While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Most of the tribes listed on this page do not have a
connection to a larger tribe. We list them here so you can find some
information on their history. For a complete listing of our 700 plus
tribes visit Indian History pages.
Aranama. A
small agricultural tribe formerly living on and near the south coast of
Texas; later they were settled for a time at the mission of Espiritu Santo
de Zuniga, opposite the present Goliad, where some Karankawa Indians were
also neophytes. It is reported that they had previously suffered from an
attack by the Karankawa. Morse located them in 1822 on San Antonio River
and estimated them at 125 souls. In 1834 Escudero (Not. Estad. de
Chihuahua, 231) spoke of them as follows: "The same coast and its islands
are inhabited by the Curancahuases and Jaranames Indians, fugitives from
the missions. The larger portion have lately settled in the new mission of
Nuestra Seliora del Refugio, and to-day very few rebellious families
remain, so that the injuries caused by these cowardly but cruel Indians
have creased." As a tribe the Aranama were extinct by 1843.
Avavares. A
former tribe of Texas, possibly Caddoan, which lived " behind " the
Quintoles toward the interior, and to which Cabeza de Vaca, in 1527-34,
fled from the Mariames. Their language was different from that of the
Mariames, although they understood the latter. They bartered bones, which
the Mariames ground and used for food, and also traded in bows. While
staying with the Avavares Cabeza de Vaca and his companion became noted
for their successful treatment of the sick. The people seem to have been
kindly disposed and different in habits from the coast tribes.
Chatot. A
tribe or hand which French settled south of Ft. St. Louis, Mobile Bay,
Ala., in 1709. Bienville wishing to change his settlement, " selected a
place where the nation of Chatot were residing, and gave them exchange for
it a piece of territory fronting on Dog River, 2 leagues farther down".
(Penicaut,1709, in French, Hist. Coll. LA 1, 103, 1869). According to
Baudry des Lozieres (Voy., 1794) the Chatot a Tohome tribes were related
to the Choctaw and spoke the French and Choctaw languages.
Guacata.
An inland Calusa village on L. "Mayaimi" or Okechobee, south Florida,
about 1570. Elsewhere in his memoir Fontaneda refers to it as a distinct
but subordinate tribe.
Guale.
The Indian name by which the Spaniards knew the present Amelia island,
north coast of Florida, and a part of the adjacent Florida and Georgia
coast, in the 16th century. There is strong probability that the tribe in
occupancy was that known later as Yamasi. In 1597 the son of the chief of
Guale led a revolt against the missions that had been established by the
Spanish Franciscans a few years before. There were then on the island at
least 3 mission villages, Asao, Asopo, and Ospo. The missions were
reestablished in 1605 and may have continued until their destruction by
the English and their Indian allies in 1704-06.
Pensacola
(Choctaw: 'hair-people,' from pansha 'hair,' okla 'people') A
tribe once inhabiting tracts around the present city and harbor of
Pensacola, west Florida. According to Barcia (Ensayo,316, 1723) they
had been destroyed by tribal wars before the Spaniards became established
there in 1698, but from a reference in Margry it appears that a few still
remained at a later period.
Saluda. A
small tribe formerly living on Saluda river, South Carolina.
According to Rivers (Hist. S.C., 38, 1856) they removed to Pennsylvania
probably early in the 18th century, which, if true would indicate that
they were probably connected with the Shawnee. In addition to that
of the river, the name survives in Saluda gap in the Blue Ridge.
Saturiba. A
Timucuan tribe in Florida, occupying, about 1565, the territory on both
sides of lower St John river, with the adjacent coast territory, northward
to Satilla river, Ga., including Cumberland (Tacatacuru) island, beyond
which was Guale (Yamasee) territory. The statement quoted in Brinton (Fla.
