Wee-ta-ra-sha-ro, Head Chief of the Tribe, 1834
A confederacy of Caddoan stock, formerly
dwelling between the Arkansas River, Kansas, and the Brazos River,
Texas, and now located in Oklahoma, within the boundaries of the former
Wichita reservation. They call themselves Kitikitisch and sometimes
Tawehash, the meanings of which are unknown, and claim to have come
from the same stock as the Pawnee. The names of nine of the tribes
formerly comprising the confederacy have been preserved, but the only
divisions now existing are the Tawakoni, the Waco, and the Wichita
proper. Previous to the annexation of Texas (140-5), the Wichita proper
dwelt north of the Red River and around the Wichita Mountains. The
meaning of the name Wichita is unknown. These Indians were first met
about 1541 in Quivara, during he expedition of Francisco Vasquez de
Coronado. Fray Juan de Padilla, who accompanied Coronado, and some
companions remained behind to evangelize them, and three years later
gained the palm of martyrdom. In 1719 the Wichita were visited by La
Harpe, a French soldier, who found them given to cannibalism; somewhat
later they were forced to the southwest by the Osago and Chickasaw. In
1758 they destroyed the Spanish missions of San Sab·, near the Rio
Colorado. In 1801 the tribe suffered severely from an epidemic of
small-pox. Their first treaty of peace was made in 1835, and fifteen
years later the Wichita proper settled at Rush Springs, Oklahoma. They
took refuge in Kansas during the Civil War, on the conclusion of which
they were placed on a reservation to the north of the Washita River. In
1902 the reservation was opened by the Government for settlement, and
the Wichita received allotments in severalty. They now number 310, in
addition to 30 Kichai. (circa 1912)
The Wichita were an agricultural tribe, but
also engaged in hunting the buffalo. They cultivated corn, pumpkins,
and tobacco, which they bartered with their neighbours. Their permanent
dwellings ere cone-shaped, with a diameter of from forty to fifty feet,
and were thatched with grass; when travelling they lived in skin tipis.
Before coming under the influence of civilization their dress was very
scanty; they tattooed their faces, arms, and chests, and so were called
the "tattooed people" by some of the other tribes, thus: Dog™at or
Tuchquet (Kiowa), DÛkana (Comanche), Hochs™witan (Cheyenne). They were
a steadfast, peaceful race, given to ceremonial dances, particularly
the Horn dance and the Gift dance, and also held foot-races in which
all the tribe competed.
Stories
Coyote Challenges Never-Grows-Larger
The Skin Shifting Old Woman
Two Brothers Who Became Stars
Wichita
Indian Legends (a discussion)
Web sites
History
of the American West, 1860-1920 Photos
Photos
by Edward S Curtis
Red
River Authority article on Wichita Indians
The Wichita Indians
Return to
Indigenous Peoples' Literature
Compiled by: Glenn Welker
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