Caddo Village
Today most people think of Native Americans as nomadic
buffalo hunters. Uncivilized types that resided
in tepees, attacked wagon trains, and smoked long wooden pipes. The Caddo Nation shatters this stereotype
with well established villages, decorative pottery and a remarkable system of
agriculture.
The Caddo Nation was actually a confederacy of tribes that
inhabited portions of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The three main
tribes were: the Kadohadacho (good luck with the pronunciation) who lived along
the Red River near the Oklahoma and Arkansas border, the Hasinai in East Texas,
and the Natchitoches in Northern Louisiana.
The bountiful forests in the region provided them with fertile soil, abundant
game, and wood for roomy, durable huts. The huts were roomy conical affairs
that were built by fellow tribe members – similar to an old fashioned barn
raising. Archeological and linguistic
evidence suggests the Caddo were once a mighty single tribe that migrated from
the Caribbean Islands. Like the Aztecs
and Mayans, they had sizeable communities which featured a prominent, earthen
mound that was likely used for religious ceremonies. Before the 1800’s, the Caddo fell into
decline and broke apart into a number of smaller tribes with a common
language. From that language, the name "Texas" was derived. It was from the Caddo word for allies, "teyshas."
Caddo House
The main characteristic, that set them apart from other
Texas tribes, was their farming skills. Using
crude tools made of stone and wood, the Caddo grew corn, beans, squash, and
tobacco. Unlike the Plains Indians, meat
was only a small part of their diet. Both
men and women shared in the tasks of maintaining their gardens. Abundant crops were produced to feed the tribe
and get them through the winter months.
In appearance, they
supported elaborate tattoos made by inserting charcoal into their skin. Males shaved their heads with only a single,
long strip running down the middle. The
women painted themselves a variety of colors from the waist up. At birth, Caddo infants had their heads pressed
against boards, giving them a distinct cone shaped head as they grew older.
Like other Native Americans, the Caddo saw warfare as a
sport, but with a spirited, week-long preparation period that involved feasting,
dancing and praying. A special house was
constructed for this preparation period – a period that grew more intense with
each passing day. Finally, in a blind
rage, the warriors burned the house down before setting off on their attack
(sort of like your basic fraternity party).
Their primary weapon was the bow and arrow. The bow itself was made from fine bois d’arc
wood. Because of its durability, the
Caddo bow became a much sought after item at the local trading post.
Because of their proximity to the mouth of the Mississippi
River, it was only a matter of time before they came into contact with the two
great European powers in the region – France and Spain. The Spaniards tried to establish missions
among the Caddo but with no success. The
French had better luck with trading posts. Before their trade with the Caddo
could expand, the French sold their Louisiana holdings to the Spanish, bought
them back, and then sold them again to the United States.
After contact with French traders and Spanish missionaries,
disease began to decimate the Caddo. To make matters worse, their long time
enemies, the Osage, began to seize their territory and force them out. By the time Anglo pioneers began moving west,
their numbers were significantly reduced - they became a mere footnote in U.S. frontier
history. During the mid 1800’s, their
remaining numbers were forced on to reservations in Oklahoma. Today the Caddo Nation is federally
recognized and headquartered in Binger, Oklahoma.
