The Nabedache were a Native American tribe from eastern Texas.[1] Their name, Nabáydácu, means "blackberry place" in the Caddo language.[2] An alternate theory says their original name was Wawadishe from the Caddo word, witish, meaning "salt."[3]
The Nabedache was the western branch of the Hasinai branch of the Caddo Confederacy. Their traditional territory was located between the Neches and Trinity Rivers.[1]
In 1686, French explorer, Henri Joutel, encountered the tribe living at the headwaters of the Neches River, near present-day Houston County, Texas. In 1690 Spanish Francisco monks accompanying explorer Domingo Ramon founded a mission, San Francisco de los Tejas Mission in Nabedache territory. European contact brought devastating diseases, and the Nabedache suffered an epidemic in 1690-91. In the ensuing century, their principal village, was 12–15 miles west of the Neches River.[4] The village was called San Pedro for the nearby Arroyo San Pedro.[3]
Spanish chroniclers observed that women, as well as men, could be priests and hold high ranks. In the late 18th century, polyandry was also observed.[5]
The tribe moved further up the Neches between 1779 and 1784.[4] Ultimately, they were forced to relocate to the Wichita ReservationinIndian Territory in the 19th century.[4] Today they are enrolled in the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
The tribe is also known as the Nabadacho, Nabaydacho, Nabordakhes, Inecis, Ynecis,[2] Navedacho, and Naoudiche.[4]
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| Hasinai |
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| Kadohadacho |
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| Natchitoches |
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| Other groups |
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| Federally recognized tribes |
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| Indigenous languages |
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| Historical Indigenous peoples of Texas (Several are in Oklahoma today) |
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† extinct language / ≠ extinct tribe / >< early, obsolete name of Indigenous tribe / ° people absorbed into other tribe(s) / * headquartered in Oklahoma today | |
