Tohome
Tohome is a historical tribe located on the west bank of the Tombigbee River in the southeastern United States. This tribe is thought to have had two major divisions: the Big Tohome and the Little Tohome, the latter of which was also known as the Naniaba, translating to "people dwelling on a hill" or "people of the Forks," referencing their geographic positioning near the confluence of the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers. The Tohome were primarily horticulturalists, cultivating crops such as maize, squash, and beans, while men supplemented their diet through hunting bison and deer, and women gathered food and medicinal plants.
Historically, the Tohome formed socioeconomic relationships with neighboring groups, especially the Mobile. Their first known European contact occurred in 1559 with Spanish explorers, followed by visits from French traveler Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in 1702. Unfortunately, the arrival of European settlers and the diseases they brought had a devastating impact on the Tohome population. Ultimately, it is believed that the Tohome tribe united with the Choctaw as a result of these pressures. This overview presents a glimpse into the culture and challenges faced by the Tohome people in their historical context.
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Tohome
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Southeast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Muskogean
- PRIMARY LOCATION: West bank of Tombigbee River
There may have been two major divisions of the Tohome: the Big and the Little Tohome. The Little Tohome were sometimes referred to as the Naniaba, which meant "people dwelling on a hill" or "people of the Forks." This referred to their location near the confluence of the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers. The Tohome were, like their neighbors, horticulturalists, dependent on cultivated maize, squash, beans, and other field plants. Men supplemented the diet with the hunting of bison, deer, and other animals. Women gathered food and medicinal plants. Prior to European American incursion, the Tohome maintained socioeconomic liaisons with other groups, particularly the Mobile.
The Tohome were probably first visited by the Spanish in 1559 and later by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville in 1702. The pressures created by European American settlers and introduced disease greatly reduced their population. It is believed the Tohome and Mobile eventually united with the Choctaw.
Bibliography
"Southeast Culture." Ya-Native, www.ya-native.com/Culture‗SoutheastWoodlands/. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
“Tohome Indians.” Access Geneology, accessgenealogy.com/alabama/tohome-indians.htm. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
“Tohome Tribe.” Native Languages of the Americas, www.native-languages.org/tohome.htm. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.