Yazoo people facts for kids

The Yazoo were a group of Native American people. They lived along the lower part of the Yazoo River in what is now Mississippi. The Yazoo were part of the larger Tunica group. They spoke a language similar to the Tunica language. Other related tribes included the Koroa and possibly the Tioux.

Who Were the Yazoo People?

The Yazoo tribe lived in the area known today as the Mississippi Delta. Not much is known for sure about their language. However, experts believe it was related to the Tunica language. The Tunica language is special because it is a language isolate. This means it is not clearly related to any other known languages.

French explorers and missionaries wrote about the Yazoo tribe. In 1699, a French priest named Father Antoine Davion started a mission among the Tunica people. He also tried to connect with tribes allied with the Tunica, like the Taensa.

Early History and French Contact

Around this time, the Yazoo, like the Chickasaw, traded with English traders. These traders came from Carolina, which was on the Atlantic coast.

In 1702, the Yazoo helped the Koroa tribe. Together, they killed a French priest named Nicholas Foucault and three of his friends. Because of this, Father Antoine Davion left the area for a while.

In 1718, the French built a fort near a village called St. Pierre. This fort helped them control the river. In 1722, a young Jesuit priest named Jean Rouel took over the Yazoo mission. This mission was close to the French fort. He worked there until a big fight, called the Natchez revolt, started in 1729.

Joining the Natchez War

In 1729, the Yazoo and Koroa tribes joined with the Natchez. They attacked the French settlers. Their goal was to make the French leave the area completely.

On November 29, 1729, the Natchez attacked Fort Rosalie. They killed more than 200 people. This included another Jesuit priest named Paul Du Poisson. The Natchez also took many French women, children, and their African slaves as prisoners.

When the Yazoo and Koroa heard about this, they acted too. On December 11, 1729, they ambushed and killed Father Rouel and his black slave. The next day, they attacked a nearby French outpost. They killed everyone there. The tribes buried Father Rouel's body. Later, his bell and some books were found and returned to the French by the Quapaw tribe. Another priest, Stephen Doutreleau, was attacked on January 1, 1730, but he managed to escape.

The End of the Yazoo Tribe

The Natchez War was a very bad time for the French settlements in Louisiana. The French settlers had to retreat to New Orleans. It was also a disaster for the Natchez and Yazoo tribes.

The French teamed up with the Choctaw tribe to get revenge. They strongly defeated the Natchez and Yazoo. Many survivors were sold into slavery in the Caribbean. Some Natchez and Yazoo refugees found safety among the Chickasaw. However, the Chickasaw captured many other Yazoo men. They sold them into slavery to traders based in Carolina.

This marked the end of the Yazoo as a separate tribe. The survivors married into the Chickasaw, African, and other groups of people.

Yazoo in Stories

John Grisham wrote a story called "Casino." It is part of his book of short stories, Ford County (2009). The story is about a dishonest businessman in modern-day Mississippi. He gathers many people who say they have Yazoo ancestors. He tries to get them recognized as a Native American tribe by the government. If they are recognized, they could build a gaming casino on their land.

See also

In Spanish: Tribu yazoo para niños