The document provides a timeline and details about the history of Indigenous people and Tejanos in Texas from the 11th century to the present. It traces the origins and northern migration of Tlaxcalteca Indians from Mexico starting in 1591 when they helped colonize parts of what is now Texas and other northern Mexican states. It also discusses the impact of European contact and diseases on indigenous populations in the 1500s, as well as conflicts with Apache and Comanche tribes in the 18th-19th centuries during the Spanish colonial period and Mexican-American War. Maps and images supplement the information in the timeline.

1. INDIGENOUS
TEJANOS
Mestizaje Evolution
11th Century to 21st Century

2. TIMELINE
 1064 AD Tlaxcaltecas leave Chicomostoc
1519 First European Contact
1548 Zacatecas Bonanza
1550-1590 Chichimeca wars
1591 Miguel Caldera brings peace, start of the Tlaxcalteca Northern Migration
1690, Augustin De La Cruz explores future site of San Antonio
1722 King Philip initiates colonization proposal , 200 Canary Islander families
1749 Tlaxcalteca Families settle along the Rio Grande
1821 - 1870 Comanche-Mexico Wars
1833 Indigenous people stop Cholera Epidemic
 1846 Start of the Mexican-American War
1848 Tlaxcalteca Indians who stay on the east side of the Rio Grande become White U.S. Citizens
Present
 p2

3. p3

4. Nahuatl Origin Story | Chicomostoc
Place of the 7 Caves
p4

5. SEVEN TRIBES
Origin story
 Circa 1064 AD, seven tribes emerged from
Chicomostoc, the 7 caves, the bowels of the earth-
and settled in Aztlan, from where they subsequently
undertook a migration southward in search of a sign
that would tell them where to settle.
 1. Acolhua
 2. Chalca
 3.Tepaneca
 4. Tlalhuica
 5.Tlaxcalteca
 6. Xochimilca
 7. Mexica p5

6. Four Regions of the Tlaxcalteca Altepetl
before European Contact Rosalba Delgadillo Torres
p6

7. 1519 | Four Tlaxcalteca Rulers
The four rulers were Xicotencatl (Chico-ten-cot), of Tizatlan (Tis-ot-lan), Maxixcatzin (Mawsh-ish-
cot-zin) of Ocotelulco (Oco-too-lul-co), Tlehuexolotzin ( Tle-wish-olot- zin) of Tepeticpac (Te-pec-ti-
poc), and Citalpopocatzin ( See-tal-popo- catzin) of Quiahuiztlan (We-ah-wist-lan).
by Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin
p7

8. First European Contact 1519
El Abrazo Gorge Gonzales Camerena
p8

9. 1519 Start of the New Race
Espanol y India = Mestizo

10. Hernan Cortez as Adam & Dona Mariana
as Eve | by Orozco
p9

12. Conquest of Tenochtitlan
1521 unknown artist
10

13. European Diseases defeat the Aztecs
unknown Artist
•The impact of the infectious diseases
such as smallpox, influenza, typhus, measles, malaria,
diphtheria, cholera, mumps, and
whooping cough that were brought over by the
Spaniards was devastating to a population with
no natural immunity for those diseases.
•Some academics estimate that approximately 20 million
people may have died in the years following the
European contact.
•This accounted for up to 95% of the
population of the Americas.
11

14. 1548 Zacatecas Silver Veins are Discovered
Approximately 600 miles, Philip Wayne Powell
12

15. La Gran Chichimeca, Ca 1550
Philip Wayne Powell
15

16. Chichimeca Battle of Nopales
Aguascaliente Governer’s Palace Oswaldo Barra
Cunningham
16

17. Present Day States
Where Chichimeca Battles took Place
• Zacatecas
• Guanajuato
• Aguascalientes
• Jalisco
• San Luis Potosí
17

18. •1548 The level of interest to pacify the Great Chichimeca region was heightened due to the recent
discovery of rich mines of silver to the north and as a result, access to the region became
imperative to the Spanish.
•1590 A Mestizo (the son of a Spanish father and a Chichimeca Indian mother) named Miguel
Caldera who had been appointed Chief Justice and District Mayor in the region, came up with the
idea of sending forth Tlaxcaltecans who had acculturated decades ago to live among and influence
the Chichimeca.
•1591, Viceroy Luis de Velasco II, son of Don Juan de Velasco, pressed the request
again. But, this time due to the deteriorating conditions in the Tlaxcalteca regions and indigenous
authorities (Franciscan Priests) negotiating a series of privileges.
They would not return to their homelands because they were to settle and stay in the new lands
permanently.
After 40 years of Fighting, Miguel Caldera
Brings peace to the Gran Chichimeca
Capitan Mestizo, Phillip Wayne Powell
18

