oklahoma.

Comanche

The Comanche lived in the Southern Plains of Texas. They protected their land and people, which sometimes led to fights with others. They got horses from Europeans and used them in battles. The Comanche hunted buffalo for food, clothing, and shelter. Today, the Comanche live in Oklahoma.

Karankawa

The Karankawa lived along the Texas Gulf Coast. Being near water helped them get seafood when crops couldn’t grow. They were known for making baskets and helping Spanish explorers settle.

Jumano

The Jumano lived in West and Central Texas. They were known for markings on their bodies and good trading. Over time, a group called the Apaches took over their tribe, and changes in the environment later caused their numbers to shrink.

Contemporary tribes headquartered outside of Texas

Descendants of the tribes with historical ties to Texas that are now headquartered in surrounding states are:

Unrecognized organizations

Many groups in Texas say they represent historic tribes, but they are not officially recognized. This means they are not considered official tribes by the government. Some of these groups become nonprofit organizations to support their work.

Related articles

Native Americans in the United States
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Texas Historical Commission
Federally recognized
Karankawa
List of federally recognized tribes by state#Texas

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