Over 14,000 years ago, people arrived in what we now call the Americas. Over time, they became the American Indians, building empires, constructing cities, and creating trade routes. They had complex social systems and strong cultures. However, in the 16th century, when Europeans arrived on the Texas Gulf Coast, everything changed. The Europeans took control of resources like food and land, which greatly harmed and displaced many American Indian tribes.

The Texas Gulf Coast was home to several American Indian tribes, including the Atakapa, Karankawa, Mariame, and Akokisa. These tribes were semi-nomadic, meaning they moved around during different times of the year. They lived on the coast for part of the year, fishing, hunting, and gathering food, and then moved inland when needed. They found clever ways to deal with challenges like mosquitoes, by covering their bodies with shark and alligator grease.

One of the first tribes that European explorers met in Texas was the Karankawa. When Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca washed up on the shore near Galveston Island in 1528, the Karankawa helped him and his companions. However, their relations with other Europeans were not as friendly. For example, when French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, arrived in Matagorda Bay in 1685, things started well. But after La Salle’s men stole a canoe from the Karankawa, the relationship turned hostile. The Karankawa attacked La Salle’s settlement, Fort St. Louis, in 1688, leaving no survivors except for the children, who were adopted into the tribe.

The Caddos, who lived in East Texas, and the Jumanos, who lived in West Texas, were both farmers and traders. They grew crops like corn, beans, and squash, and had wide trade networks. The Caddos built large village complexes and lived in a society where leadership was passed down through the female line. They were skilled potters, creating elaborate ceramics.

The Jumanos lived along rivers and near springs. They traded with other tribes and developed good relationships with Europeans. However, by the early 1700s, the Apaches began moving into Jumano territory, and eventually, the Jumanos joined the Apaches, losing their identity as a separate tribe.

In time, the Comanches and Apaches became powerful in Texas, ruling large regions and hunting bison. However, as more Europeans and settlers arrived, these tribes faced wars, disease, and loss of their lands, leading to their decline. Today, American Indians from many tribes continue to live in Texas, preserving their cultures and traditions.

Source: American Plains Indians
© Bullock Texas State History Museum