Aftermath
For many years before the arrival of whites, Indians in Texas
lived out their own history. The arrival of whites--French,
Spanish, Mexican, American--changed their lives forever. The
native peoples of Texas correctly perceived that the white
desire to settle on the land would mean the end of their way
of life. They fought back, some through diplomacy, others
through murderous raids. In the end, both peaceful and warlike
Indians ended the struggle in the same way--in defeat.
Most of the Indian peoples were removed from Texas and relocated
on reservations in Oklahoma. Over the years, many Indians
have returned to Texas and live in a number of small communities,
most notably in the Dallas area. The 2000 census revealed
that 188,000 Texans identified themselves as Native Americans.
In 1904, J.C. Carr,
a San Antonio man, advertised his services as an "Indian
depredation claim agent." The frontier was already
receding into memory. |
Three tribes have their official home in Texas.
- The Alabama-Coushatta
reservation in East Texas is home to about 500 people, who
are notable for their efforts to combine their cultural
heritage with the modern world. They operate a tourist complex
and in recent years have sought to add a gambling facility
to generate income.
- The Tiguas,
descendants of southwestern pueblo tribes, were recognized
by the state of Texas in 1967 and today occupy a reservation
near El Paso. They operate a gambling operation and are
noted for their annual Fiesta de San Antonio in June.
- The Kickapoos
have traditionally ignored the border between the United
States and Mexico, with the Mexican branch of the tribe
being among the most successful in preserving their traditional
native culture. In 1985, the Kickapoos were granted land
near El Indio, Texas, a move designed to make them eligible
for United States aid. About 600 people spend most the year
in Nacimiento, Mexico, but spend the summer and early fall
working as migrant agricultural workers in the U.S.
Since the end of the Indian Wars, the federal government
has been the primary manager of relations between Indians
and whites. However, beginning in the 1930s, the state of
Texas was involved in managing the Alabama-Coushatta reservation.
In 1965, a separate agency called the Texas Commission for
Indian Affairs (later the Texas Indian Commission) was formed
to administer the reservation. In time, the commission also
managed affairs with the Tiguas and Kickapoos. The commission
was abolished in 1989, with most of its responsibilities transferred
to the federal government. Many Indian activists have called
for a new commission to be established that would help better
represent their cause in Texas state government.
In This Section:
The Salt Creek
Massacre -The
Battle of Adobe Walls -
The Red River
War - Aftermath
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