Land Acknowledgement

Galveston College Library acknowledges that our campus stands on the traditional homelands of the Karankawa people, the original stewards of the Texas Gulf Coast. For thousands of years, the Karankawa lived in balance with the bays, rivers, and shores that sustained them, cultivating deep knowledge of the land and sea. We honor their enduring legacy and recognize that Indigenous peoples continue to live, learn, and thrive across this region today. We commit to learning from Indigenous histories and perspectives, respecting their continued presence, and supporting efforts that preserve and revitalize Native cultures and communities.

Local History: Karankawa Tribe

The Karankawa people were Indigenous inhabitants of the Gulf Coast region of what is now South Texas and northeastern Mexico. For thousands of years, they thrived in the rich coastal ecosystem stretching from Galveston Bay to Corpus Christi Bay, living in harmony with the land and sea. Their seasonal migrations in dugout canoes allowed them to fish, hunt, and gather with deep ecological knowledge and spiritual reverence.

The Karankawa cultivated native plants, harvested shellfish and seabird eggs, and hunted game such as bison and deer. Their homes, constructed from cane mats and hides over oyster shell foundations, were well-adapted to the coastal climate. The Karankawa were known for their physical strength, daily saltwater bathing, and use of shark oil to repel mosquitoes. Their cultural practices included music, moonlit ceremonies, and a profound respect for nature’s rhythms.

Despite facing colonization pressures from Spanish, French, and later Anglo-American settlers, the Karankawa people resisted assimilation and displacement for centuries. By the early 1800s, many had migrated south into Tamaulipas, Mexico, or were absorbed into Spanish society. Though long considered extinct, descendants have reclaimed their heritage through the formation of the Karankawa Kadla, a group dedicated to preserving Karankawa culture, protecting ancestral lands, and challenging historical erasure.

Today, their legacy lives on through oral histories, cultural revitalization efforts, and educational resources that honor their enduring connection to the Texas Gulf Coast. Karankawa. (2025). Salem Press Encyclopedia.

Painting, Karankawa Native Americans by Frank Weir. Courtesy of Texas Beyond History.

Karankawa Resources on the Web