Southwest Tribes and Indians

 
Aatsosni-This is one of the clans of the Navajo,meaning "Arrow Gorge".
 
Akonye-A band of the Apache of the San Carlos and Ft.Apache agency in Arizona.The name means "The People Of The Canyon". 
 
Alawahku-This is the "Elk Clan" of the Pecos Indians of New Mexico. 
 
Allu-This was the "Antelope Clan" of the Pecos tribe,found in New Mexico. 
 
Amu-The "Ant Clan" of the Pecos tribe in New Mexico. 
 
Apache-The Apache are divided into many groups or clans.Their names were taken from natural features,never from animals.The Apache were a rather nomadic people and were always on the move.They have a rather high skill in the making of baskets.They lived on the plains of New Mexico and west Texas,were very warlike and raided whites and Indians alike. 
 
Apaches del Perrillo-This band of Apaches was located near the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico,so named by the Spanish,"Apaches of the Little Dog".So called because a dog found a spring and thus saved the Spanish who were in dire need of water. 
 
Baguiburisac-This tribe was located on the Colorado River in Arizona near the Gila and Williams fork.The tribe lived in houses which were low,with a wood roof which was covered with dirt.They were visited by Onate in 1604.
 
Buli-This was known as the "Butterfly Clan" of the Hopi Indians. 
 
Chafalote-A band of the Apache who roamed into Sonora,Mexico and into the American Southwest.
 
Chaizra-This was a group of Hopi,known as the "Elk Clan". 
 
Chiricahua-An important division of the Apache.They were the most belligerent of the Arizona Indians.
 
Chisro-A clan of the Hopi known as the "Snow Bunting Clan".
 
Chitola-A clan of the Zuni,known as the "Rattlesnake Clan". 
 
Chiutaiina-A clan of the Taos Pueblo of New Mexico,known as the "Eagle Clan". 
 
Chosro-A clan of the Hopi,known as the "Bluebird Clan". 
 
Chua-A clan of the Hopi,known as the "Rattlesnake Clan". 
 
Chukai-This is the "Mud Clan" of the lizard phratry of the Hopi Indians of the Southwest. 
 
Churehu-This was the "Mole Clan" of the Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Cibecue-A division of the Western Apache. 
 
Coyotero-The western Apache.The name means "Coyote Men",and probably was given them because of their roving food-hunting way of life. 
 
Daahl-This was the "Earth" or "Sand" clan of the Jemez Pueblo of New Mexico. 
 
De-This was the "Coyote Clan" of the Tewa,Tesuque and San Ifdefonso of New Mexico. 
 
Destchin-A band of the Ft.Apache,Arizona,Indians who lived about 1881.
 
Dyami-The "Eagle Clan" of the pueblos Laguna,Acoma,Santa Ana and San Felipe in New Mexico. 
 
Etaa-This was the "Turtle Clan",of the Zuni Indians of New Mexico.
 
Faraon-A tribe of Apaches that lived from the Rio Grande to the Pecos River in New Mexico.Known by the early Spanish explorers as the "Apache Hordes of the Pharaoh". 
 
Fwaha-This was the "Fire Clan" of the old pueblo at Pecos,New Mexico. 
 
Gila Apache-A name that was applied to the Apache settlements in the south western part of New Mexico and those who lived along the headwaters of the Gila River.Later this name was applied to those Apache who lived along the Gila River in Arizona. 
 
Gohlkahin-A division of the Jicarillas,the name meant "Prairie People".
 
Guhlkainde-A division of the Mescalero Apache.This group considered their original orgin east of the Pecos River in Texas and into New Mexico. 
 
Gyazru-This is the "Parrot Clan" of the Hopi Indians. 
 
Hakan-This is the "Fire Clan" of the pueblos of Acoma,Cochiti,Santa Ana,Sia and San Felipe in New Mexico.The Hakan of Acoma has become inactive. 
 
Hapanyi-This was the "Oak Clan" of the Keresan Pueblos of northern New Mexico.Now extinct. 
 
Havasupai-This small Yuman group is known as the "Blue or Green Water People".They lived in the Grand Canyon and the Central Arizona area and in the San Francisco Mountains. 
 
Hayah-This was the "Snake Clan" of the Pecos tribes of New Mexico. 
 
Heashkowa-This is the "Red Corn Clan" of Acoma.Located about two miles southeast of the present Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Hekpa-This is the "Fir Clan" of the phratry of the Hopi Indians. 
 
