The Chitimacha: You lose what you have to, to survive

Part 2 of our series on Native American Tribes of the Southeast will focus on the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, first of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in the Southeastern Nine States.  The Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana was federally recognized in 1916 by an Executive Order signed by President Woodrow Wilson. This followed a 200-plus year battle to physically survive, save their culture and reclaim a small portion of their homeland.

In the 17^th century when the Chitimacha had their first contact with European explorers and other non-indigenous people, the Chitimacha were known as the most powerful tribe with 29 population centers between what is now Florida and Texas.

In 1706, as a response French aggression including slave raids, a group of Chitimacha killed a priest and slave owner along with several missionaries who were members of the French party. The ensuing war lasted 12 years and took the lives of the majority of Chitimacha. In addition many Chitimacha were taken into slavery by the French and other tribes. The war ended when a treaty was signed by a French leader and Chitimacha Chief in New Orleans.

As a result of the war Chitimacha population centers to the east were pushed to the west and south. They retreated across the Atchafalaya Basin to Chitimacha population centers located along Grand Lake and Bayou Teche, across what is now south Louisiana and where the tribe remains today.

Following the peace treaty the French and later the Spanish and United States governments officially recognized the integrity of the Chitimacha Tribe and its right to land ownership. But in 1846 the Chitimacha were forced to sue the Federal government to confirm their title to their lands. Their land claim amounted to 1,093.43 acres, a loss of 80 percent of the land from the 1826 claims. This was further whittled away through a sale by “Chieftess” Eugina Soulier Rouge and judgements against the Tribe for taxes owed to the State of Louisiana and by 1903 the remaining land by the Tribe was down to 470 acres and then finally down to 261.54 acres.  Finally, in 1916 this land was placed in trust for the beneficial use of the Chitimacha Tribe through the intervention of Sara Mclhenny, a member of the family who owns the Tobasco Company and a friend of the Tribe. In 1916 the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana was federally recognized by the United States government and the 261.54 acres of land created their reservation.

During the last several decades the Tribe has excelled. In 1970 the Tribal Members voted give up the traditional government by chief system and adopt a constitutional form of government. In 1978 they built a beautiful new Tribal school, early learning center and Chitimacha Language Center. In 1993 this sovereign nation established and built Cypress Bayou, the first land-based casino in Louisiana. They continue to develop their reservation land and enterprises. The casino had doubled in size and they have built the Cypress Bayou Hotel and an event center as part of the casino and hotel complex.

They are most proud of their great measure and success in re-establishing the lost Chitimacha language in their struggle to survive. This is a story of a dynamic re-establishment of a people and their culture. By 1932 Cajun French had nearly replaced the language and only two people spoke Chitimacha fluently. A Yale University linguist Morris Swadesh worked with the two elders to preserve the language on wax cylinders and they created an unprecedented two hundred hours of recordings.

The Tribe began the monumental task of reawakening the language that no tribal member could speak.  From muddled, scratching wax cylinder recordings, Granberry devised learning materials for children and adults and distributed the materials to every Chitimacha household from Louisiana to Germany. They also instituted language classes to bring the ancient words to Tribe members of all ages.

The Chitimacha tribal cultural director sums it up like this: “It’s not our fault the language was lost.  When people are being shot in their yards or being drug behind horses and hung, you lose what you have to, to survive.”

Ralph Darden, former Chairman of the Chitimacha Tribe, 1989-1998 said, “To still walk this same land our ancestors walked.  To again be able to care and provide for our people and those around us.  To rekindle the pride in being Chitimacha.  That is the greatest gift we can give our children.”

Nations Within, the Four Sovereign Tribes of Louisiana, Louisiana State University Press, 2003

The Southeastern Indians by Charles Hudson; Tribes of the Southern Woodlands, Time-Life Books