Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas

The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas is a federally recognized tribe based in Eagle Pass. This tribe helps its members with housing, education, and social services using money from its businesses and games. The tribe became a good example for other Native American tribes because its people were living under the international bridge over the Rio Grande as recently as the 1980s. Today, they are one of three federally recognized tribes in Texas.

Reservation

The Kickapoo Indian Reservation of Texas is near the Rio Grande close to the U.S.-Mexico border in Maverick County, just south of Eagle Pass. It covers 120 acres and is home to around 960 tribal members. Some members also live in Nacimiento, Mexico, where the tribe holds ceremonies. To be a tribal member, a person must have at least one-fourth Kickapoo heritage.

Government

The Texas Kickapoos adopted their constitution in 1989. They are led by the Traditional Council, which has five members chosen by voting. The current chairman is Estavio Elizondo Sr., from Menikapah.

Language

Many members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas speak English, Spanish, and the Kickapoo language. The Kickapoo language is a Fox language and part of the Algonquian language family. They also use a special way of speaking called Kickapoo whistled speech.

Economic development

The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas owns several businesses to help its members. These include the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Hotel. The hotel has some games and a small shop. The tribe also has a farm that grows pecan nuts. They have ranches in the U.S. and Mexico. There is also a gas station in Múzquiz, Coahuila, Mexico, worked with PEMEX. Money from these businesses helps the tribe provide education, housing, and other services for its members.

History

The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas has a long history in Texas. In the early 1800s, they came to Texas because the Spanish government asked them to help protect the area. Later, many Kickapoos moved to Mexico, but they still returned to Texas to work as farmers.

In 1977, Texas officially recognized the tribe. By 1982, they joined the Oklahoma Kickapoo Indian Tribe, which helped them get their own reservation land. In 1985, the U.S. government officially recognized them and gave them 118 acres of land in Eagle Pass, where they still live today.