The Five Recognized Tribes of Louisiana
Chitimacha Tribe |
Choctaw |
Coushatta |
Houma Tribe |
Tunica-Biloxi |
Native American Links |
Chitimacha Tribe |
Choctaw |
Coushatta |
Houma Tribe |
Tunica-Biloxi |
Native American Links |
There are several tribes and groups of Native Americans in Louisiana that are not federally recognized, yet maintain strong community identities and traditions.
Apalachee |
Caddo-Adais |
Atakapa |
Miscellaneous Tribes |
The Seven Muskogean Tribes |
Native American Links |
The
MicMac Connection
This Federally recognized tribe lives near Elton, Louisiana, in Allen Parish. The tribe has retained its Koasati language (100% of its members speak it), which is related to Creek, Seminole, and Alabama. Many tribal members are full-blooded Koasati who speak their native language as a first language, and can speak more than one Native American language.
The Coushatta were originally located in the area of the Upper Tennessee River Valley. In the early 1700s they migrated to Alabama, avoiding contact with the Europeans. After the Louisiana Purchase, they relocated to land along the Sabine River that fell under neither Spanish nor American control. They attempted to remain neutral in conflicts among the Anglos, French, and Spanish, but had to relocate frequently.
They returned to Louisiana and settled in the area north of Elton in the 1880s, along Bayou Blue. The federal government terminated the tribe from the rolls in 1953. The Coushatta petitioned for and received re-recognition as an Indian tribe in 1973. Today, the tribal members work and live much as their African-American, Anglo, and Cajun neighbors, but retain their own government, kin groupings, arts, and crafts. They are nationally famous for their pinestraw basketry, and also continue to make split cane baskets in their traditional forms. They have also maintained their traditions in music, food, and storytelling traditions.
| Lovelin Poncho, Chairman | Horace Williams, Vice-Chairman | Paul Ruppert, Tribal Administrator |
| Pat Hall, Administrative Assistant |
P.O. Box 818 Elton, LA 70532 (318) 584-2261 fax: (318) 584-2998 |
The Chitimacha tribe is indigenous to Louisiana and is located in St. Mary Parish. The Chitimacha originally lived on Grand Lake, and legend claims that four sacred trees originally marked their boundaries. Two trees were located in what is now known as Cypermort Point and Maringouin. Of the other two, one was somewhere south of New Orleans and somewhere on the Mississippi River.
The Spanish were the first European settlers into the area. Enslaved Houma Indians were used to conquer the Chitimacha and confined them to a small reservation. The French bought the land from the Spanish but would not recognize the treaty that granted the Chitimacha the reservation they lived on. They began to slaughter and enslave the Chitimacha. They fled and some of them returned later. A tribal council was elected in 1970 and a constitution was enacted.
The Chitimacha were the first tribe to be recognized by the state, and they maintain a tribal office, museum, casino, fish processing plant and school. They're known world-wide for their cane baskets but also do wood carving, shell work and other crafts. They no longer speak their native language though some still speak French. Many of their tribal medical practices are preserved and they are attempting to revive stories and other traditions.
The Choctaws, consisting of several different groups, are recognized by both the federal and state governments.
|
|
|
|
Jena, Louisiana is the tribal center and was named for the Jena Tribe. They maintain their tribal language and some of their crafts such as making baskets from cane, blowguns and deerskin clothing. They're also known for their beadwork and other common tribal crafts.
The Ebarb Choctaw-Apaches are recognized only by the state of Louisiana and have resided in Sabine parish since the 1700's. Their tribal office is in Zwolle, Louisiana and they have a pow-wow ground at Ebarb. They speak mostly English, though some of their elders speak Spanish with a sprinkling of words and phrases from Nahuatl, Choctaw and Coahuitecan. This tribe makes baskets from white oak and are known for their Spanish-style food such as tamales, chardizos and salsas. They practice arts and crafts similar to other area Indian tribes.
The Clifton Choctaws, whose history dates back to the 1700's, are descended from Choctaw, Chatot and Creoles. The tribe resides in northwestern Rapides Parish near Clifton, Louisiana. Their folkways include making baskets of white oak and pine straw, quilting, tupelo bowl carving, herbalism and making fans from turkey feathers. They have a craft shop, cafe and tribal office and run a plantation. They have an annual trade day to which visitors are invited.
The Tunica-Biloxi is located in Marksville, Louisiana near the Indian Mounds. French is spoken by some of the elders, but their own languages are no longer spoken.. The tribe operates a full casino, a herd of cattle, an anthropological conservation laboratory and maintains its own housing project as well police and court system. Traditional basket-making, beadwork and other crafts are still practiced. Their storytellers still recount ancient tribal tales and they are attempting to revive their traditional music and dance.
