Waco
Waco, also spelled Huaco or Hueco, refers to a Native American tribe that is part of the Caddoan language family, historically inhabiting the southern Great Plains. Their name emerged in historical records after 1824, linked to a village in present-day Waco, Texas. The Waco people were known for their round thatched houses and cultivated around 200 fenced acres by the time European Americans arrived. They were involved in treaties with the United States and, in 1872, received a reservation in Oklahoma, aligning themselves with the federally recognized Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Throughout their history, the Waco faced significant challenges, including conflicts with northern Great Plains nations and a devastating smallpox epidemic in 1801. In recent decades, there has been a revival of interest in Waco heritage, with efforts to document their language, traditions, and cultural practices, including hosting the Wichita Annual Dance. This resurgence reflects a commitment to preserving their identity and passing down their cultural legacy to future generations.
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Waco
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Plains
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Caddoan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Oklahoma
The Waco (also spelled Huaco, Hueco, or Wi-iko) people were a part of the Caddoan language family, which inhabited the southern Great Plains for thousands of years before their first contact with European Americans. “Caddo” is a shortened form of Kadohadacho (“real chiefs”). The Waco, along with the Tawakoni, Taovaya, and Kichai people, belong to the federally recognized Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Together, these people have moved about with other Caddoans through Oklahoma and Texas.
The name “Waco” did not appear in records until after 1824, when White people encountered Indigenous people living in a village where Waco, Texas, now stands. “Waco” may be a derivative of Wehiko (“Mexico”), given that they were continually fighting the Mexicans. The Waco lived in round thatched houses and in 1824, had some 200 fenced acres under cultivation. They were involved in no major skirmishes with White people, but they suffered greatly at the hands of the northern Great Plains Nations. An epidemic of smallpox in 1801 further decimated their population. They joined the Wichita in treaties made with the United States, and in 1872, they were given a reservation in Oklahoma.
Beginning in the 1990s, the Waco experienced a renewed interest in their heritage. They recorded stories and songs and worked to pass traditions to their children. The people began hosting the Wichita Annual Dance and documented their language to ensure it was preserved.
Bibliography
Sawyer, Amanda. "Waco Indian Village." Waco History, wacohistory.org/items/show/46. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Trabert, Sarah J., et al. The Deer Creek Site: An Eighteenth-Century Fortified Wichita Village on the American Southern Great Plains. BAR Publishing, 2024.
"Waco's Indigenous Roots: The Wi-iko Legacy." City of Waco, 22 Nov. 2024, www.waco-texas.com/News/175-Waco-Tribe. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
"Who Were the Native Americans in Waco?" Baylor University, 15 Nov. 2022, www2.baylor.edu/baylorproud/2022/11/who-were-the-native-americans-in-waco. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.