Henuti-This is the now extinct "Cloud Clan" of the pueblo of Sia,New Mexico. 
 
Hopi-To themselves,their name means "the peaceful ones or all peaceful".In 1540,they were first visited by the Spanish explorers,one of Coronado's men,Pedro de Tobar,visited several of their villages in what was then the province of Tusayan.It was here that the Spaniards learned of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado.This was a large and powerful tribe in the northeast part of Arizona. 
 
Huwaka-This was the "Sky Clan" of the Indians of the Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico. 
 
Iana-This was the "Corn Clan" of the Indians of Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Iebathu-This is the "White Corn Clan" of the pueblo at Isleta,New Mexico. 
 
Iechur-This is the "Yellow Corn Clan" of the Tigua of the pueblo at Isleta,New Mexico. 
 
Iefeu-This is the "Red Corn Clan" of the Tigua of the pueblo at Isleta,New Mexico. 
 
Ieshur-This is the "Blue Corn Clan" of the Tigua pueblo of Islets,New Mexico. 
 
Inoshuochn-This was a band of the Apache who lived near Ft.Apache in Arizona about 1881.The name means "Bear Berry". 
 
Itrahani-This clan of the Cochiti pueblo in New Mexico was known as the "Cottonwood Clan". 
 
Iyaaye-A band of the San Carlos Apache,located at the San Carlos agency and at Ft.Apache in 1881. 
 
Jemez-The Jemez took a large and active part in the revolt of the pueblos in 1680 and fought a hard but losing battle with the Spanish. 
 
Jicarilla-A name given to the Apache.A name given by the Spanish because of the fine basket work these people did.They roamed in Colorado,New Mexico,Oklahoma and into Kansas and Texas. 
 
Jumano-An unknown tribe visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1536.They lived along the Rio Grande and in areas of New Mexico. 
 
Kahabi-This was the "Willow Clan" of the Hopi Indians. 
 
Kahl-This was the "Forehead Clan" of the Hopi Indians. 
 
Kai-This was the "Willow Clan" of the Navajo. 
 
Kakhan-This was the "Wolf Clan" of the Keresan of the pueblo at Laguna in New Mexico. 
 
Kalashiauu-This was the "Racoon Clan" of the Chua or snake phratry of the Hopi Indians. 
 
Kalokta-This is the "Crane Clan" of the Zuni Indians of New Mexico. 
 
Kanani-The Navajo clan known as the "Living Arrows".
 
Kang-This was the "Mountain Lion Clan" of the Tewa pueblos of San Ildefonso and San Juan in New Mexico.
 
Kapulo-A former clan of the Hano pueblo of the Tewa,known as the "Crane Clan".Now extinct. 
 
Kau-This is the "Corn Clan" of the Patki or "Water House" phratry of the Hopi. 
 
Kaynagunti-A band of the Apache known as the "people at the mouth of the canyon",they belonged to the agency at Ft.Apache in Arizona. 
 
Ke-This was the "Bear Clan" of the Tewa pueblo of Nambe,Mew Mexico and also Hano in Arizona. 
 
Kegi-This was the "House Clan" of the Tewa of Hano in Arizona. 
 
Keresan-This was the linguistic family of the Pueblo Indians who lived on the Rio Grande and Rio Jemez,including the Acoma,Tewa and Sia.They were visited by Coronado in 1540. 
 
Ketsilind-Meaning "people of the Rio Chiquito ruins".This is a division of the Jicarilla.They claim that their former home was south of Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Keya-This is the "Badger Clan" of the Tewa of Santa Clara,San Ildefonso and San Juan pueblos of New Mexico.
 
Khahitan-This was a tribe of Indians who lived along the Rio Grande.These Indians traded with the Cheyenne.It is possible that these people were Picuris. 
 
Khaltso-This was a clan of the Navajo known as the "Yellow Bodies" and they are said to be the descendants of two girls who had an Apache father. 
 
Khashhlizhni-This was the "Mud Clan" of the Navajo Indians. 
 
Kinaani-A clan of the Navajo.They lived at Hano Pueblo,which they abandoned around 1680 because of a drought.They then moved to Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona.They later went to Tusayan. 
 
Kinhlizhin-This was the Navajo clan known as the "Black House",red-brown sandstone was used,however. 
 
Kio-This was the "Pine Clan" of the Jemez Indians of New Mexico.
 
Kivesaku-This apparent band of Yuman lived in Arizona and in California.They were later driven out and absorbed by the Mohave.
 
