Alabama (tribe)
The Alabama tribe is a Native American group originally part of the Muskogean language family, primarily located in Texas and Oklahoma. Historically, the Alabamas first encountered European explorers in the 16th century and later became part of the Creek Confederacy, living along the Alabama River. They were known for their agricultural practices, cultivating crops such as potatoes and corn, as well as being skilled hunters and fishers. In the 18th century, some members migrated to Louisiana, while others remained active during key conflicts, including the Creek War and the Seminole Wars.
By the mid-19th century, following removal policies, many Alabamas settled in East Texas where a reservation was established in 1854. Over time, they faced economic difficulties but gradually improved their situation in the 21st century through the development of various businesses and community initiatives, including the establishment of a casino and an education center. The Alabama tribe has also shown strong patriotic sentiments, with many members serving in the military during both World Wars. Today, the Alabama-Coushatta reservation is an important cultural and economic center for the tribe, contributing significantly to the local community.
Alabama (tribe)
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Southeast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Muskogean
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Texas, Oklahoma
- POPULATION SIZE: 1580
The Alabamas first came into contact with White explorers under Hernando de Soto in 1541, and by 1696, they were trading with Carolina traders. Later, they allied with the French. The tribe was part of the Creek Confederacy and lived on the Alabama River just below the junction of the Coosa River and Tallapoosa River. They lived in permanent villages and were hunters, fishers, and farmers; they cultivated potatoes, corn, peas, and fruit trees.
In the mid-1700s, many moved to Louisiana near Opelousas, on the Opelousas River. The Alabamas who stayed actively participated in the Creek War of 1813–14 and offered to help Andrew Jackson in the war against the Seminoles in 1828. This remnant was removed in 1836 to Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
After the Alabama migration, Louisiana was acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, and the Alabamas moved to the Spanish Territory of East Texas, near the town of Livingston. This settlement area was declared a reservation for the Alabama and Coushatta Indigenous people in 1854 when the federal government set aside the land.
The Alabamas prospered in Texas when game was plentiful but turned to farming as game decreased. However, the sandy soil produced poor crops, and poverty soon spread. By the late 1800s, the Alabamas fell on difficult times, surviving by finding work with logging companies. In 1928, citizens of Livingston and the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs succeeded in obtaining more than $100,000 from the US government for the reservation, and Texas gave additional aid. However, when the Depression struck, the tribe again suffered.
Life on the Alabama-Coushatta reservation vastly improved in the twenty-first century. The reservation was home to a casino, campground, truck stop, smoke shop, and souvenir shop. The Alabama-Coushatta reservation also managed an investment and economic development corporation. In April 2022, the Alabama-Coushatta reservation began work on the Aati Imaabachi Imiisa Education Center, with room for a school, library, gym, and youth recreation center. The reservation also had two churches and hosted an annual summer powwow. As the employer of over 250 people, the Alabama-Coushatta reservation was a vital contributor to the local economy. Members of the Alabama also resided in Oklahoma.
The Alabamas have demonstrated remarkable patriotism. When the United States went to war in 1914, more than half the tribe's males immediately volunteered. Many Alabamas served during World War II, and the tribe's members bought more war bonds than the average citizen.
Bibliography
"Alabama-Coushatta Off-Reservation Trust Land." Census Reporter, 2022, censusreporter.org/profiles/25400US0050T-alabama-coushatta-off-reservation-trust-land. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
"Ensuring a Legacy of Longleaf." The Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/texas/stories-in-texas/alabama-coushatta-tribe-of-texas. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
Hook, Jonathan B. The Alabama-Coushatta Indians. Texas A&M UP, 1997.
Martin, Howard N. Myths and Folktales of the Alabama-Coushatta Indians of Texas. Encino, 1977.
Murphree, Daniel S. Native America: A State-by-State Historical Encyclopedia. Greenwood, 2012.
"Our History." Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, www.alabama-coushatta.com/about-us/our-history/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
Perdue, Theda, and Michael D. Green. The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast. Columbia UP, 2001.
Shuck-Hall, Sheri Marie. Journey to the West: The Alabama and Coushatta Indians. U of Oklahoma P, 2008.