Towakoni
Encyclopedia
The Tawakoni are a Native American
ethnic group closely related to the Wichitas and who spoke a Wichita dialect
of the Caddoan language family. They are currently enrolled within the federally recognized tribe, the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Their name translates to "river bend among red sand hills."
and Texas
. In his 1719 expedition, French explorer Jean Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe encountered a Tawakoni village in present day Muskogee County, Oklahoma
. The French wrote that the Tawakoni raised corn and tobacco. La Harpe negotiated a peace treaty between the Tawakoni, eight other tribes, and the French government. Hostilities with the Osage
pushed the tribe south into Texas.
In Texas, the Tawakoni were closely allied with the Waco tribe
. Until 1770, they were friendly to the French but hostile to the Spanish. European-American settlers fought with the tribes in the 1820s, and disease and warfare had dramatically reduced their numbers. Stephen F. Austin
's Republic of Texas
drove the tribes out from central Texas. The Tawakoni helped convince the Comanche
and the Wichita to sign a peace treaty with the United States government, which became the first treaty signed between Plains Indians
and the US. In 1835, they signed a treaty with the United States at Camp Holmes. This was the first time they were included with the Wichita peoples, a practice that continued in subsequent treaties, signed in 1837 and 1846.
In 1853 an Indian reservation
was established on the upper Brazos River
in Texas, but settlers ultimately forced the tribes off the reservation. In August of 1859, 258 Tawakoni people were forced to relocate to Indian Territory
. With the Wichita, Waco, Caddo
, Nadaco
, Kichai, and Hainai
tribes, the Tawakoni settled on a reservation in 1872 between the Canadian
and Washita River
s.
Although these tribes resisted the allotment policy outlines in the Dawes Act
, their reservation was broken into individual allotments, and "surplus" lands were opened to non-Native settlers on August 6, 1901.
In 1894, 126 Tawakoni people were recorded. Under the 1934 Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
, they joined other Wichita peoples in organizing a new tribal government.
in Texas was named for this tribe. East Tawakoni, West Tawakoni and Quinlan, Texas
are cities around this large lake. Also out of its dam comes the Sabine River which flows through northeast Texas and even works as the eastern border of Texas (From Center to Port Arthur, Texas
).
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...
ethnic group closely related to the Wichitas and who spoke a Wichita dialect
Wichita language
Wichita is a moribund Caddoan language spoken in Oklahoma by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Only one fluent speaker remains, Doris McLemore, although in 2007 there were only three first language learners still alive...
of the Caddoan language family. They are currently enrolled within the federally recognized tribe, the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Their name translates to "river bend among red sand hills."
History
At the beginning of the 18th century, the Tawakoni lived in villages in what is now OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In his 1719 expedition, French explorer Jean Baptiste Bénard de La Harpe encountered a Tawakoni village in present day Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muskogee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 70,990. Its county seat is Muskogee.-Government:...
. The French wrote that the Tawakoni raised corn and tobacco. La Harpe negotiated a peace treaty between the Tawakoni, eight other tribes, and the French government. Hostilities with the Osage
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
pushed the tribe south into Texas.
In Texas, the Tawakoni were closely allied with the Waco tribe
Waco tribe
The Waco tribe of the Wichita people is a Native American Southern Plains tribe that inhabited northeastern Texas. Today, they are enrolled members of the federally recognized Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, headquartered in Anadarko, Oklahoma.-History:...
. Until 1770, they were friendly to the French but hostile to the Spanish. European-American settlers fought with the tribes in the 1820s, and disease and warfare had dramatically reduced their numbers. Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
's Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
drove the tribes out from central Texas. The Tawakoni helped convince the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
and the Wichita to sign a peace treaty with the United States government, which became the first treaty signed between Plains Indians
Plains Indians
The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. Their colorful equestrian culture and resistance to White domination have made the Plains Indians an archetype in literature and art for American Indians everywhere.Plains...
and the US. In 1835, they signed a treaty with the United States at Camp Holmes. This was the first time they were included with the Wichita peoples, a practice that continued in subsequent treaties, signed in 1837 and 1846.
In 1853 an Indian reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
was established on the upper Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
in Texas, but settlers ultimately forced the tribes off the reservation. In August of 1859, 258 Tawakoni people were forced to relocate to Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
. With the Wichita, Waco, Caddo
Caddo
The Caddo Nation is a confederacy of several Southeastern Native American tribes, who traditionally inhabited much of what is now East Texas, northern Louisiana and portions of southern Arkansas and Oklahoma. Today the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma is a cohesive tribe with its capital at Binger, Oklahoma...
, Nadaco
Nadaco
The Nadaco, also commonly known as the Anadarko, are a Native American tribe from eastern Texas. Their name, Nadá-kuh, means "bumblebee place."-History:The Nadaco were part of the Hasinai branch of the Caddo Confederacy....
, Kichai, and Hainai
Hainai
Hainai is the name of a Native American tribe that lived in what is now east Texas.The Hainai were the leading group in the Hasinai confederacy. They were a part of are Caddo Nation, and traditionally lived on the Neches and Angelina rivers to the west of present day Nacogdoches...
tribes, the Tawakoni settled on a reservation in 1872 between the Canadian
Canadian River
The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and most of Oklahoma....
and Washita River
Washita River
The Washita River is a river in Texas and Oklahoma, United States. The river is long and terminates into Lake Texoma in Johnston County , Oklahoma and the Red River.-Geography:...
s.
Although these tribes resisted the allotment policy outlines in the Dawes Act
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide the land into allotments for individual Indians. The Act was named for its sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts. The Dawes Act was amended in 1891 and again...
, their reservation was broken into individual allotments, and "surplus" lands were opened to non-Native settlers on August 6, 1901.
In 1894, 126 Tawakoni people were recorded. Under the 1934 Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
The Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936, also known as the Thomas-Rogers Act, is a United States federal law that extended the US Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. It sought to return some form of tribal government to the many tribes in former Indian Territory...
, they joined other Wichita peoples in organizing a new tribal government.
Synonymy
Their name has been also spelled as Touacara, Tahwaccaro, Tahuacaro, or Towoccaro, as well as Towakoni. Some French explorers called them the "Three Canes" or Troiscanne.Namesakes
Lake TawakoniLake Tawakoni
Lake Tawakoni is a reservoir located approximately 53 miles east of Dallas, Texas, southeast of Greenville, Texas, and 21 miles northeast of Wills Point, Texas. It lies within three Texas counties, Hunt, Rains, and Van Zandt. It is used for water supply and recreation.The reservoir was...
in Texas was named for this tribe. East Tawakoni, West Tawakoni and Quinlan, Texas
Quinlan, Texas
Quinlan is a rural city in the southern part of Hunt County, Texas, United States located within the US Government designated Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area.-Demographics:...
are cities around this large lake. Also out of its dam comes the Sabine River which flows through northeast Texas and even works as the eastern border of Texas (From Center to Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
).