About the Natchez Indians

The Natchez Indians are a tribe that lived in the surrounding area of St. Catherine's Creek in what is now known as Natchez, Mississippi. The tribe was one of the last to survive in the region, where their culture flourished until the 1730s. The Natchez share a rich heritage that includes complex religious beliefs, intricate artwork and agricultural farming.

History

There is little documentation of the history of the Natchez tribe until the French first visited the area in 1682. However, archaeological evidence suggests that the tribe has been around since as early as 700 A.D. A dialect that resembles the Muskogean language family suggests that the Natchez likely developed from earlier cultures in the Mississippi area. Attempts by the French to colonize the area led to battles with the Natchez in 1716, 1722 and 1729. The final battle included a tremendous Natchez massacre led by the French Governor, Chopart. Following the massacre, Natchez refugees split into three groups and later settled on the Tallahassee Creek along the Coosa River and in Southern Carolina by permission of the colonial government. Around the turn of the 19th century, the Natchez tribe had largely scattered and joined alien tribes. However, a small portion of the tribe settled on Indian Territory and later moved into Cherokee country, where a faction of the tribe still lives today.

Features

The Natchez were largely farmers, but also hunted and gathered near their villages. They erected dwelling and temples on mounds of earth. These mounds were considered ceremonial structures that served as the basis for sacred buildings. The tribe operated under a chieftan structure with two classes--nobility and commoners. Nobility lived in homes erected upon the mounds. The Natzchez religion is based on sun worship, with the chief of the Natchez being referred to as the "Great Sun." Many of the mound structures created by the Natchez are still found in southern Mississippi.

Size

It is estimated that when the French first visited in 1682, the Natchez tribe consisted of 6,000 individuals, including 1,000 to 1,200 warriors. Following the wars and massacres, approximately 700 refugees survived. Another 450 had been captured and sold into slavery by French settlers.

Considerations

Today, the majority of the Natchez live with Cherokee and Creek nations in Oklahoma. The Natchez, along with the Cherokee, were transplanted here from various villages to the east during the Trail of Tears. The current leadership of the Natchez tribe includes a peace chief, war chief and four influential clan mothers.

Misconceptions

Contrary to embellished Native American tales of the past, the Natchez were largely a peace-seeking tribe. For the most part, they sought to keep to themselves, although quarrels between neighboring tribes would frequently spring up. It was only when French governor Chopart sought to turn the tribe's principal village into a plantation that the Natchez instigated the final battle with the French in 1729 by attacking a French settlement known as Fort Rosalie.