Nabedache

The Nabedache were a Native American tribe from eastern Texas. Their name, Nabáydácu, means "blackberry place" in the Caddo language. An alternate theory says their original name was Wawadishe from the Caddo word, witish, meaning "salt."

History

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.

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 Ramón founded a mission, San Francisco de los Tejas Mission in Nabedache territory. European contract 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. The village was called San Pedro for the nearby Arroyo San Pedro.

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.