19. On March 14, 1591, Viceroy Luis de Velasco II, signed a decree ordering that 400 Tlaxcalteca families with 100 from each of the
four regions would relocate to the great Chichimeca and colonize the region . They were also instructed to teach the
local indigenous People to build structures, cultivate the land, raise livestock, weave, develop ceramics, teach textile techniques,
and make flour. They were also sent there to spread Christianity.
The rights and privileges that were negotiated as compensation included the following:
1 The Tlaxcalan settlers in the Chichimeca region and their descendants shall be Hidalgos
(noblemen) in perpetuity, free from tributes, taxes and personal service for all time.
2 They are not to be compelled to settle with Spaniards, but will be allowed to settle apart
from them and have their own distinct districts (barrios). No Spaniard can take or buy any
building or house lot within the Tlaxcalan districts.
3 The Tlaxcalans are to be at all times settled apart from the Chichimecas and this distinction
is to apply to all of their lots, Pastures, wooded lands, rivers, salt beds, mills, and fishing rights.
4. No grants of land for the larger livestock (ganado mayor) cattle, horses, mules, oxen) shall be allowed within three
leagues (9 miles) of the Tlaxcalan settlements: the limit for such grants for smaller livestock (ganado menor: sheep or swine) is
two (6 miles) leagues.
5. None of the smaller livestock shall be allowed pasturage on the grain lands of the Tlaxcalans without their permission
or that of their descendents.
Capitulaciones | Agreements
1591 Philip Wayne Powell

20. Capitulaciones | Agreements Cont.
Philip Wayne Powell
6. The lands granted individually or in community to the Tlaxcalans or not to be alienated
because of no occupation during a period of five years renewable if necessary.
7. The markets in the new settlements shall be free, exempt from sales tax, from all
Forms of taxation, for a period of 30 years.
 8. The Tlaxcalan colonists and their descendants, besides being Hidalgos and free from all tribute,
shall henceforth enjoy all exemptions and privileges already granted, or to be granted or to be
granted in the future, to the province and city of Tlaxcala.
 9. The chief men ( principals) of Tlaxcala, who go to the new settlements, and their descendants,
shall be permitted to carry arms and ride saddled horses without penalty. For the northward
journey itself, the Tlaxcalans shall be given the necessary provisions and clothing, and this shall
continue for two years.
 In addition, they shall receive aid in cultivation of their fields for the same amount of time.
 10. The Tlaxcalans shall be given a charter of written guarantees and a royal provision
commanding that these capitulations be observed.

21. Start of the Northern Migration
400 Tlaxcalteca Families start out June 1591
David B. Adams
21

22. THE YOUNG MIGRANTS FROM THE PROVINCE OF TLAXCALA:
ANALYSIS OF THE 1591 CENSUS
By Rosalba Delgadillo Torres
Translated by EDUARDO HERRERA | Robstown ISD
22

23. Eventually, the four Tlaxcalan regional settlements were established and those families that volunteered began
their exodus to the north on June 6, 1591. 228 Tlaxcaltecans departed Ocotelulco led by Captains Lucas de
Monte Alegre and Miguel de las Casas. This group was sent from San Juan del Rio to the mines of el Reino de
Nueva Galicia (Zacatecas).
On the following date, 245 Tlaxcaltecans left Tizaltlan led by Captain Buenaventura Paz. This group was sent
from San Juan del Rio to el Reino de León and el Reino de Nueva Vizcaya (Nuevo León, Durango and
Coahuila).
On June 9, 1591, 207 Tlaxcaltecans set out from Quiahuiztlan led by Captain Lucas Téllez. This group was sent
from San Juan del Rio to el Reino de Nueva Galicia (Jalisco). On this same date, 228 Tlaxcaltecans left from
Tepeticpac led by Captains Francisco Vazquez and Juaquin Paredes. This group was sent from San Juan del Rio
to the mines of San Miguel Mexquitic en el Reino de Nueva Galicia (San Luis Potosí).
These brave young families eventually settled the Mexican states of Aguascalientes, Coahuila, Durango,
Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas. They also founded over 100 cities and
towns including: Albuquerque, Barrio de Analco in Santa Fe and Las Cruces in present-day New Mexico.
Additionally, a carpenter and a mason were contracted to work on the Alamo.
Tlaxcalans start the Northern Migration June 1591
Tlaxcala in the Sixteenth Century by Gibson
23

