Nechaui
Encyclopedia
The Nechaui were a Native American
tribe from eastern Texas. Their name is thought to be derived from Nachawi, the Caddo language
word for Osage orange.
branch of the Caddo Confederacy. During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, their principal village was located on the Neches River
, in present day Cherokee County, Texas
.
In the late 17th century, Spanish explorer, Francisco Casañas de Jesús María encountered the tribe and wrote, "Toward the north, where the above-mentioned Necha tribe ends, is that called the Nacachau." The Nechaui settled near the Nacono
and Neche tribes. In 1716, another Spanish explorer, Domingo Ramón wrote that Franciscan monks established a mission
to convert the Nechaui and neighboring Hasinai tribes.
Ultimately, they assimiliated into other Hasinai tribes in the 18th century, and are enrolled in the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma today.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe from eastern Texas. Their name is thought to be derived from Nachawi, the Caddo language
Caddo language
Caddo is the only surviving Southern Caddoan language of the Caddo language family. It is spoken by the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. Today, only 25 elderly speakers are estimated to remain, none of whom are monolingual Caddo speakers, making Caddo a critically endangered language...
word for Osage orange.
History
The Nechaui were part of the HasinaiHasinai
The Hasinai Confederacy was a large confederation of Caddo-speaking Native Americans located between the Sabine and Trinity rivers in eastern Texas...
branch of the Caddo Confederacy. During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, their principal village was located on the Neches River
Neches River
The Neches River flows for through east Texas to its mouth on Sabine Lake near the Rainbow Bridge. Two major reservoirs, Lake Palestine and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir are located on the Neches. Several cities are located along the Neches River Basin, including Evadale, Tyler, Lufkin, Silsbee,...
, in present day Cherokee County, Texas
Cherokee County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
.
In the late 17th century, Spanish explorer, Francisco Casañas de Jesús María encountered the tribe and wrote, "Toward the north, where the above-mentioned Necha tribe ends, is that called the Nacachau." The Nechaui settled near the Nacono
Nacono
The Nacono were a Native American tribe from eastern Texas.The Nacono were part of the Hasinai branch of the Caddo Confederacy. They historically lived in villages along the Neches and Angelina Rivers, near present day Cherokee and Houston Counties....
and Neche tribes. In 1716, another Spanish explorer, Domingo Ramón wrote that Franciscan monks established a mission
Spanish missions in Texas
The Spanish Missions in Texas comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier land. The missions...
to convert the Nechaui and neighboring Hasinai tribes.
Ultimately, they assimiliated into other Hasinai tribes in the 18th century, and are enrolled in the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma today.
External links
- Nechaui Indians, from Handbook of Texas Online