This portion of our online guide to American Indian and First Nations people concentrates on the Tonkawa people.
Archaeological evidence exists to suggest that the Tonkawa tribe has resided in what is now Oklahoma and Texas for as long as 16,000 years.
The Tonkawa were nomadic hunters and gatherers who moved across a large region in search of food and other resources. Their name is derived from a Waco word, Tonkaweya, which meant "they all stay together," a reference to the couple of hundred loosely associated groups and clans that were considered part of the Tonkawa people. Some of the more prominent groups that were identified as Tonkawa included the Awash, Choyopan, Haiwal, Hatchuknni, Kwesh, Mayeye, Nilhailai, Ninchopen, Pakani, Pakhalateh, Sanukh, Talpkweyu, and Titskanwaticha. These, and well over a hundred others, were associated largely through a similar language and alliances.
The Tonkawa people had their own linguistic group and were not closely related to other Texas tribes, other than the disorganized tribes they absorbed. Some accounts hold that they were outcasts among other American Indian tribes. In part, this was due to allegations from the Comanches, Wichitas, and Caddos, that the Tonkawa people were cannibals, which were later verified by some European accounts. If true, they would not have been the only American Indian tribe to be accused of cannibalism, and the practice was likely ritualistic rather than dietary.
Nevertheless, this contributed to an aversion that other tribes held toward them. This was later bolstered when the Tonkawa tribes joined with the Republic of Texas militias against the Comanches and continued their alliance with the Texans after Texas became a state.
In the end, this didn't serve them well in the end. The Tonkawa people willingly moved to the Brazos Indian Reservation in 1858, where they continued to support Texas in military campaigns. However, white settlers nevertheless attacked their reservation, resulting in their subsequent move to the Caddo/Wichita reservation near Anadarko in Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
At Anadarko, the Caddos, Wichitas, Shawnees, Delawares, and other tribes massacred the Tonkawas, killing more than three hundred of them. The surviving Tonkawas returned to Texas, settling around Fort Griffin. In 1890, they were again moved to Indian Territory, but not under any official organization or treaty, and were not again recognized as a tribe until the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act.
Descendants of the Tonkawa people are now largely represented in the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma. The tribe's reserve is in Kay County, in Northern Oklahoma, headquartered on the west bank of the Chikaskia River, just over two miles southeast of the town of Tonkawa. Its reserve is just short of 995 acres, which are supplemented by another 238 acres in individual allotments.
The Tonkawa Tribe operates three gaming facilities. The Tonkawa Indian Casino West is at Highway 60 and Interstate 35 intersection, while Tonkawa Indian Casino East is on the Tonkawa Tribal Reserve, and the Native Lights Casino is at Chilocco on North Highway 77. The tribe also operates other businesses and enterprises, and administers federally funded programs and services in education, job training, healthcare, transportation, and child care.
Online resources representing the tribal government or its businesses, enterprises, schools, healthcare facilities, programs, or events are appropriate topics for this category, along with entities owned or operated by Tonkawa individuals.
Recommended Resources
Connected to Tonkawa Hotel & Casino in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, The Hub offers casino amenities and entertainment opportunities for visitors of all ages. Situated just off I-35, the family entertainment center is ideal for parties, vacations, date nights, and other events. It includes an arcade, bowling facilities, two movie theaters, a sports bar, and space for parties and private events. Its "Hub Club" is a rewards program in which points can be earned with each purchase.
https://thehubtonkawa.com/
The Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma owns and operates Tonkawa Enterprises, which operates three gambling casinos in Oklahoma: two in Tonkawa (Tonkawa Indian Casino and Tonkawa Casino) and one in Newkirk (Native Lights Casino). The locations and affiliated dining and lounge establishments are provided and shown on a map. Its hotel facilities are featured, with photographs, a list of amenities, and online booking. Its Player's Club and promotional offers are included.
https://tonkawacasinos.com/
Situated in Kay County, Oklahoma, the Tonkawa Tribe has a total land area of 1,505.57 acres, some of which are in federal trust, others tribally owned, and others allotted. The official tribal website features a tribal profile, and an overview of its history, culture, and traditional language, including a language sound guide, dictionary, and other resources. A directory of tribal government offices, programs, and services is set forth, and a calendar of events, and contacts are included.
https://tonkawatribe.com/
Tonkawa: They All Stay Together
Highlighting a feature documentary that follows the life of the Tonkawa Tribe over two years, as they work to secure their independence and prowess as a First Nation in modern society. Filmed in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and various sites in Central Texas, filming is expected to last through 2024. An introduction to the production, a trailer, news about the project, an online contact form, and a way to contribute to the project through Austin Film Society, a fiscal sponsor.
https://www.tonkawathemovie.com/
