A Brief Outline Of Nations

All sources of the following information are listed in the suggested reading list included at this site. I am NOT an authority on this subject. If there is any information I've missed or gotten wrong, please e-mail me so that I can make corrections.

PLEASE NOTE THAT many parts of the Chitimacha story, the first of this page, are typical of what happened to other Native American Nations in what is now the United States of America. All suffered disease, war to defend their homes and families, slavery (they were explicitly excluded in the Emancipation Proclamation) and (often violently) forced assimilation by some Christian leaders. But today they are STILL the proud and worthy nations they have been always and will always be. They have NOT been conquered yet: the fight for survival goes on to this very day.

UNITED HOUMAS (Lafourche Parish)

FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED NATIONS
COUSHATTA (Port Allen Parish) CHITIMACHA (St. Mary Parish)
TUNICA-BILOXI (Avoyelles Parish) JENA BAND OF CHOCTAW (LaSalle Parish)


STATE RECOGNIZED NATIONS
ADAI CADDO (Natchitoches Parsh) CHOCTAW-APACHE OF EBARB (Sabine Parish)
CLIFTON CHOCTAW (Rapides Parish) FOUR WINDS CHEROKEE (Vernon Parish)
(4 Winds is actually a Confederation, not a Nation)

Casinos
Although there are only a couple of Indian casinos in Louisiana, they voluntarily give back to the community. For example; the Coushatta gave 18 cruisers to neighboring parish law enforcement agencies, $100,000 to the town of Elton, $60,000 to the local high school and junior high, and $40,000 to the local elementary school.

It is also important to bear in mind that less than one percent of America's registered Indians recieve income from tribal casinos. Only about one percent of our Reservations have casinos. So remember that MOST Indians in America aren't getting rich from casinos. Most of our Indians are living in the worst poverty in the country. The popular backlash against Indian casinos hurts many nations who are seeking federal recognition, even though they don't want a casino.

Recognition
As for Federal recognition, that is a very difficult thing for Indigenous Nations to achieve according to today's federal laws. The Houma Nation applied for federal recognition way back in 1984, before the "Indian Casinos" were popular. What they were told would be a year and a half procedure is STILL going on today in 2001! And the backlash against Indian casinos is very much hurting the federal recognition efforts of many nations that don't want a casino.

The Four Winds Cherokee is a "confederation" which is not the same as an "nation". This site only focuses on Nations and not confederations or social organizations. According to an email I recieved from Richard L. Allen, D.Ed, Research & Policy Analyst for the Cherokee Nation,
"There are only three Cherokee entities that do have a federal relationship and they are: The Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, Oklahoma; the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Tahlequah, Oklahoma; and, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Many claim to be a new band, clan or nation, but none are nor will they ever receive recognition as such. Our history is well documented."

Powwows & Events
And Louisiana has a good number of Powwows throughout the year. LIHA holds two! A spring and fall powwow. Then there's the annual powwows put on by Twin Eagles, Choctaw-Apache, Tunica-Biloxi, and more.

And there are now several Indian museums around the state. Indians in Louisiana have come a long way. But there is still a lot of work to do.

Partial Historic Listing
Below is a partial listing of Indian Nations. Some still exist, many are extinct. You can either click on the name or simply scroll down the page.

PARTIAL INDEX OF NATIONS
CHITIMACHA ATAKAPA CADDO WASHA

CHAWASHA TUNICA APALACHEE
* The 7 Muskogean Tribes *
HOUMA BAYOGOULA ACOLOPISSA QUINAPISA
MUGULASH TANGIPAHOA OKELOUSA

Chitimacha

The Chitimacha originally lived on Grand Lake, form Charenton to Bayou Portage. One story states that originally four sacred trees 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 first whites to land at Grand Lake were Spanish. They used Houma Indians that had been enslaved to conquer the Chitimacha. Afterwards the Spanish confined the Chitimacha to a small reservation. When the French bought the land, they did not recognize the treaty that granted the Chitimacha the reservation they lived on. As usual in Native American history, the French began to slaughter the Chitimacha until they were once again conquered. Some fled and survived. Some of these returned later, but many stayed away. This massacre resulted in the Chitimachas population being horribly diminished and the survivors were enslaved. Men were sent to work the fields, women became house servants, and the young girls became sexual servants.

When the Chitimacha had once again regained status, living on a reservation, they were constantly swindled out of land and harassed by the military. It seems that Sarah McIlhenny answered a plea for help from the Chitimacha women and arranged for the Chitimacha to retain much of the land they had. In 1970 they elected a tribal council and enacted a constitution.

Today the Chitimacha are becoming prosperous and powerful. After living a very long time in poverty, they built a successful casino. The casino grew from a much smaller bingo operation. But finally in 1995, an 85,000 square foot building was opened. They have better roads, housing, health care, educational resources and social programs. More Chitimacha natives are returning to the reservation and more are able to attend college. Life in general seems to be pretty good for this Native American community in Louisiana.

Atakapa

The Atakapaw call themselves ISHAK, or "The People". ATAKAPAW is Mobilian or Choctaw for "Eaters of Human Flesh." But the Atakapaw only ate specific parts of slain enemies in a victory ceremony after a battle. They lived from Bayou Teche to the Sabine River and from Alexandria to the Gulf of Mexico. The population was dispersed with lots of vacant land between villages. Four bands made up this nation. Two eastern tribes known as the Sunrise People, and two western tribes known as the Sunset People. 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. They stayed well hidden and used smoke and fires to distract from their presence.

Caddo

The Caddo 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 proper, KADOHODACHO, moved from Cddo 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.

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."

Apalachee

The Apalachee are originally from what is now Florida. The Apalachee here in Louisiana are applying for recognition. They established themselves in Louisiana around 1835. Check out the link to a site with all the information on our links page.

The Seven Muskogean Tribes

Houma

Houma means "Red." They may have been an offshoot of the Chakchiuma, a Yazoo River Tribe. The Houma lived from the Mississippi River to Angola. The tribal symbol was the red crawfish. Iberville once noted observing 140 cabins arranged in a circle with about 350 warriors in the village's population.

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.

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