For
thousands of years the only humans in North
America were the First Americans, our Indian
nations. Had it not been for the aid
provided by our First Americans, most of the
early European settlers would have never
survived. This is especially true with the
Acadians. There is a common history between
the Cajun culture and the Native American
culture.
The
Mi'kmaq and their leader Membertou, were
the native Americans who taught the early
Acadian settlers survival skills. Without
their help there would be no Cajuns. The
Pilgrims could not have survived the early
years had it not been for the help of the
native Americans.
There are
other common bonds with our cultures. Much
like the trail of tears, the British
commander, Charles Lawrence, in 1755
separated the Acadian men from their wives
and children. All were loaded on separate
cargo ships and sent to different places.
Some families never reunited and thousands
died. Six hundred homes, mills and
churches were burned. It took them six days
to burn all the structures. After ten years
of wandering some of the Acadians made it to
Louisiana in 1765. Most made their way to
the area of what is now Lafayette,
Louisiana. Once again it was the native
Americans ( the Atakapas-Ishak) who helped
them survive. Our Cajuns owe a never ending
debt of gratitude to our First Americans.
The United
States government recognizes four Louisiana
tribes.
The Jena band
of Choctaw, the Tunica-Biloxi, the
Chitimacha and the Coushatta.
Chitimacha:
The
Chitimacha's are the only tribe still living
on part of their ancestral lands. Part of
their original lands included the area of
the Atchafalaya Basin and Bayou Lafourche.
Most died from disease, enslavement or were
slaughtered with the arrival of the
Europeans. In 1925 the Federal government
officially recognized the tribe and
established a reservation in the Charenton,
Louisiana area. Today there about 1,000
surviving members but their language and
customs have been lost.
Coushatta:
The
Coushatta reservation is in the Elton,
Louisiana area. They are the most
ethnically pure Louisiana tribe. They have
succeeded in preserving their language and
customs and Coushatta is still the first
language of those living on the reservation.
The State
of Louisiana has recognized seven tribes
including the Houma nation. The Houmas are
the largest Native American group living in
Louisiana. The largest concentration of
Houmas are in the area of Houma, Louisiana
and south of Houma in the area of Dulac and
Bayou Grand Caillou.
As of
February, 2006 fourteen Louisiana tribes
have submitted petitions for federal
recognition.
