The Tonkawa

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The Tonkawa

• Created by
• Caitlyn Traynor and Jake Kyle

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I. Location

• The Tonkawa original homeland was the hill
  country of central Texas.
• Their enemies pushed them away from the buffalo,
  but they ended up on Edwards Plateau. The Edwards
  Plateau had plenty of nutrients and fresh
  springs.
• Their enemies did not know about Edwards plateau

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II. Government

• Even though Tonkawa lived in small nomadic bands,
  all Tonkawa were part of a larger clan.
• Clan members were related to their mothers
  clan.
• Each clan had a chief, but there was also an
  overall Tonkawa chief. Clans also had a special
  guardian. They were usually an animal or spirit.
• All Tonkawa traced their beginnings back to a
  great wolf.

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III. Homes

• The Tonkawa built their homes like many other
  Texas nomadic tribes.
• Two things were different about Tonkawa homes.
• They used poles made from available trees and
  covered with dry brush and grass.
• Theyre homes were coned shaped.

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IV. Dress

• Tonkawa tattooed and painted their bodies.
• Tattoos were very important. The tattoos helped
  them identify there clan.
• No one could use their tattoos without
  permission.
• Tonkawa men wore very long breechcloths. They
  also wore moccasins and leggings.
• Men wore their hair in long braids.

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V. How They Lived

• The Tonkawa believed the began with a great wolf.
• Wolves are hunters so the Tonkawa were hunter
  gatherers. The buffalo was the source of all they
  needed.
• Every part of the animal was used. The Apache
  made it difficult to hunt the buffalo.
• The Tonkawa also hunted small animals like deer.
  Even rattlesnake was considered a special treat.

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VI. Weapons And Warfare

• The most favorite weapon of the Tonkawa was the
  bow and arrow. The arrows were made of rock until
  they got metal from the Europeans. They put
  mistletoe on the arrows.
• Lances were used sometimes in battles.
• There shields were made of bison hide and old
  helmets.
• They also used jackets made of tough hide.

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VII. Beliefs

• The Tonkawa had shamans. Deaths were very
  complicated ceremonies.
• The hair from the person who died was cut off.
  They would paint there face yellow and his body
  was wrapped.
• Many of the persons belongings were buried with
  him.
• They did a Wolf Dance to honor their beginning
  with a great wolf.

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VIII. Summary

• The Tonkawa had things in common with most other
  Texas tribes.
• They like buffalo and wearing tattoos. Unlike
  other tribes they beloved they began with a great
  wolf.
• Their tattoos were linked to there clan.
• They were very friendly toward other tribes.