History

The Caddo Indians are a tribe of Indians from the southwest United States. Their name means "real chiefs," which is the name they gave themselves. In the early days of the tribe, horses had not yet been brought to North America from Europe so most traveling was done by foot or canoe.

Function

Caddos first traveled barefoot. Walking was the only option for transportation. Eventually, they fashioned moccasins to help protect their feet and walk with more efficiency. They were often faced with having to walk many miles to and from camp in search of food and necessities. They also grew cotton and had to walk endless fields of cotton during picking season. They used the cotton they grew to weave into fine thread that could be colored with vegetable dye. They took the colorful threads and wove durable cotton moccasins intertwined with beads and pattern designs. The moccasins protected their feet and made transportation much easier.

Caddos also traveled by canoe if need be. They were experts at hollowing out old logs to make sturdy canoes to transport them across waters.
Since horses were not available in those early days, Caddos used dogs to help them transport items on trips.

Geography

Caddo Indians were native to southwestern states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. History shows that their original home was in Louisiana along the banks of a river. Most of them have most recently resided in Oklahoma. They slowly migrated across the country heading to points north and south. They stayed close to waterways, traveling by foot and also by canoe across this geographic region.

Identification

Caddos used their style of dress and tribal tattoos for identification. The men wore breach cloths that covered their front and back torsos. The women wore skirts and poncho-type tops that wrapped around their body. The materials were both weaved threads and animal skins. Both types of garments were decorated with bead work and colored patterns. They were also defined by their special tattoos. Tattoos were different for each tribe. They originally used the tattoos to tell one another apart, but eventually the white man and other discoverers were able to tell the differences as well.

Features

One significant feature of the Caddo tribe is the language. It is a Caddoan language that has recently been in danger of becoming extinct. Steps are being taken to save the language. More effort is being made to teach young children the language, and a preservation society has been formed.