Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb facts for kids

The Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb is a group of Native American people recognized by the state of Louisiana. They are also a nonprofit organization that helps their community. Members of the tribe are descendants of Choctaw and Lipan Apache people. To join, members must show they are directly related to these ancestors. The tribe lives near the towns of Zwolle, Louisiana and Ebarb, Louisiana in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Their ancestors have lived in this area since the early 1700s.

History of the Tribe

In the early 1700s, the Spanish built a fort called Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Los Adaes Presidio. Soldiers, including those of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage, defended this fort. Dr. John Sibley, an Indian Agent for the U.S., reported that these soldiers formed families with local Caddo, Adai, and formerly enslaved Lipan Apache women. Dr. Sibley helped these Native Americans settle in Louisiana. His reports are kept at important places like the Smithsonian.

When the Spanish closed the fort in 1773, many soldiers stayed with their families. They settled in the Zwolle and Ebarb areas. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Choctaw groups moved into this area. They were looking for new hunting grounds. Dr. John Sibley also helped more Choctaw families move here. By 1870, the census listed 21 Choctaw families in the area.

In the 1900s, many people worked in the timber (logging) and oil industries. They lived along the Sabine River. However, the states of Texas and Louisiana built a dam on the river. This project created the Toledo Bend Reservoir for flood control and power. About 180,000 acres of the tribe's ancestral land were used for this reservoir. The people living there had to move.

Tribe's Language

The tribe historically spoke a special kind of Spanish. This dialect came from the Spanish spoken in rural Mexico in the late 1700s. It developed from the time the Los Adaes fort was built. A similar dialect was spoken across the Sabine River near Nacogdoches, Texas.

Today, this dialect is very rare. By the 1980s, fewer than 50 people could speak it fluently on both sides of the Sabine River.

Tribe Membership

In 2008, the group reported they had 2,300 members living in the local area. Many other members lived in different regions.

How the Tribe is Organized

The group officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1977. A nonprofit organization is a group that uses its money and efforts to help a community or cause, rather than making a profit. Their main goal was to help tribe members and work towards getting federal recognition. They also focused on gathering documents needed for this recognition.

State Recognition

The state of Louisiana officially recognized the Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb. This happened through a law passed in 1978 (some reports say 1977).

In 2018, Louisiana created the Native American Commission. This commission works to promote Native American culture and find out what the community needs. One member from each of the 15 recognized tribes serves on this commission. The tribe's Chief, Thomas N. Rivers, is the Chairman of this commission for Louisiana.

Seeking Federal Recognition

The tribe has also tried to get federal recognition from the United States government. On March 22, 1978, the Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb sent a letter saying they planned to ask for federal recognition. This letter went to the US Department of the Interior. While they sent a petition in 1978, they do not currently have an active petition being reviewed.

Activities and Events

The group holds an annual powwow every year in mid-April. This event takes place in Noble, Louisiana.