Kiyahani-A band of the Apache,located at Ft.Apache in 1881. 
 
Kochinish-yaka-This was the "Yellow Corn Clan" of the pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in New Mexico. 
 
Kokob-This was the "Burrowing Owl Clan" of the Hopi of Oraibi,Arizona. 
 
Kokop-This was the "Firewood Clan" of the Hopi who were descendants of the people of the Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Koyonya-This was known as the "Turkey Clan" of the Hopi Indians of Arizona. 
 
Ku-This was known as the "Stone Clan" of the San Ildefonso of New Mexico.The name was also given to the Hano pueblo which later became extinct,this pueblo was located in Arizona. 
 
Kua-This was known as the "Bear Clan" of the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Kuhaia-This was the "Bear Clan" of the pueblos of San Felipe,Acoma,Laguna and Cochiti of New Mexico. 
 
Kuishkoshyaka-Now extinct,this was the "Blue Corn Clan" of the Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico. 
 
Kukinishyaka-Now extinct,this was the "Red Corn Clan" of the Acoma Pueblo of New Mexico.
 
Kungya-This was the "Turquoise Clan" of the pueblos of Tewa,San Ildefonso,Tesuque,Santa Clara and San Juan of New Mexico.
 
Kyunu-This was the "Corn Clan" of the Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico.There was also a similar clan among the people of the Pecos Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Lelengtu-This was the name given to the "Flute Clan" of the Hopi. 
 
Leliotu-This was the tiny "Ant Clan" of the Ala Hopi Indians. 
 
Letaiyo-This was the "Grey Fox Clan" of the "Firewood" phratry of the Hopi. 
 
Lipan-A tribe of Apache that roamed and raided in southern New Mexico and Texas. 
 
Llaneros-This Spanish term,meaning the "plainsmen" referred to the Indians who were found on the Staked Plains of west Texas and eastern New Mexico. 
 
Loka-This was the "Reed Clan" of the Navajo of New Mexico. 
 
Maawi-This is a now extinct clan of the Zuni,this was the "Antelope Clan" and was used by the Zuni of New Mexico. 
 
Maricopa-This large group of Pima lived along the Gila River in the southern part of Arizona. 
 
Masi-This was the "Death God Clan" of the Hopi Indians in Arizona. 
 
Masilengya-This was the "Drab Flute Clan" of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Massikwayo-This was the "Chicken Hawk Clan" of the Pakab phratry of the Hopi.
 
Mescaleros-This was a tribe of the Apache who formerly lived from the Rio Grande River to Pecos,New Mexico.Their name was given them by the Spanish,it was given because of their habit of eating mescal,a species of agave cactus.
 
Miitsr-This was the "Humming-Bird Clan" of the San Felipe village located in New Mexico.In 1895 there were only two living members of this clan.
 
Mimbrenos-These Indians who formerly lived in the southwestern part of New Mexico were a branch of the Apache and were known as the "people of the willows".They were also known as the Coppermine Apaches. 
 
Mogollon-This name was given to those Apache Indians who lived in the mountains of Mogollon in New Mexico and Arizona.Thje mountains were named after the Spanis governor of New Mexico in 1712,Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon. 
 
Mohave-This was a large tribe of the Yumans who lived along the Colorado River.They made no canoes but instead they used rafts made of reeds tied in bundles.These people did much tattooing.Most of their food was raised.The name Mohave means "three mountains",a name used to describe the type of rock formation in the area in which they lived. 
 
Murzibusi-This was the "Bean Clan" of the Yoki or "Rain" phratry of the Hopi Indians of Arizona. 
 
Mokaich-This was the "Mountain Lion Clan" of the Keresan pueblos of San Felipe,Sia and Cochiti of New Mexico.They also lived in the Mt.San Mateo area.They became extinct in the early days of the settlement. 
 
Nahu-This was the "Badger" phratry of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Nakai-Meaning "white stranger",this referred to the Spanish explorers who came through New Mexico.This term was also used to describe some Navajos who were descended from a white woman who had been captured by the Utes in New Mexico. 
 
Nakaydi-This was a group of White Mountain Apaches made up mainly of Mexicans which were captured by the Apaches and their descendants.The name refers to these people's method of walking with their toes turned out. 
 
Nakhopani-This was a clan of the Navajo which originated at the Zuni pueblo in New Mexico near a lake called Naqopa.The name means "horizontal streak which is on the ground".
 
