Biloxi
Biloxi refers to both a historical Indigenous group and their modern descendants, primarily the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, located in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Illinois. Historically, the Biloxi people were first documented by French explorers around 1700, residing near the Pascagoula River. They spoke a Siouan language and were known for their organized clan systems, where kinship was traced matrilineally and chiefs held both religious and secular authority. Their culture was rich in traditions, including pottery, basket weaving, and ritual practices such as stickball, which faced challenges due to gambling associations in the twentieth century.
Following significant changes in their territory after the French lost control in 1763, many Biloxi relocated to Louisiana, integrating with other Indigenous groups such as the Tunica and Choctaw. In 1975, the state of Louisiana recognized the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, which achieved federal recognition in 1981. Today, the tribe focuses on economic development through gaming and business initiatives, while also emphasizing cultural preservation and community wellness. They engage in various projects, including a recent affordable housing initiative, and host cultural events like their annual powwow to celebrate their heritage and traditions.
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Biloxi
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Southeast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Siouan
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Illinois
- POPULATION: 1,226 (2024, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe)
French explorers first encountered a Biloxi village on the Pascagoula River in about 1700. The Biloxi at that time was one of only two groups in the area that spoke a language from the Siouan language family; the other was the Ofo. Both probably migrated from the Ohio River valley. The name Biloxi was a corruption of their own word for “first people,” and others wrote it as “Moctobi.”
The French observed that the Biloxi village contained thirty to forty cabins and was surrounded by a palisade that was 8 feet in height. Security was enhanced by the presence of three, square watchtowers. During the French occupation, there were no more than 500 Biloxi at any time, and they usually lived between the Pearl River on the west and the Pascagoula on the east, though there was an abortive attempt by the French to settle them closer to New Orleans.
The culture exhibited by the Biloxi fascinated the French. They were organized by clans with animal names, and kinship was traced through the mother. Chiefs were assumed to have religious as well as secular power, and after death, their bodies were dried before a fire and stored in a temple with the remains of their predecessors. The Biloxi were adept at making pottery and weaving baskets, and their adornment included feather headdresses, tattoos, nose rings and earrings of bone, and necklaces of bone and bird beaks. One of their more enduring rituals proved to be stickball, which was abolished in the twentieth century because of the gambling associated with it.
After the French lost the area east of the Mississippi River in 1763, the Biloxi moved to Louisiana, together with other Indigenous Americans from the Gulf Coast. Many Biloxi members joined the Tunica and Choctaw there, while some moved to Texas and the Indian Territory and blended with other groups. In 1975, the state of Louisiana officially recognized the Tunica-Biloxi tribe. At that time, there were about two dozen people who claimed Biloxi ancestry.
In 1981, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana gained federal recognition as an Indigenous nation. The Tunica-Biloxi Indian Reservation is located in central Louisiana. Over 40 percent of the nation’s 1,226 members live on or near the reservation, with the remaining members in Texas, Illinois, and other areas of the United States. The nation pursues economic development through successful gaming and other business ventures. The Tunica-Biloxi also promote rural economic development throughout the entire central Louisiana region. In October 2024, the nation broke ground on a multimillion-dollar affordable housing project. They promote the health and wellness of their members and support education initiatives. Finally, the Tunica-Biloxi promote cultural preservation through events like their annual powwow, which showcases dance, storytelling, and traditional art.
Bibliography
"FAQs." Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, www.tunicabiloxi.org/faq. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
"General Profile." Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, www.tunicabiloxi.org/history. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
J., Alex. "Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Breaks Ground on $6.4 Million Affordable Housing Project." Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, 3 Oct. 2024, www.tunicabiloxi.org/tunica-biloxi-tribe-of-louisiana-breaks-ground-on-6-4-million-affordable-housing-project. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Pasquier, Michael T., and John Barbry. "Tunica-Biloxi Tribe." 64 Parishes, 25 Sept. 2023, 64parishes.org/entry/tunica-biloxi-tribe-adaptation-2. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
"Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Expands Economic Development Efforts with New Acquisition." Tribal Business News, 8 Aug. 2024, tribalbusinessnews.com/sections/economic-development/14796-tunica-biloxi-tribe-expands-economic-development-efforts-with-new-acquisition. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.