Coushatta facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana 910 enrolled members Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas 380 enrolled |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States (Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Spanish, French, Koasati language | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Alabama, other Muscogee peoples |
The Coushatta (also called Koasati) are a group of Native American people. They speak a language from the Muskogean family. Today, most Coushatta people live in the U.S. states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Long ago, when Europeans first met them, the Coushatta lived in areas that are now Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. They were close friends with the Alabama tribe and often married into their families. Both tribes were part of the larger Creek Confederacy. Their languages are very similar, so they could easily understand each other.
After 1763, more European settlers moved into their lands. This caused the Coushatta to start moving west. They traveled into areas like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. These lands were then under Spanish rule. By the early 1800s, they had settled in these new places. Later, in the 1830s, some Coushatta and Alabama people were moved by the U.S. government to Indian Territory (which is now Oklahoma). This was part of a big move of many Native American tribes.
Today, Coushatta people belong to three official tribes recognized by the U.S. government:
- Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town in Wetumka, Oklahoma
- Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
- Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Contents
Coushatta Language and Culture
The Koasati language is the traditional language of the Coushatta people. It is part of the larger Muskogean language family. In 2000, about 200 people still spoke Koasati, mostly in Louisiana. The language is written using the Latin letters we use for English. The Coushatta are also very famous for their amazing basketry skills. They create beautiful baskets using natural materials.
A Look at Coushatta History
The Coushatta people traditionally lived by farming. They grew important crops like maize (corn), beans, and squash. They also hunted animals and caught fish to add to their food supply.
Early Spanish explorers, like Hernando de Soto in the 1500s, wrote about meeting the Coushatta. Their main town was thought to be in the Tennessee River Valley. The Spanish called them Coste. Other nearby tribes included the Chiaha and Yuchi.
As more European settlers arrived in the 1600s and 1700s, the Coushatta signed treaties and gave up some of their land. They moved west into what is now Alabama. They built a town called Nickajack and later a big settlement on Long Island, which is now on the border of Tennessee and Alabama.
By the time of the American Revolution, the Coushatta had moved further down the Tennessee River to a town called Coosada. Some Coushatta joined the growing Creek Confederacy. They became known as part of the "Upper Creek" group. They continued to be closely connected with the Alabama tribe. Coushatta and Alabama people who stayed in Alabama were later forced to move to Indian Territory in the 1830s. Their descendants today form the Alabama–Quassarte Tribal Town in Wetumka, Oklahoma.
Some of the Coushatta tribe decided to leave the Creek Confederacy. They moved to South Louisiana. Their descendants are now part of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.
Important leaders among the Coushatta-Alabama tribes were Long King and Colita (Koasati). They led their people to settle in what is now Polk County, Texas in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Colita's Village was an important settlement before European-Americans moved into the area of Livingston, Texas. The descendants of these groups now form the Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas. They have a special reservation near Livingston.
Coushatta Today: 20th and 21st Centuries
The Coushatta people have worked hard to gain official recognition and build strong communities.
Oklahoma's Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
The Alabama–Quassarte Tribal Town in Wetumka, Oklahoma, was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1939. This happened after a law called the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act was passed in 1936. These people are descendants of a group that moved together from Alabama to Indian Territory in the 1830s. They stayed together and kept their town identity. Many of them also have dual citizenship in the Muscogee Nation, which represents the larger Creek Confederacy. About 380 people are officially part of this tribe.
Louisiana's Coushatta Tribe
In 1972, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana was recognized by the state. A year later, it gained federal recognition from the U.S. government. The tribe has bought about 685 685|acre|km2 of land for their reservation. This land is near where their ancestors lived in the 1700s and 1800s. The U.S. government holds this land in trust for the tribe.
In the 1900s, the Coushatta people in Louisiana started farming rice and crawfish on their tribal lands. Most of the tribe lives on this reservation today. About 200 people still speak the Coushatta language. However, fewer young people are learning it, so the tribe is working to preserve their language.
Many Native American tribes have started businesses like casinos on their reservations. These reservations are considered sovereign territory, meaning they have their own rules. The Coushatta of Louisiana have also established gaming on their reservation. This has helped them earn money for their community. They also have tax-free sales of certain items. These efforts have brought in a lot of money for the tribe.
F. A. Little, Jr., a retired judge from Alexandria, Louisiana, serves as the chief judge for the tribe.
Texas's Alabama-Coushatta Tribe
The Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1987. They have acquired about 4,600 4600|acre|km2|adj=on of reservation land near Livingston, Texas. This area has been their home since they settled there in the early 1800s. This tribe has about 1,100 official members.
See also
In Spanish: Koasati para niños