Nambe-This is a group of people who lived about 15 miles north of Santa Fe,New Mexico,at the Tewa pueblo.They lived along the Nambe River.This pueblo was the main section of a Franciscan mission in the early 17th century.There is still a pueblo village at this location.
 
Nananawi-This was a phratry of the Hopi of New Mexico and was the "Sand" or "Earth" clan. 
 
Nang-This was the "Stone Clan" of the Tewa of the San Juan area of New Mexico.
 
Navajo-This was a strong Athapascan tribe that lived in Arizona and New Mexico.The Navajos were visited by Onate in 1598.The Navajo were very warlike and usually won their battles against the whites.They were beaten by Colonel Kit Carson,who attacked them in 1863 and killed most of their sheep and more or less starved them into submission.In 1867 there were 7,300 Navajos held in prisons.In 1906 there were over 28,000 Navajos. 
 
Okuwa-This Tewa clan was the "Cloud Clan" of several villages of Tewa,such as Santa Clara,San Ildefonso and Nambe,all in New Mexico.
 
Omowuh-This was the Hopi "Rain Cloud Clan". 
 
Oyike-This is one of the divisions that each Tewa village was divided into.The name means "the winter frost people". 
 
Pa-This term was used by the Tewa of San Ildefonso of New Mexico to denote the "Fire Clan".Also used by the "Deer Clan" of certain pueblos of Pecos,New Mexico. 
 
Pakab-This clan of the Hopi was known as the "Arrow" or "Reed" clan. 
 
Paluna-The war "God Clan" of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Papago-This Piman tribe lived south of Tuscon,Arizona, and over into Mexico.They are known as the "bean people".They are the people of the arid and desert lands of the southwest.A large number of them live in the Grand Canyon,where they maybe visited. 
 
Patki-This was the "Cloud Clan" of the Patki phratry of the Hopi of Arizona.
 
Patung-This was the "Squash Clan" of the Hopi of Arizona.
 
Peruka-This clan of the "Frog" or "Toad" belonged to those people of the San Felipe Pueblo of New Mexico. 
 
Piba-This was the "Tobacco Clan" of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Pichikwe-The clan of the Pueblo at Zuni,New Mexico,which was known to the Indians as the "Parrot People".
 
Pima-This name was used for those people who lived around the Gila and Salt Rivers in the southern part of Arizona.The Pima were placed on reservations with the Papago,Maricopa and other desert dwelling tribes.The Pima did not take scalps as they considered their enemies as something evil and so did not want to touch them when they were dead. 
 
Pinal Coyotero-This was a band of the Apache who use to gather in the Pinal Mountains.They moved all over southern Arizona and down into the Pueblo country of the southwest.
 
Pinalenos-This division of a very warlike group of Apaches lived in the Pinalenos Mountains in the southeastern part of Arizona.In 1883 they were forced by General George Cook to surrender to the Americans and were placed on reservations.The name means the "pinery people".
 
Piros-In the early 17th century this was one of the main tribes of Pueblo Indians who lived in New Mexico.They lived in an area east of the Rio Grande.
 
Puchkohu-This clan of the Hopi of Arizona is known as the "Rabbit Stick Clan".The rabbit stick was similar to the boomerang and was thrown at rabbits when hunting. 
 
Querecho-This is the pueblo name for the Apaches who hunted the bison on the plains of Texas and New Mexico.They were first met by Coronado's men in 1541.They were also known by the names of Jicarillas,Faraones and the Mescaleros,and included all the Apaches who lived mainly on the meat of the bison. 
 
Quigyuma-This Yuman tribe lived on the Colorado River below the Gila River around 1604.
 
Salabi-This was one of the "Spruce" clans of the Hopi Kachina phratry.
 
San Carlos Apache-This name was given to those Apaches who lived along the Gila River in Arizona.Also the present name of the San Carlos Indian Agency in Arizona. 
 
Schira-This was the former clan of the "Crows" of the Sia and San Felipe pueblos located in New Mexico. 
 
Seh-This was the "Eagle Clan" of the Jemez and Pecos pueblos of New Mexico. 
 
Seping-This Tewa clan of the San Juan Pueblo of New Mexico was known as the "Painted Eagle Clan". 
 
Shiankya-This was the former clan of the Pueblo at Pecos,New Mexico,known as the "Mountain Lion Clan". 
 
Shiu-This was the former "Eagle Clan" of the Pueblo at Isleta,New Mexico. 
 
