Nabedache facts for kids

The Nabedache were a Native American tribe from eastern Texas. They were part of the larger Caddo people. Their name, Nabáydácu, means "blackberry place" in the Caddo language. Another idea is that their first name was Wawadishe, which comes from the Caddo word witish, meaning "salt."

History of the Nabedache Tribe

The Nabedache tribe was the western part of the Hasinai branch of the Caddo Confederacy. This was a group of Caddo-speaking tribes. Their traditional land was located between the Neches River and the Trinity River in what is now Texas.

Early European Contact

In 1686, a French explorer named Henri Joutel met the Nabedache. They were living near the start of the Neches River. This area is close to where Houston County, Texas is today. A few years later, in 1690, Spanish monks and explorer Domingo Ramon arrived. They built a mission called San Francisco de los Tejas Mission in Nabedache territory.

Impact of Diseases and Relocation

When Europeans came, they brought new diseases. The Nabedache suffered greatly from an illness in 1690-1691. This was very hard on their community. For the next hundred years, their main village was about 12 to 15 miles west of the Neches River. This village was named San Pedro after a nearby stream.

Spanish writers at the time noted that both women and men could be priests and hold important positions in the Nabedache tribe.

Between 1779 and 1784, the tribe moved further up the Neches River. Later, in the 1800s, they were forced to move again. They had to relocate to the Wichita Reservation in what was then called Indian Territory. Today, the descendants of the Nabedache are part of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

Other Names for the Nabedache

The Nabedache tribe was also known by several other names. These include Nabadacho, Nabaydacho, Nabordakhes, Inecis, Ynecis, Navedacho, and Naoudiche.