The Houma Indians are one of the Seven Muskogean Tribes. They live mostly in Terrebone and Lafourche Parishes near Houma, Dulac and Montague. They still speak French but few speak their native tongue. They provide classes and school programs in tribal crafts such as weaving, wood carving and herbalism. Houma means "Red" and it is believed that they may have been an offshoot of the Chakchiuma (Yazoo River) Tribe. The tribal symbol was the red crawfish.
The Kadohodacho were made up of five tribes. The Adai, Doustioni, Natchitouches, Ouachita and Yatasi. They lived on the Red River and moved, sometimes great distances, due to frequent flooding. The Caddo moved from Caddo Lake to Arkansas in the late 1700's. Their language was unlike others in the east. They hunted Bison in northwest Louisiana, traded, hunted and fished.
The modern Caddo people are the descendants of many different tribes that once inhabited Louisiana, southern Arkansas and coastal Texas as far west as the Brazos River. These included the tribes of the Kadohadacho confederacy which gives the modern Caddo their name, the Hasinai Confederacy and the Natchitoches Confederacy. Today the more than 1,200 Caddo share joint control of small parcels of tribal lands in Oklahoma with the Delaware and Wichita nations around the areas of Fort Cobb and Fort El Reno.
The Apalachees are related to the Creek and are originally from what is now Florida. They were relocated to Natchitoches and Rapides Parishes in 1764 and their tribal roots almost disappeared as a result of intermarriage with French, Irish and other cultures. They established themselves in Louisiana around 1835. Most of the Apalachee Tribe live in the swamps and hills of the Red River area. They are known for making knives, baskets from white oak and turkey calls. This tribe consists of less than 100 members and are recognized neither by the state nor the federal government. For the most part, they are recognized as a tribe only by themselves. The Apalachee here in Louisiana are applying for recognition.
The Ishak, or "The People" as they called themselves were comprised of four bands. Two eastern tribes known as the Sunrise People, and two western tribes known as the Sunset People. They lived from Bayou Teche to the Sabine River and from Alexandria to the Gulf of Mexico. They created very high quality pottery and built large mounds. One shell mound, which could still be seen until recently, was 600 feet long and in the shape of an Alligator. The early Louisiana explorers rarely saw the Atakapaw. An interesting note is that ATAKAPAW is Mobilian or Choctaw for "Eaters of Human Flesh." But the Atakapaw only ate specific parts of slain enemies.
Washa
Living on the upper Bayou Lafourche down to the coast, they
were on the move constantly after the French arrival. They were lost to history
in the 19th century. Washa means "Hunting Place," due to the abundance of
game where they lived.
Chawasha
Choctaw for "Raccoon Place," not much is known. It is believed
that they were much like the Washa in geographic location and culture.
Tunica
The Tunica were by far the best traders around. They were Natchez speakers made up of three tribes. The two Louisiana based tribes were the Taensa and the Avoyel. The Natchez were mainly in what is now Mississippi. The Avoyel faded away into history pretty fast. They made and traded stone projectiles and were known as "People of the Rocks."
Houma - see
above.
Bayogoula
Bayogola means "Bayou People." They called themselves ISCHENOCE
which means "Ours." They lived on what is at present the Bayou Goula. The
tribal totem was the alligator.
Acolapissa
Their name means "Those who see and hear." They were a boarder
tribe and probably served as lookouts. Along with the Tangipahoa, they are
estimated at about 1500 in population. They lived along the Pearl River to
the mouth. After 1700 they moved to Lake Pontchartrain, on Bayou Costine,
to escape French slave hunters. Then disease in 1718 forced them to move
just above New Orleans on the Mississippi River. After that, the Acolapissa
faded away, mixing into the Houma tribe.
Quinapisa
These people lived near present day Hahnville on the Mississippi
River all the way down to the mouth. Quinapisa means "Those who see," which
is believed to reflect an identical status as the Acolapissa. Almost nothing
is known about them.
Mugulash
Mugulash is a corruption of the Choctaw name IMONGOLOSHA,
meaning "People of the other side."
Tangipahoa
The name Tangipahoa means "Corn Gatherers" or "Corncob People."
Okelousa
Their name is Choctaw (as is most others) for "Black Water." They lived mostly on two lakes they lived on were dark in color due to the abundance of organic matter in the water, reflecting the richness of the soil for farming.