Our Sacred History
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The Lipan Apache Bands
When the Lipans migrated into Texas in
the 1600’s, they migrated as one tribal unit. However, after they came
to Texas, they divided into two large divisions. The Forest Lipans
inhabited areas of northeast Texas around the upper Brazos River. The
Plains Lipans inhabited areas from the upper Colorado and upper Concho
Rivers westward to the Pecos River.
The century-long war with the Comanches
in the 1700’s caused the Lipan divisions to splinter into a number of
different bands. The Lipan tribe traditionally contained from 10 to
14 bands, each of which was composed of a number of rancherías, or
groups of extended families. Each ranchería leader, or sub-chief,
owed allegiance to the chief of the band, who dictated the migrations
of the rancherías, declared war and negotiated peace.
- The Sun Otter band (Tche shä) - led by
Cuelgas de Castro; ranged
from San Antonio to Laredo, particularly Atascosa County
- The Green Mountain band (Tsél tátlidshä)- ranged into
south Texas from Refugio to Nueces Counties; absorbed by
High-Beaked Moccasin band
- High-Beaked Moccasin band (Kóke metcheskó lähä)-
led by Zapato Sas and Flacco
- The Red Hair band (Tséral tuétahä)- led by
Cabellos Colorado in
1739; was absorbed by the Sun Otters or Green Mountain band
- Fire or Camp Circle band (Ndáwe qóhä)-
inhabited areas from the San
Saba to the upper
Nueces River
- Little Breech-clout band (Tcha shka-ózhäyê)-
led by Pocarropa;
inhabited the lower Pecos region
- Pulverizing or Rubbing band (Tchó kanä)-
ranged from the upper
Colorado south into Mexico; was absorbed by the Little Breech-
clout band
- Uplanders (Tüzhä or Täzhä)- lived along upper Rio
Grande in the Organ or Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico
- Prairie Men (Kó’l Kahä)- ranged from the
upper Colorado to the Pecos River
- Wild Goose band (Te’l kóndahä)-
inhabited the upper Colorado
- Painted Wood band (Tsésh ke shénde)- possibly
lived along upper Brazos River
- Big Water band (Kúne tsá)- inhabited northern Coahuila,
Mexico
- Heads of Wolves, Bodies of Men band (Tsés tsëmbai)- inhabited the
region north of the Colorado River; the band name might reflect
mythological aspects preserving the memory of early Lipan
habitation areas after the tribe migrated into Texas
- The North band (Shä-ä)- a kinship claim with the Kiowa
Apaches
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