Features

At the center of the Caddo religion is a supreme god known as Caddi Ayo. Loosely translated to mean, "captain of the sky," this god was believed to have created all things. In the physical world, the Caddo also believed that spirits surrounded them and could be found in animals, plants, places and natural forces such as rainstorms.

Identification

As with many Native American tribes found in the south and Midwest, the Caddo built earth mounds as an extension of their religion. These earth mounds were intended to mark divine locations. As such, Caddo temples were typically built on top of these large formations. Homes of tribe chiefs and other individuals with elevated status were also constructed on these earth mounds. Some of these mounds, such as the Davis mound site near Alto, TX, are still visible today.

Considerations

Fire was another important symbol in the Caddo religion. At the tribe's principal Hasinai temple, a fire was continually kept aflame. This fire consisted of four logs, each placed parallel to the cardinal directions. Other fire temples were found in lesser Caddo villages. These fire temples served as council houses where important matters were discussed.

Function

The hierarchy of the Caddo religious order was highly structured. At the top of the order was the xinesi, or head priest. The xinesi lived in a grass hut near the Hasinai temple. One of his jobs was to ensure the fire in the temple did not extinguish.

Assisting the xinesi were other priests. These individuals had similar duties in different villages. The xinesi was also assisted by two divine boys known as the coninisi. These boys, who may have been twins, lived near the Hasinai fire temple and were only visible to the xinesi. It was the job of the coninisi to serve as intermediaries between the Caddi Ayo and the xinesi.

Expert Insight

The Caddo religion also featured shamans. Shamans were tribe members that participated in specialized spiritual endeavors. These specialties included healing, spell casting and fortune telling. The healers, known as connas, used herbs, ritual practices and incantations to cure illnesses and heal the wounded.