What Are Some Interesting Facts About Caddo Indians?
The Caddo Indians, also called the Kadohadacho tribe, historically lived in villages in present-day Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. Today, most Caddo live in Oklahoma. Due to the multiple colonizations in their region, many Caddo became multilingual, speaking English, French and Spanish alongside their own complex native language.
In the past, Caddo Indians lived in tall grass huts, and all villages included sports fields. In terms of appearance, Caddo men often wore tattoos, while women used ceremonial face and body paint. Caddo men often wore their hair in Mohawks, while women wore their hair in buns. Today, most Caddos live in western-style houses or apartments and wear more generic American clothing, except during ceremonial events.
Artistically, Caddo Indians are most famous for their ornate pottery, which is made in a variety of styles. There are many Caddo folktales, many of which center around supernatural monsters or anthropomorphic animals. One important figure in both stories and religion for the Caddo is “Caddi Ayo” or “Sky Chief,” the tribe’s creator god, while Coyote is a common trickster figure.
Traditionally, Caddos were farmers, with women growing grains, beans and squashes while men fished and hunted for game. They interacted with other Southern Plains Indian tribes, such as the Osage and Comanche, but rarely fought deadly wars with other tribes. Rather, the Caddos had a relationship of trade, peace and even intermarriage with nearby tribes.