24. Tlaxcalteca Colonization spreads northeast
Tlaxcala in the Sixteenth Century by Gibson
24

25. Tlaxcalteca Indians on the Caminos Real
25

26. 1690 | Tlaxcalteco Agustin de la Cruz explores the future site of
San Antonio TX.
Dr. Martha Menchaca
1. 1690 Fr. Olivares head of the Coahuila missions sends Agustin De La
Cruz a Tlaxcalteca to explore area between present day San Antonio &
San Marcos.
2. De La Cruz reports that the region is inhabited by peaceful Indians.
3. 26 Jun 1716, Captain Domingo Ramon est. Presidio 5 miles west of the
Neches River
4. 1717, Need second colony between Coahuila and the northeast
settlements
5. May 1718, Fr. Olivares Establishes Mission San Antonio de Valero.
6. 9 March 1731, Canary Islanders found present day San Antonio
26

27. Tlaxcalteca Indians in Texas
David B. Adams
•1722 Governor of Coahuila and Texas wanted to shore up the boundaries
against the French so he appealed to the king asking for 200 families from
Galicia, the Canary Islands or Cuba and for an equal amount from the province
of Tlaxcala. In the end only 15 families came down from the Canary Islands to
fortify the Texas settlements against the French with the help (guides , porters
and teamsters) of Tlaxcalteca Indians.
• 1756 The last Tlaxcalteca settlement took place 50 families were invited to a
projected Franciscan Settlement on the San Saba river to help convert Lipan
Apaches and protect them against the Comanche‘s.
•1758 Only 9 families from San Esteban volunteered, Comanche's wipe out the
San Saba settlement in 16 March of1758.

28. •. In 1749 the Provence of
Nuevo Santander was
founded by José de Escandón
• Straddling the Rio Grande in
the region of present-day
Tamaulipas and South Texas.
• Six Thousand people were
recruited to move there
including 700 hundred
Tlaxcalan families.
•He invited Tlaxcalans from
Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and
San Luis Potosi to accompany
him.
Nuevo Santander | 1749
Recovering History Constructing Race by Dr. Martha Menchaca
28

29. Census (Padrones) of Revilla | 1791
Dr. Amy Porter
59 Joseph Angel de las CASAS, married, mestizo, laborer, age 32
María del Refugio PIÑA, Spaniard, age 25
Joseph Vitoriano de las CASAS, their son, age 1
---------------------
60 Joseph Cipriano JUSTAMANTE y ZAPATA, married, Indian, blacksmith, age 35
Maria del Refugio VILLARREAL, his wife, Spaniard, age 34
their children
Pedro Joseph JUSTAMANTE ZAPATA, age 11
María Manuela JUSTAMANTE ZAPATA, age 12
Juana Francisca JUSTAMANTE ZAPATA, age 7
Carmel JUSTAMANTE ZAPATA, age 5
Teodoro JUSTAMANTE ZAPATA, age 3
María Gertrudis JUSTAMANTE ZAPATA infant
servant
Luis de la GARZA, Spaniard, age 34
Arrumados
Doña Juana ELIZONDO, mother-in-law of Cipriano, widow, Spaniard, age 54
Doña Francisca VILLARREAL, widow, Spaniard, age 32
Juan Joseph PEÑA, spaniard, age 11
---------------------
61 Doña Juana de la SERNA, widow, Spaniard, age 44
29

30. Tlaxcaltecan Contributions
Tlaxcalan colonies from Rosalba Delgadillo Torres

36. As early as 1519, The Four Tlaxcalteca rulers embraced Christianity.
Following the 1591 Northeastern Migration, The Tlaxcalteca Indians would
name many of the towns they settled and founded with the names of Catholic
saints.

