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Native American tribes in Texas are the Native American tribes who are currently based in Texas and the Indigenous peoples of the Americas who historically lived in Texas.

Many individual Native Americans, whose tribes are headquartered in other states, reside in Texas. The Texas Historical Commission by law consulted with the three federally recognized tribes in Texas and as well as 26 other federally recognized tribes headquartered in surrounding states.

In 1986, the state formed the Texas Commission for Indian Affairs, later renamed the Texas Indian Commission, to manage trust lands and assist three federally recognized tribes headquartered in Texas. However, the commission was dissolved in 1989.

Federally recognized tribes

Texas has three federally recognized tribes. They have met the seven criteria of an American Indian tribe:

1. being an American Indian entity since at least 1900
2. a predominant part of the group forms a distinct community and has done so throughout history into the present
3. holding political influence over its members
4. having governing documents including membership criteria
5. members having ancestral descent from historic American Indian tribes
6. not being members of other existing federally recognized tribes
7. not being previously terminated by the U.S. Congress.

The three federally recognized tribes in Texas are:

• Alabama–Coushatta Tribes of Texas, originally from Tennessee and Alabama
• Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, originally from the Great Lakes
• Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas originally from New Mexico.

These three tribes are served by the Southern Plains Regional Office of the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs located in Anadarko, Oklahoma.

American Indian reservations

These are three Indian Reservations in Texas:

• Alabama–Coushatta Reservation, in Polk County, Texas
• Kickapoo Reservation, in Maverick County, Texas
• Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, in El Paso County, Texas.

State-recognized tribes

State-recognized tribes do not have the government-to-government relationship with the United States federal government that federally recognized tribes do. Texas has "no legal mechanism to recognize tribes," as journalists Graham Lee Brewer and Tristan Ahtone wrote. The Texas Commission for Indian Affairs, later Texas Indian Commission, only dealt with the three federally recognized tribes and did not work with any state-recognized tribes before being dissolved in 1989. Texas has no state-recognized tribes.

Several groups have claimed to be state-recognized based on congratulatory resolutions; however, "Resolutions are statements of opinions and, unlike bills, do not have the force of law." For example, the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas were honored in Texas Senate Resolution 438 in 2009 and Texas State Concurrent Resolution 61 and Texas House Concurrent Resolution 171, both in 2019.

Texas Senate Bill 274 to formally recognize the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, introduced in January 2021, died in committee, as did Texas Senate Bill 231 introduced in November 2022. Texas Senate Bill 1479, introduced in March 2023, and Texas House Bill 2005, introduced in February 2023, both to state-recognize the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation also died in committee.

Historical tribes of Texas

These are some of the tribes that have existed in what is now Texas. Many were forcibly removed to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, in the 19th century, and few to New Mexico or Louisiana. Others no longer exist as tribes but may have living descendants.

• Adai people, formerly eastern Texas
• Apache people, western Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma

• Lipan Apache, southwest
• Salinero, formerly west
• Teya, formerly Panhandle
• Vaquero, also Querecho, formerly northwestern Texas, possible ancestral Apache people

• Aranama, formerly southeast
• Atakapa, formerly Gulf Coast

• Akokisa, formerly Galveston Bay, Gulf Coast
• Bidai, formerly Trinity River, Gulf Coast
• Deadose, formerly southeast
• Patiri, formerly San Jacinto River

• Biloxi, formerly Neches River in the 19th century, now Louisiana
• Caddo, formerly eastern Texas, now Oklahoma

• Cacachau, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Eyeish, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Hainai, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Kadohadacho, formerly northeast, now Oklahoma
• Nabedache, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Nabiti, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Nacogdoche, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Nacono, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Nadaco, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Nanatsoho, formerly Red River, now Oklahoma
• Nasoni (Upper), formerly Red River, now Oklahoma
• Natchitoches, formerly Red River, now Oklahoma
• Nechaui, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma
• Neche, formerly eastern, now Oklahoma

