Mosopelea facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Extinct as a tribe | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana) | |
| Languages | |
| Ofo, English, French | |
| Religion | |
| Native tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Biloxi, Tunica |
The Mosopelea, also known as the Ofo, were a Native American people. They spoke a language called Ofo, which was part of the Siouan language family. Long ago, they lived near the upper Ohio River.
In the late 1600s, they faced attacks from the Iroquois Confederacy. These attacks were part of a fight over hunting grounds. Because of this, the Mosopelea moved south to the lower Mississippi River. They eventually settled in central Louisiana. There, they joined with the Tunica and the Biloxi peoples.
Contents
History of the Mosopelea People
Early Life in Ohio
In 1684, a French map by Jean-Baptiste-Louis Franquelin showed where the Mosopelea lived. They had eight villages north of the Ohio River. These villages were located between the Muskingum and Scioto rivers in what is now Ohio. This area was also important to the ancient Hopewell culture.
Moving South
The French map also showed that these villages were "destroyed." This happened because the Seneca and other nations of the Iroquois Confederacy attacked them. These attacks took place in the early 1670s during the Beaver Wars.
By 1673, French explorers like Marquette and Joliet found that the Mosopelea had moved. They had fled to the lower Mississippi River. For a while, they lived near the Natchez.
Life in Mississippi and Louisiana
Around 1699, French Jesuits called the Ofo/Mosopelea the Houspé. They found them living among the Tunica people. By 1700, French travelers reported Ofo villages in Mississippi, near the Yazoo River.
The Ofo decided not to join the Natchez in their wars against the French in the 1710s and 1720s. Instead, they moved even further south. Over time, they and other smaller groups became part of the Biloxi and Tunica peoples. Their original language, Ofo, eventually died out.
Today, the descendants of the Mosopelea are part of the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe. This tribe is recognized by the government. They have a reservation in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. Most of them speak English or French as their main language now.
See also
In Spanish: Ofo para niños
