Nabedache

The Nabedache Tribe and the Mission of San Francisco

The Nabedache Tribe, located west of the Neches River, established its main village near San Pedro Creek. Historical accounts indicate that the first mission of San Francisco was situated within this village, approximately 1.5 to 3 leagues from the river. Early explorers documented various distances while assessing the site’s suitability for the mission, ultimately confirming the location’s significance in relation to other nearby missions. The enduring name San Pedro reflects the area’s cultural history and continued relevance in the region’s early Spanish exploration.

Neches-Angelina Confederacy

The Neches-Angelina confederacy consisted of various tribes, primarily within the Neches-Angelina valleys. Key tribes included the Nabadacho, Neche, Nacogdoche, Nasoni, and others, with reports from explorers like De Leon and Francisco de Jesus Maria Casañas highlighting their governance and settlements in the late 17th century. While some tribes were consistently referenced, others, like the Ais, were seen as distinct and often hostile to the Hasinai. Overall, the configuration of the confederacy shifted over time, reflecting the loose political organization of the tribes.

Nabedache Tribe

The Nabedache tribe, part of the Hasinai confederacy, was historically situated west of the Neches River, near modern-day San Pedro, Texas. Their name is derived from local salt resources. They were noted for their political organization and for engaging in trade and warfare, particularly against the Apache, Tonkawa, and Natchitoch tribes. Despite early encounters with Spanish missionaries, their population declined due to epidemics and cultural shifts, ultimately resulting in their relocation. Today, survivors are part of the allotted Wichita reservation in Oklahoma.