Extensive categorization and cross-reference of all North American native american indian tribes of the US and Canada First Nations, by nations, bands, rancheria, pueblo, federally recognized, state recognized, unrecognized, petitions for recognition, by state or providence, and by language group and region of original occupation. You can also find a listing of official tribal web sites on the Internet.

LOUISIANA TRIBES

Federal list last updated 3/07

FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES

Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians
Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana

STATE RECOGNIZED TRIBES
(Not recognized by the Federal Governemnt)

Caddo Adais Indians, Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 09/13/1993.

Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb, Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/02/1978.

Clifton-Choctaw Indians (aka Clifton Choctaw Reservation Inc.) Letter of Intent to Petition 03/22/1978.

Louisiana Choctaw

United Houma Nation, Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 07/10/1979; Proposed Finding 12/22/1994, 59 FR 6618.Denied federal recognition.

UNRECOGNIZED / PETITIONING TRIBES

Apalachee Indian Tribe. Letter of Intent to Petition 01/22/1996.

Avogel Nation of Louisiana. Letter of Intent to Petition 11/13/2000.

Avogel, Okla Tasannuk, Tribe/Nation. Letter of Intent to Petition 03/19/2001.

Avoyel-Kaskaskia Tribe of Louisiana. Letter of Intent to Petition 6/20/2005.

The Avoyel-Taensa Tribe/Nation of Louisiana Inc. Letter of Intent to Petition 1/9/2003.

Biloxi, Chitimacha Confederation of Muskogees, Inc. (separated from United Houma Nation, Inc.)Letter of Intent to Petition 10/24/1995.

Choctaw- Apache Indian Community

Kispoko Sept of Ohio Shawnee.

Pointe au Chien Indian Tribe (separated from United Houma Nation, Inc.). Letter of Intent to Petition 7/22/1996.

Talimali Band, The Apalachee Indians of Louisiana (formerly Apalachee Indians of Louisiana. Letter of Intent to Petition 2/5/1996.

FIRST CONTACT TO PRESENT

At the time of European exploration in the 16th century, there were more than 10,000 Indians in Louisiana. By about 1700, there were probably as many as 15,000 Indians living in the area, representing six different linguistic groups: the Caddo, the Natchez, the Atakapa, the Chitimachan, the Muskogean and the Tunican.

Most tribes survived on a combination of agriculture, hunting, and fishing. Usually, the men were responsible for ruling and defending the tribal community. They also constructed the community�s buildings and canoes, and hunted. Women cared for children and the elderly, planted crops and made clothes and utensils.

Clothing was often made of bark, hides, and feathers. Both men and women wore body ornaments like necklaces, armbands, rings, and ear and nose plugs made from shells, pearls, and copper.

Although religious practices differed from tribe to tribe, most Louisiana Indians believed that humans needed to be in harmony with nature, and honored their dead with burial mounds, and celebrations of dance, song, and food. Natives lived and worshipped in houses thatched with palmetto branches, or made of grass or traditional wattle and daub.

Native people also enjoyed themselves with various games and sporting events like wrestling, foot races, archery, dice, dancing and music.

PRE-CONTACT LOUISIANA TRIBES

PRE-HISTORIC CULTURES IN LOUISIANA

10,000 years ago - Earliest inhabitants of the area were probably nomads who hunted big game.

6,000 years ago. - Tribes of the Muskhogean language family occupied the east-central and south-east region, Tunican tribes lived along the coast and in the northeast, and tribes of the Caddoan group inhabited the north and northwest.

2,000 years ago - Farming in the area.

700 BC - Excavation at Poverty Point reveals that a highly organized society lived there.

The Louisiana region was settled by Indians in prehistoric times, at least as early as 6,000 years ago. Tribes of the Muskhogean language family occupied the east-central and south-east region, Tunican tribes lived along the coast and in the northeast, and tribes of the Caddoan group inhabited the north and northwest.

The earliest inhabitants of the area we now call Louisiana were probably nomads who hunted big game as early as 10,000 years ago. Archaeologists tell us that farming in the area began around 2,000 years ago with the cultivation of crops such as squash, sunflowers, beans and maize. Excavation at Poverty Point reveals that a highly organized society lived there from around 700 B.C.

Groups of indigenous peoples lived and farmed in the area up until the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century.