Government

 At the heart of the Great Seal is a medicine wheel using the traditional 4 colors, which represent the four directions, four seasons, and sacred path of both the sun and our people. The images in the 4 quadrants and perimeter symbolize our history. The seal is the story of our people and our journey that made us who we are today.

 

The fleur de lis represents our role in the founding and development of the Louisiana colony and state. The fleur de lis is one of the prominent symbols on the flags of France, Spain, and New France. We are one of the Indigenous tribes of present-day Louisiana and Texas. Many of the waterways are named for our people and tribe including the Sabine River (Rio de los Adiais) and Spanish Lake (La Laguna de los Adaes). We helped found and protect Natchitoches, the first fort and oldest settlement in Louisiana.  Our people are among the first Creoles as recorded in the oldest Catholic Registries in the state.  Isle Brevelle, the birthplace of Creole Culture, is named for one of our people. 

The star with laurels represents our people’s native range in Texas, our trail of tears to San Antonio in 1773 and our return to La Laguna de los Adaes, and the communities we established along the way including the state’s oldest settlement, Nacogdoches. For 50 years, we were the builders, defenders and namesake of the first capital of Texas, Los Adaes. The word Texas comes from the Caddo word for “ally” or “friend”. The star has long been a symbol of the province, country, and present-day state of Texas.

 

The bow and arrows represent our warrior spirit that still exists today in our people and our many military veterans. Our people were known for crafting exceptional bows and arrows. The French noticed our use of a specific tree, and they named the tree bois d’arc (bow wood ). It was our warriors that rescued famous French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe and for generations protected the Louisiana colonists. This allegiance and protection culminated in the King of Spain designating our Chief as a Medal Chief. In the late 1700’s, we organized all of the tribes of the Caddo Confederacy for the first time in history to drive Choctaw invaders from our collective lands. We fought in the American Revolutionary War and all wars that followed. Our people are laid to rest in the national cemeteries, our peoples’ names are engraved in stone and are in lights at national and local military museums, and our tribe’s wreath was laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Of our current members, 25% of the men have previously or are currently serving in the military. That national average is 6%.  We are the oldest and longest serving ally to the country today known as the United States of America.  We are proud patriots, and our warriors have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country we helped create.

 

The buffalo is an important symbol of our tribe. Many of our villages and hunting camps were located along the buffalo trail. Each year as buffalo migrated from the Great Plains into East Texas and Louisiana, our people would hunt them. The buffalo provided an important source of protein during the winter months, and their hides and bones were used for blankets and tools. As the great buffalo herds dwindled, the last of a herd that routinely migrated across the Rio de los Adiais into western Louisiana was shot on a hilltop in Natchitoches Parish, south of Robeline. In recent years, our beloved Chief Rufus Davis Jr. brought a herd of buffalo back to Natchitoches Parish.

 

The perimeter ring of the seal includes two crosses for our love and faith in Jesus Christ and Saint Anne, our beloved patron saint. The first and second Catholic missions in Louisiana were built for our people and named for our tribe (San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes and San Miguel de Cuellar de los Adaes).  In the generations that followed, we have been founding and patron families of parish churches and missions across the state. Our tribe is a member of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Circle of the Alexandria Diocese.