Penin., 120, 1859) making St. Helena, S. Car., their northern boundary, is
incorrect. They were at war with the Timucua, their nearest neighbors
higher up on the river, and afterward with the Spaniards, but welcomed and
aided the French during the short stay of the latter. Their chief was said
to rule 30 sub-chiefs, each perhaps representing a different village. The
name may have been properly that of the head chief rather than of the
tribe, the two being frequently confused by the early explorers. It does
not occur in Pareja's list of Timucuan dialects in 1612, the tribe being
probably noted under one of the unidentified names in the list, viz, Itafi,
Tucururu, or Mocama, the last two being specially designated as located on
the coast. All the Indians of this region were Christianized by Franciscan
missionaries before the end of the 16th century.
Shahala (Saxala-, `above'). A name given by Lewis and
Clark to the Chinook an tribes living on Columbia r. from Sauvies id. to
the Cascades in Oregon. They estimated the number at 2,800, in 62 houses,
and mention the following tribes: Neerchokioon, Clahclellah, Wahclellah,
and Yehuh. Katlagakya was the native name for the Indians of this region.
Taposa. A
tribe formerly living on Yazoo river, Mississippi of which little beyond
the name is known. Iberville heard of them in 1699, when they were
said to be between the Ofogoula and the Chakchiuma on Yazoo river.
Baudry des Lozières mentioned them in
1802, under the name Tapouchas, as settled in village with the Chakchiuma
and Ibitoupa on upper Yazoo river, and in fact they were really the most
northerly Yazoo tribe. They appear to have been one of the tribes
confederated with the Chickasaw, and according to Le Page du Pratz spoke
the same language. They occupied 25 cabins in 1730.
Isleta del Sur (Span.: ' Isleta of the south') Y. A Tigua pueblo on the north
east bank of the Rio Grande, a few miles below El Paso, Tex. It was established
in 1681 by some 400 Indian captives from Isleta, New Mexico, taken thence by
Gov. Otermin on his return from the attempted reconquest of of the Pueblos after
their revolt in Aug. 1680. It was the seat of a Franciscan mission from 1682,
containing a church dedicated to San Antonio de Padua. The mission name San
Antonio applied to Isleta del Sur belonged to the northern Isleta until its
abandonment in consequence of the revolt, and when the latter was resettled in
1709 or 1718, the mission was named San Agustin de la Isleta. The few
inhabitants of Isleta del Sur are not almost completely Mexicanized.
Deadoses. A
small Texan tribe which in the 18th century lived with other tribes on San
Xavier river, probably the San Miguel, which joins Little river and flows
into the Brazos about 150 miles from the gulf. In 1767-68 they were
said to reside between Navasota and Trinity rivers, and in 1771 were
mentioned with the Tonkawa, Comanche, Towash (Wichita), and others as
northern Texas tribes in contradistinction to the Cocos (Caque),
Karankawa, and others of the coast region. If the Mayeyes were
really related to the Tonkawa, as has been asserted, the fact that this
tribe is mentioned with them may indicate that the language of the
Deadoses resembled that of the Tonkawa. They may have been swept
away by the epidemic that raged among the Indians of Texas in 1777-78.
Guasas.
A tribe mentioned in Spanish narratives and reports on Texas in the latter
part of the 18th century as enemies of the "northern Indians,"
particularly of the Comanche. according to one narrative they were
the only people able to defeat the latter. They were reputed to be
of great stature and of remarkable skill in horsemanship. Although
many of the things told about them are entirely fabulous, a real tribe,
appears to be referred to, probably one of those which erected earth
lodges. This may have been the Osage (Wasash) or, since an annotator
of a letter written by Repperdá in 1772
enumerates "Guasers" and Osage separately, possibly they were the Kansa or
the Pawnee.
Dotame. A tribe of which Lewis and Clark learned from Indian informants. They
were said to speak the Comanche language and to number 30 warriors, or 120
souls, in 10 lodges. No traders had been among them; they trafficked
usually with the Arikara, were hostile toward the Sioux, but friendly with the
Mandan, the Arikara, and with their neighbors. From the use of the name in
connection with Cataka (Kiowa Apache) and Nemousin (Comanche), the Dotame are
seemingly identifiable with the Kiowa.
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Frederick Webb Hodge, 1906
