Natchez
Natchez refers to a Native American people who historically occupied the region east of the Mississippi River, with their center in what is now Natchez, Mississippi. Their society was characterized by a complex social structure, with a hierarchical organization that included a paramount leader known as the Great Sun. The Natchez engaged in agriculture, cultivating crops such as corn, beans, and squash, which allowed them to maintain a sedentary lifestyle and develop a rich material culture. European contact began in the late 17th century, leading to significant interactions with French explorers and traders.
The Natchez experienced both cooperation and conflict with European settlers, culminating in the Natchez Revolt of 1729, which resulted in severe consequences for their population. Many Natchez were enslaved or forced to migrate, notably during the Trail of Tears in the 1830s. While the traditional Natchez language has dwindled, it remains a part of cultural heritage for some descendants, with efforts to study and preserve it. As of the 2010 Census, over 1,000 individuals identified as Natchez, reflecting a resurgence of interest in their identity and history.
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Natchez
- CULTURE AREA: Southeast
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Natchez
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Natchez, Mississippi
- POPULATION SIZE: 1,019 (2010 US Census)
Natchez social complexity fascinated early explorers of the Mississippi River as well as later ethnographers and archaeologists. For this reason, much has been written about these Indigenous Americans.
The Natchez occupied an area east of the Mississippi River, centered at contemporary Natchez, Mississippi. They raised corn, beans, squash, and other crops in addition to hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants. The agricultural surplus permitted a sedentary lifestyle, and their villages impressed European visitors, as did the lavish material culture, both of which were complemented by an elaborate sociopolitical system. Natchez social organization was hierarchical, with numerous low-level positions overseen by the leader, known as the Great Sun. The Great Sun controlled events during peaceful times; however, he relinquished command to a male relative (brother or uncle) in times of war. These ruling titles were inherited, and visitors remarked upon the elaborate funerary rituals (including human sacrifice and burial in mounds) that accompanied the death of one of the leaders.
European contact was initiated with the 1682 visit by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. By the early 1700s, a French priest was residing in their midst (Jean François Buisson de Saint-Cosme, who was later killed by the Chitimacha), and they received regular visits from Jesuits and other dignitaries, such as Pierre LeMoyne, Sieur d’Iberville in 1700, and Penicaut in 1704, all of whom wrote of their experiences. By 1713, a French trading post was established among the Natchez. After some minor social unrest, Fort Rosalie was constructed in approximately 1716 to demonstrate French dominion.
During the mid-1720s, two minor uprisings occurred among the Natchez. In both cases, the French overpowered them and reinforced their control. The major Natchez Revolt of 1729, however, resulted in many deaths among both the French and the Natchez, and this sealed the fate of the remaining Natchez; the French were determined to quell the insurrection forcefully. By 1731, approximately four hundred Natchez were enslaved and sent to the Caribbean colonies, while the remainder escaped to seek refuge among the Chickasaw, some ultimately joining the Creek or the Cherokee. Ultimately, the remaining Natchez took part in the enforced migrations of 1830–39, known as the Trail of Tears. In 1990, fewer than one hundred people identified themselves as Natchez. By the time of the 2010 US Census, however, more than 1,000 identified themselves as at least partly Natchez. This number decreased in the twenty-first century. Although few people still speak the traditional Natchez language, it has survived and is still in limited use in daily life among those of Natchez ancestry. The Natchez language is also studied and archived at universities in Oklahoma and Mississippi.
Bibliography
Barnett, James F. The Natchez Indians: A History to 1735. University Press of Mississippi, 2007.
Barnett, Jim. "The Natchez Indians." Mississippi History Now, Mississippi Historical Society, Oct. 2007, www.mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/the-natchez-indians. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
Lorenz, Karl G. "The Natchez of Southwest Mississippi." Indians of the Greater Southeast: Historical Archaeology and Ethnohistory, edited by Bonnie G. McEwan, University Press of Florida, 2000, pp. 142-177.
"The Natchez Indians." US National Park Service, 16 Aug. 2024, www.nps.gov/natc/learn/historyculture/indians.htm. Accessed 8 Jan 2025.