Description
The Taovaya tribe of the Wichita people were Native Americans originally from Kansas, who moved south into Oklahoma and Texas in the 18th century. They spoke the Taovaya dialect of the Wichita language, a Caddoan language. Taovaya people today are enrolled in the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, a federally recognized tribe headquartered in Anadarko, Oklahoma. The Taovaya are part of the Wichita tribes, which also include the Tawakoni, Waco (Iscani); and Guichita or Wichita Proper. The Taovaya originated in Kansas, and possibly southern Nebraska.
Language
Taovaya dialect of the Wichita language, a Caddoan language
Culture
Taovaya culture and language was closely related to those of other tribes of the Wichita. They were a semi-agrarian society whose main crops consisted of maize (corn), beans, melons, gourds, and tobacco. Hunting practices consisted of taking on bison, deer and other smaller game. They lived in settled villages with domed-shaped, grass lodges, sometimes up to 30 feet in diameter. The Wichita were successful hunters, farmers, traders, and negotiators. The women are skilled horticulturalists and cooks, cultivating and processing ten varieties of corn, seven of pumpkins and squashes, and eight of beans. After they obtained horses, they expanded their buffalo hunting seasons. With horses providing a greater range, the people traveled in both summer and winter westward to the Great Plains for buffalo hunting.