FDI - Bidai

FOUR DIRECTIONS INSTITUTE

Bidai

Ethnie:	BIDAI
Language:	Atakapa
Family	Gulf
*Stock:*	Gulf
*Phylum:*	Tunican
*Macro-Culture:*	Texas

Speakers

Langauge extinct

The Bidai were sedentary hunter/farmer tribes which included the Deadose, Han, and Patati. Conflicting reports classify them both as cannibals and as on friendly terms with their neighbors. Likewise, whether their language is Caddo or Tunican based is in dispute. Their primary cause for depopulation seems to have been epidemic diseases. Survivors ultimately absorbed into other cultures.

Aboriginal Locations (Subdivisions, #of villages)

TX Bidia, Deadose, Han, Patiti

Present Locations

Extinct as a culture though some descendants in other cultures, particularly the Tunica

Year	*History*
1718	Reported to be agricultural people by de Belisle living near the Trinity River
1748	Missionized at Missions San Francisco Xavier de Horacasitas and San Idelfonzo
1750	Intermediaries between Spanish and Lipan Apache
1755	Bidai Chief Tomas given gift by Spanish
1776	Epidemic, 50% losses
1835	Pleasant Gray established post for trading with Bidai
1850	Village 12 miles from Montgomery
1854	Taken to Brazos Indian Reservation
1930	Entirely disappeared

Year	Total TX Population	Source
1690	500	Mooney est.
1700	500	NAHDB calculation
1751	176	Spanish report
1776	100	Swanton
1800	50	NAHDB calculation
1900	50	NAHDB calculation
2000	0	NAHDB calculation

Other speakers of the same language:

Atakapa

Bidai Sites:

Atakapa Langauge http://www.native-languages.org/atakapa.htm

Atakapa Language http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=ALE

Atakapa Linguistic Lineage http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_lang_family.asp?code=ALE

Atakapan Indian Groups http://www.texasindians.com/atakap.htm

Bidai Indians http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/bmb7.html

Bidai Indian Tribe http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/caddo/bidaiindiantribe.htm

Caddo Ancestors http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/ancestors/historic.html