The Sijame were an Indigenous people of the Americas of the San Antonio, Texas region.[1] Some historians believe they were a band of Tonkawa, but they were likely a Coahuiltecan people.[1]
Name
The name Sijame translates as "fish" and has also been written as Cijame, Hijame, Xixame, and Zihame.[1]
History
Spanish colonists recorded the Sijame as visiting the Santo Nombre de Jesus de Peyotes Mission in 1698. The They Xarame likely originated in the Edwards Plateau between the Nueces River and the Frio River. In 1699, Spanish colonists founded San Juan Bautista Mission in Coahuila to convert four Coahuiltecan bands, including the Xarame.[1] The Spanish established another mission near present-day Eagle Pass, Texas, and some Xarame moved there.[1] Others moved to the San Francisco Solano Mission in Coahuila founded in 1700.[1]
In 1709, Sijame lived by San Pedro Springs near San Antonio.[1]
The San Antonio de Valero mission mentioned the Xarame as last as 1776.[1]
References
| Federally recognized tribes | |
|---|---|
| Indigenous languages | |
| Historical Indigenous peoples of Texas (Several are in Oklahoma today) |
|
| Related topics | |
† extinct language / ≠ extinct tribe / >< early, obsolete name of Indigenous tribe / ° people absorbed into other tribe(s) / * headquartered in Oklahoma today | |
