Nacogdoche

Sabine River, Texas
Total population
Assimilated into Caddo Nation
Regions with significant populations
United States ( Oklahoma, formerly Texas)
Languages
Hasinai, English
Religion
Traditional tribal religion
Related ethnic groups
Other Hasinai tribes: Hainai, Nabedache, Nabiti, Nacono, Nadaco, Nasoni, Nechaui, Neche

The Nacogdoche ( Caddo: Nakúʔkidáawtsiʔ ^[1]) are a Native American tribe from eastern Texas. ^[2]

History

The Nacogdoche were part of the Hasinai branch of the Caddo Confederacy ^[2] and closely allied with the Lower Nasoni. They historically lived between the Angelina and the Sabine Rivers in Texas. The Gentleman of Elvas, a member of Hernando de Soto's 1541 expedition, wrote about the tribe, as did Francisco de Jesus Maria in 1691. ^[3]

In 1716, Franciscan friars accompanying Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón founded the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches Mission to serve the Nacogdoche as well as neighboring tribes. ^[4] In 1750, a Nacogdoche chief, Chacaiauchia, threatened to kill the presiding father at the mission, Father Calahorray Sanz, and demanded that all other Spaniards leave Nacogdoches territory. ^[3] This threat was not fulfilled. The mission remained until in 1773, ^[5] with brief dormant periods due to fear of French attack. ^[6]

The governor of Texas visited the Nacogdoche in 1752. ^[3] Their primary village, Nevantin, was located near present day Nacogdoches, Texas, ^[6] named for the tribe. Four mounds surrounded the site of Nevantin, until relatively recently. ^[3]

While Spanish colonizers claimed Nacogdoche land, the tribe traded freely with the French. French traders provided firearms, ammunition, metal-bladed knives, cloth, vermilion dye, and other sundries in exchange for horses, prepared animal hides, bear's fat, beans, corn, and Apache slaves. ^[3]

By 1800, European diseases and warfare had greatly reduced the population of the tribe. The survivors joined other Hasinai tribes. ^[4]

Ultimately, they were forced to relocate to the Wichita Reservation in Indian Territory in the 19th century. ^[4] Today they are enrolled in the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

Synonymy

The tribe is also known as the Nazadachotzi, ^[3] Nacadocheeto, Nacodissy, Nacodochito, Nagodoche, Nasahossoz, Naugdoche, Nocodosh, ^[4] and Neticatzi. ^[7]

See also

• Natchitoches people

Notes

References

• Bolton, Herbet E. The Hasinais: Southern Caddoans As Seen by the Earliest Europeans. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2002. ISBN  978-0-8061-3441-3.
• Edmonds, Randlett. Nusht'uhtitiʔ Hasinay: Caddo Phrasebook. Richardson, TX: Various Indian Peoples Publishing, 2003. ISBN  1-884655-00-9.
• Sturtevant, William C., general editor and Raymond D. Fogelson, volume editor. Handbook of North American Indians: Southeast. Volume 14. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution, 2004. ISBN  0-16-072300-0.

External links

• Nacogdoche Indians, from Handbook of Texas Online
• Nacogdoche Indian Tribe History, from Access Genealogy