• Comanche, formerly north and west, now Oklahoma
• Coahuiltecan, formerly southern

• Comecrudo, formerly southern
• Ervipiame, formerly south and central Texas
• Geier, formerly south central
• Pajalat, formerly central
• Pastia, formerly south-central
• Payaya, formerly south-central
• Quepano, formerly south-central
• Unpuncliegut, formerly south coast
• Xarame, formerly south-central

• Dotchetonne, formerly northeastern
• Escanjaque Indians, formerly north-central
• Jumano, formerly southwestern
• La Junta, formerly west
• Karankawa, formerly south coast
• Kiowa, formerly panhandle, now Oklahoma
• Manso, formerly west
• Quems, formerly southwest
• Quicuchabe, formerly west
• Quide, formerly west
• Suma, formerly west, joined Apaches
• Teyas, Panhandle
• Tonkawa, formerly southeast, now Oklahoma

• Mayeye, formerly south
• Yojuane, formerly east-central

• Wichita, formerly north-central, now Oklahoma

• Kichai, formerly north, now Oklahoma
• Taovaya, formerly north in the 19th century, now Oklahoma
• Tawakoni, formerly north and east in the 19th century, now Oklahoma
• Waco, formerly north, now Oklahoma

Contemporary tribes headquartered outside of Texas

Descendants of the tribes with historical ties to Texas that are now headquartered in surrounding states are:

• Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
• Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma
• Apache Tribe of Oklahoma
• Caddo Nation, Oklahoma
• Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma
• Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma
• Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
• Comanche Nation, Oklahoma
• Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
• Delaware Nation, Oklahoma
• Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana
• Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico
• Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma
• Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
• Mescalero Apache Tribe, New Mexico
• Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma
• Osage Nation, Oklahoma
• Quapaw Nation, Oklahoma
• Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
• Shawnee Tribe, Oklahoma
• Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma
• Tonkawa Tribe, Oklahoma
• Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, Louisiana
• United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Oklahoma
• Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, Oklahoma

Unrecognized organizations

More than 30 organizations claim to represent historic tribes within Texas; however, these groups are unrecognized, meaning they do not meet the minimum criteria of federally recognized tribes and are not state-recognized tribes. Some of these cultural heritage groups form 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

See also

• Category:Native American tribes in Texas
• Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains
• Aridoamerica cultures