Shivwits-In 1873 this tribe lived on the plateau named after them in the northwestern part of Arizona.They were later removed to reservations in Nevada and Utah. 
 
Shuta-This was the former "Crane Clan" of the Sia Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Sia-This small tribe of the Keresan lived along the Jemez River about fifteen miles from Bernalillo in New Mexico.They fought against the Spanish in 1696.There is also a modern Pueblo by this name. 
 
Sihu-This is the "Flower Clan" or "Bush Clan" of the Hopi. 
 
Sonsa-This clan of the Jemez Pueblo of New Mexico was known as the "Badger Clan".The name was also used by those people of the Pecos Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Spia-This was the clan of the Sia Pueblo in New Mexico known as the "Hawk Clan". 
 
Suhub-This was a clan of the Hopi known as the "Cottonwood Clan" of Arizona. 
 
Ta-This was the "Grass Clan" of several Tewa Pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona. 
 
Tabo-This was the "Rabbit Clan" of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Talawipiki-This clan of the patki or cloud people was known as the "Lightning Clan" of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Tenyo-This clan of the Tewa people was known as the "Pine" people. 
 
Tewa-This group of people were known as the "Moccasin" people and they belong to the Tanoan language family.They live mainly in the pueblos of New Mexico,such as San Ildefonso,Santa Clara,San Juan and Nambe.They were visited by Onate in 1598. 
 
Thur-This is the "Sun Clan" of the people of the Tigua Pueblo at Isleta,New Mexico. 
 
Tigua-This term is used to designate a group of three pueblo tribes of New Mexico--Taos,Picuris and Sandia. 
 
Toltu-This was the "Sun Clan" of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Tontos-This was the Spanish word for "fool",a name the Spanish applied to the tribes who were made up of Yuma,Mohave and Yavapai,also applied to some Apache bands.This name was used by early writer to designate those who lived near the White Mountains and in Arizona. 
 
Towha-This is an extinct clan of the "Coyote" of the pueblo at Taos,New Mexico. 
 
Tulkepaia-This group of Yuman and Apache people lived in the desert areas of western Arizona.In 1873 they were placed on a reservation.They spoke the Yavapai dialects. 
 
Tung-This was the former "Sun Clan" of the Tewa Pueblo of Hano in northeastern Arizona. 
 
Tzekinne-These are the descendants of the Apache and Pimas who formerly lived in the cliffs of Sobaipuri.They were driven out by the Apache from Aravaipa Canyon in the southeastern part of Arizona. 
 
Waha-This was the former "Cloud Clan" of Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico.
 
Walapai-This tribe of the Yumans lived in an area in Arizona and along the Colorado River in the desert areas.They are related to the Havasupai. 
 
White Mountain Apache-These people were so named because they lived in the Sierra Blanca Mountains.The name was later used to describe those Apaches who were placed on the reservation at Ft.Apache at Whiteriver,Arizona. 
 
Yaka-These are the former "Corn " clans of the Keresan pueblos of New Mexico.These clans were of different colors,red,blue,brown,etc. 
 
Yangtsaa-This was the former "Coyote Clan" of the Jemez and Pecos pueblos in New Mexico. 
 
Yatokya-This was the "Sun Clan" of the people of the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. 
 
Yavapai-This was a former Yuman tribe who lived in the arid areas of western Arizona along the Salt and the Rio Verde Rivers.They were known as the "people of the sun".They were also known as the Mohave Apaches.In 1875 they were placed on the reservation at San Carlos,Arizona,but later were given land near the Rio Verde at the site of old Camp McDowell. 
 
Ye-This was the former "Lizard Clan" of the pueblos of San Ildefonso and San Juan of New Mexico,belonging to the Tewa. 
 
Yuma-One of the chief tribes of the Yuman family,living along the Colorado River in southern Arizona and California. 
 
Yuman-This was the name used for those people who lived in the southwestern part of the United States and along the lower part of California and around the Gulf of California.This linguistic family had what could be classed as the lowest culture of any people in the United States.They made rafts constructed of bundles of grass tied together to cross water and made no canoes.The land where they lived had a great deal to do with poor living conditions that they had.They wore little or no clothing. 
 
Yungyu-This was the former "Cactus Clan" of the Chua or "Snake" phratry of the Hopi of Arizona. 
 
Zuni-The name Zuni is a Spanish adaptation from Keresan.The meaning has been lost.The Zuni of today is known for his fine works of art in silver and painting.