_Caddo_—
The name Caddo is applied collectively to an important group of
approximately 25 tribes forming 3 or more confederated groups of
Kadohadacho covering the present states of Arkansas, Louisiana, and
Oklahoma.
Their culture was considerably different from those of other Louisiana
tribes. They allied themselves with the plains cultures and unlike the
other tribes of the state, who were afraid of horses, the Caddo readily
accepted and utilized them for hunting buffalo and other game.
The Caddo was very large and powerful before the arrival of the
Europeans. They had highly developed social and ceremonial organizations
with surrounding tribes. They were excellent farmers and noted for their
outstanding pottery. Their importance in history however quickly
diminished with the arrival of the white man.
Their name comes from their own word Kadohadacho which was later
shortened to Caddo by the white man. They seem to have always lived on
the Red River where they planted corn, pumpkins, and various vegetables.
They did not tolerate idleness and those who did not work were punished.
They worked their fields in good weather and attended their handiwork,
made bows and arrows, clothing, and tools during cold rainy weather. The
women kept busy making mats out of reed and leaves and by making pots
and bowls from clay.
When it was time to till the fields all the men assembled and worked
first one field and then another until every field of all the households
were ready for planting. The planting was never done by the men; only
the women. To supplement their crops the men hunted and fished.
Each tribe had a chief called a Caddi, who ruled within the section of
country occupied by his tribe. The larger tribes also had sub-chiefs,
the number depending on the size of the tribe.
They lived in a communal arrangement. Eight to ten families lived in a
single conical shaped grass house or one made of thatch supported by a
pole frame. Mat couches lined the walls and served for seating during
the day and for beds at night. A fire burned in the center of house
night and day. (883)
Their houses were arranged around an open town square which was used for
social and ceremonial functions. The members of each house were
responsible for farming the fields adjacent to their house.
For their role as ambassadors of peace under the rule of the French,
Spanish and American governments, the Caddo were promised they would
never be disturbed from their land. However, the purchase of the
Louisiana Territory resulted in increased immigration into Caddo
country. Even with military assistance it soon became impossible for the
United States government to restrain the white settlers from inhabiting
the Caddo lands. Finally the Indian agent was authorized to purchase the
Caddo land and the Indians moved westward to Texas.
As a result of an extermination policy by the Texans who did not want
the Caddo either, those who weren’t killed were driven from Texas east
of the Red River where in retaliation, the Caddo sent small bands into
Texas to plunder and harass the whites. With their hunting grounds so
depleted stealing became almost a necessity. By the early 19th century
their importance as a distinct tribe was over and survivors merged with
other tribes.
_Adai_—
A Caddo tribe which lived near the present site of Robeline, Louisiana
when first encountered by Europeans in the 1500’s. As a result of wars
between France and Spain the Adai suffered severely. One portion of
their villages was under French control and the other part under
Spanish. An ancient trail between their villages became the noted
“contraband trail” along which traders and travelers journeyed between
the French and Spanish provinces. War between France and Spain almost
exterminated the Adai. (891)
Even though their vocabulary differed widely from the rest of the Caddo
dialects, it is probable that they combined with the Kadohadacho. By the
close of the 19th century all of the Adai had disappeared.
_Doustioni_—
A small tribe living near Natchitoches, Louisiana. They also appeared in
European accounts under the names of Souchitiony, Dubchinsis, and
Oulchionis.
In 1702 a crop failure caused the Indian agent St. Denis to move their
neighbors, the Natchitoches tribes, from the Red River to an area beside
the Acolapissa on Lake Ponchartrain. The Doustioni however, chose to
remain in their country and reverted for a time to hunting rather than
move to the Lake Ponchartrain area.
In 1714 when St. Denis brought the Natchitoches back and started an
establishment among them the Doustioni accepted an invitation to settle
close by the post. In 1719 they were known to be living on an island in
the Red River not far away. Since nothing more was written about them,
they probably lost their identity in the Natchitoches tribe.
_Nasoni (Nissohone or Nisione)_—
This tribe appears in 1542 as a “province” entered by the Spaniards
during an attempt by DeSoto’s expedition to reach Mexico by land. It was
southwest of the present city of Shreveport. They were poor and had very
little corn. In 1687 there were 2 Nasoni towns, an upper town and a
lower one. The latter was 27 miles north of Nacogdoches, Texas and Upper
Nasoni was near Red River just south of the river.
Tribal wars with the Osage Indians and disease left their villages
destroyed and abandoned. By the close of the 18th century they had
disappeared, or merged with the Kadohadacho.
_Natasi_—
A Caddo tribe on Red River between Natchitoches and Shreveport mentioned
by writers between 1690-1719. It was probably part of the Yatasi.
Their villages were destroyed and abandoned due to tribal wars and
disease and by the close of the 18th century they also had disappeared.
_Natchitoches_—
When first discovered in 1690 by the French, the main tribe bearing this
name, pronounced by the Indians themselves Nashitosh, was living near
the city which is called after them. They were primarily farmers. In
1702 when their crops were ruined they requested and were granted
permission from the French to relocate. St. Denis located them on the
north side of Lake Ponchartrain near the Acolapissa. Twelve years later
he took them back to their country and established a French post close
to their village. As long as he remained commandant of this post, his
influence over the Natchitoches and other tribes which came to live
nearby was unbounded. Even after his retirement relations between the
settlers and Indians continued harmonious and the Indians remained in
their old villages until the first of the 19th century, when they joined
the rest of the Caddo tribes and accompanied them successively to Texas
and Oklahoma.
There was a second Natchitoches, the “upper” town, allied with the
Kadohadacho. It was heard of only in earliest times and probably united
with the Kadohadacho earlier than the other group.
_Nanatsoho_—
An obscure tribe of Caddo whose village was on the Red River in 1687.
They were allied with other Caddo tribes, the Kadohadatcho, Natchitoches
and the Nasoni. In 1812 another village near their earlier location was
noted. They eventually united with their allies and disappeared as a
distinct tribe by the early 19th century.
_Soacatino (Xacatin)_—
A Caddo tribe visited by the Spaniards in 1542 but not mentioned by
later writers.
_Washita (Ouachita)_—
A small Caddo tribe which has given its name to Ouachita River,
Louisiana. Their village was located near the present site of Columbia
on the Ouachita. By 1690 a part of them had left the village and settled
near the Natchitoches Indians. In 1730 the Louisiana Governor wrote they
had been destroyed by the Taenso, but the greater part probably withdrew
to the Natchitoches or other Caddo tribes farther west. (204)
_Yatasi_—
A Caddo tribe living on the Red River northwest of Natchitoches. When
the post of Natchitoches was established they were so hard pressed by
the Chickasaw tribe that part of them sought refuge nearby, while others
fled to the Kadohadatcho. Later they re-occupied their own country.
Later left Louisiana for Texas with the other Caddo tribes.
Died out quickly within the 20 year period between 1690 and 1710.