References

1. ^ "Tribal Consultation Guidelines". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
2. ^ "Texas Indian Commission" (PDF). Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. April 1988. p. 1. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
3. Wunder, John R. "Texas Indian Commission". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
4. Newland, Bryan (30 April 2022). "Federal Tribal Recognition". Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. US Department of the Interior. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
5. ^ Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior (30 April 2022). "Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs". Federal Register. 86 FR 7554: 7554–58.
6. "Tribes Served by the Southern Plains Region". Indian Affairs. U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
7. Brewer, Graham Lee; Ahtone, Tristan (27 October 2021). "In Texas, a group claiming to be Cherokee faces questions about authenticity". NBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
8. "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
9. "Bills and Resolutions". Governmental Relations. University of Houston System. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
10. "Bill: SR 438". History. Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
11. "Texas Senate Concurrent Resolution 61". LegiScan. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
12. "HCR 171". History. Texas Legislature Online. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
13. "Texas Senate Bill 274". TX SB274, 2021-2022, 87th Legislature. LegiScan. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
14. "Texas Senate Bill 231". LegiScan. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
15. "Texas Senate Bill 1479". LegiScan. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
16. "Texas House Bill 2005". LegiScan. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
17. "Los Adeas". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
18. ^ DeMallie, Raymond J. (2001). Handbook of North American Indians: Plains, Vol. 13, part 2. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. p. ix. ISBN 0-16-050400-7.
19. Campbell, Thomas N. "Salinero Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
20. Anderson, H. Allen. "Teya Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
21. Campbell, Thomas N. "Vaquero Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
22. Campbell, Thomas N. (1 June 1995). "Aranama Indiams". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
23. ^ Wilhelm, Kerri (10 February 2015). "The Akokisa and the Atakapans". Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory. University of Texas, Austin. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
24. Campbell, Thomas N. "Deadose Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
25. Biesele, Megan. "Biloxi Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
26. ^ Rogers, J. Daniel; Sabo III, George (2004). Fogelson, Raymond D. (ed.). Handbook of North American Indians: Southeast, Vol. 14. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. p. 617. ISBN 0-16-072300-0.
27. Campbell, Thomas N. "Comecrudo Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
28. Campbell, Thomas N. "Ervipiame Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
29. Campbell, Thomas N. "Geier Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
30. Campbell, Thomas N. "Pajalat Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
31. Campbell, Thomas N. "Pastia Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
32. Campbell, Thomas N. "Payaya Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
33. Campbell, Thomas N. "Quepano Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
34. Campbell, Thomas N. "Unpuncliegut Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
35. Campbell, Thomas N. "Xarame Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
36. Campbell, Thomas N. "Dotchetonne Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
37. Campbell, Thomas N. "Escanjaque Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
38. Hickerson, Nancy P. "Jumano Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
39. "Karankawa Indians". Calhoun County Museum. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
40. Campbell, Thomas N. "Manso Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
41. Campbell, Thomas N. "Quems Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
42. Campbell, Thomas N. "Quicuchabe Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
43. "Quide Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
44. Campbell, Thomas N. "Suma Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
45. Anderson, H. Allen. "Teya Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
46. Campbell, Thomas N. "Mayeye Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
47. Campbell, Thomas N. "Yojuane Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
48. Sanchez, Joe. "Kichai". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
49. Jelks, Edward B. "Taovaya Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
50. Krieger, Margery H. "Tawakoni Indians". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
51. Pool, Carolyn Garrett. "Waco". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
52. "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 6 November 2021.

External links

• Tribal Contacts, Texas Historical Commission
• American Indians, Texas State Historical Society
• "What happened to Native American tribes that once existed in North Texas? Curious Texas investigates", Dallas Morning News

v t e Native American tribes in Texas
Federally recognized tribes	Alabama–Coushatta Kickapoo Traditional Tribe Ysleta del Sur Pueblo
Indigenous languages	Araname Atacapan Borrado Caddo Coahuiltecan Cotoname Garzan Pakawan Solano Tamaulipecan Tanpachoan Tiwa Tonkawan Wichita
Historical Indigenous peoples of Texas (Several are in Oklahoma today)	Adai Anxau Apache (Lipan Apache, Querecho) Aranama Atakapa (Akokna, Akokisa, Bidai, Deadose) Caddo (Eyeish, Hasinai, Hainai, Kadohadacho, Nabedache, Nabiti, Nacogdoche, Nacono, Nadaco, Nanatsoho, Lower Nasoni, Neche, Nechaui) Cherokee, Texas Coahuiltecan (Ervipiame, Pajalat, Payaya, Sijame, Xarames) Comanche Decose Emet Jumanos Karankawa (Copano) Kohani Mayeye Pachal Pacoa Paguame Pampopa Papanac Pastia Pasxa Patiri Pulacuam Sana Saracuam Semonam Tamique Teyas Tilijae Tomoacas Tonkawa Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Kichai, Taovaya, Tawakoni, Waco, Wichita proper) Yojuane
Related topics	Sam Houston and Native American relations
extinct language / extinct tribe / early, obsolete name of Indigenous tribe / people absorbed into other tribe(s) / headquartered in Oklahoma today

• American Indian reservations in Texas
• Indigenous peoples of Aridoamerica
• Native American history of Texas
• Native American tribes in Texas
• Native American-related lists
• Plains tribes