37. Texas Indians
Texas Beyond History website
 Apaches started coming into Texas
Panhandle from Canada in 1528.
Continued to spread south into
Mexico.
 South Texas Indigenous Hunter
Gatherers over 1000 Bands
scattered on both sides of the Rio
Grande.
 Cabeza De Vaca lives with many
South Texas Indigenous for over 8
years on his way to Rio Panucu.
Larger Texas Tribes
Tribes during Spanish
Colonial Times
37

38. Coahuiltecan Land by Frederick Rueking Jr. The Texas Journal of Science
38

39. First Tejano Indians at the San Antonio Missions
http://texasmissionindians.org/ by Mickey Killian
39

40. Partial List Of Coahuiltecan Bands on the West Side of the Rio Bravo
Texas Journal of Science , Dec 1953, no.4
Frederick Ruecking Jr.
40

41. Comancheria
400 x 500 mile Area
18th ,19th century, The Comanche Empire by Pekka Hamalainen
41

42. Comanche – Mexico Wars
Kiowa, Kiowa Apaches and Wichita
The Comanche Empire by Pekka Hamalainen
•1821 start large-scale raids into northern Mexico.
•]The Comanche raids were sparked by the declining military capability of
Mexico.
• Plus a large market in the United States for stolen Mexican horses and cattle.
•By the time the United States army invaded northern Mexico in 1846 during
the Mexican –American War the region was devastated.
• Comanche raids into Mexico continued until 1870.
•The Comanche were finally defeated by the U.S. in 1875 and forced onto a
reservation.
• Many present day Tejanos carry DNA from these Tribes because their
ancestors may have been captives
42

43. Comanche Raids into Mexico 1821-1870
The Comanche Empire by Pekka Hamalainen
 Chihuahua
 Durango
 Zacatecas
 Queretaro
 San Luis Potosi
 Tamaulipas
 Nuevo Leon
 Jalisco
 Raided as far as Guadalajara
43

44. Kiowa Friends

45. 1846 | Start of Mexican - American War

46. 1848 | The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
by Richard Griswold del Castillo PBS webpage
In 1847, During the start up to The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended
the Mexican-American War. Our ancestors were given a year to decide
whether to move to Mexico or stay on their homelands and become
American citizens.
Many of the families who had settled on the East side of the Rio Grande
stayed in place and were designated as “White,” and many of the families
who lived on the West side of the Rio Grande remained Mexican citizens.
46

47. Grandparents on both sides of the Rio Grande
Tlatoani Teodosio Herrera
47

48. Maria Guadalupe Lara Herrera
Healer 1922-1994
Tlatoani Teodosio Herrera
48

49. Our Nations Contributions to the Tejano Vocabulary
• Because of the many Indigenous languages that existed in 16
century Mexico, King Philip II of Spain decreed
in 1570 that Nahuatl become the official language of the colonies
of New Spain in order to facilitate communication between the
natives of the colonies.
• Nahuatl would be utilized for over 125 years until 1696 when King
Charles II of Spain reversed that policy and banned the use of any
languages other than Spanish throughout New Spain. After several
generations of predominantly speaking Nahuatl, it is not
surprising that there are still many Nahuatl words in use today.
The following is a typical Tejano story;
49

50. "On a hot south Texas summer day while working in the milpa, I found some shade under
a Mesquite next to a large nopal. There was some green zacate that looked soft enough
to sit on and enjoy my lunch.
It was very quiet and peaceful except for the tecolote and a tlacuache that took off as soon as they
saw me.
Now my only companion was a big chapulin that kept jumping around the molcajete where my
wife had mixed some chipotli , tomate and aguacate to enjoy with the elote and camote that she
had packed in my morral for lunch..
The day was getting hotter and I wondered if I should eat the chili as well; after all I had had a large
breakfast of atole just a few hours ago. And I knew my wife was going to host a mitote that evening
and was preparing guajolote with mole, tamales and pozole. Of course, there would be plenty of
mezcal and tequila for the guests to enjoy.
The breeze had completely stopped and the zocete surrounding the nearby papalote was already
dried and the chapopote on the road leading to that place appeared to be melting.
As I looked up I saw a zopilote circling a coyote that was probably looking forward to my leftovers. I
tried to scare him off by waving my mecate at him. But in the end I decided to leave the bowl of
chili, a stick of chicle and some chocolate for the poor hungry animal to eat. After all we were all in
it together.“
Many people might think that this is a Tex-Mex (mixture of Spanish and English words) story,
however, all the bolded words are of Nahuatl origin. Written by Tlatoani Teodosio Herrera

51. Seven Generations
Rio Grande Native American Church
50