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Who is the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town?
Prior to the removal of the Muscogee Confederacy from their Southeastern homelands in the 1820’s and 30’s, the Alabama and Quassarte people each had a distinct identity as aTribal Town(or Tribe) of the Confederacy. The Confederacy consisted of more than 44 of these “Towns” scattered throughout the Southeastern woodlands.
Due to the logistics (or locations) of their towns which were in near proximity to one another in what is now known as the State of Alabama, they shared many similar cultural characteristics such as certain aspects of their language, religious practices and social/familial structures.
With the advancement of European settlers into the region, many members of these two groups, in an attempt to avoid contact with the “invaders”, migrated Southwest into Louisiana and Texas in the 1790’s and early 1800’s where they remain today (Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana & Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas). Those members who did not leave formed an alliance and became the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town.
Official Tribal Name: Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town
Address: 101 E. Broadway, Wetumka, Ok. 74883
Phone: 405-452-3987
Fax:405 452-3968
Official Website: http://www.alabama-quassarte.org/
Recognition Status: Federally Recognized
Traditional Name / Traditional Meaning:
Buy this Alabama Quassarte Tribal Town Tshirt
The Quassarte and Alabama were originally two distinct tribes, who both lived on the banks of the Alabama River from Mobile, Alabama to the upper reaches of the river. Both the river and the state are named after the Alabama.
Common Name:
Alabama – Quassarte
Meaning of Common Name:
Alabama – Cleared thicket
Alternate names/ Alternate spellings / Mispellings:
The Quassarte are also known as the Coushatta or Koasati, in their own language.
Name in other languages:
Region:
State(s) Today: Oklahoma
Traditional Territory:
Before removal of the Muscogee Creek people from Alabama in the 1830s, the Muscogee Nation Confederacy included over 44 different tribal towns. The Alabama and Quassarte peoples made up six to eight of those towns. Facing increasing encroachment by European-American settlers, some of the Quassarte and Alabama peoples moved into Louisiana and Texas in the late 18th century and early 19th century. These emigrants formed what are today the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. Those who stayed in Alabama joined forces and became a single town.
Confederacy:
Creek Confederacy (also called the Muscogee Nation Confederacy)
Treaties:
Reservations:
The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town tribal jurisdictional area, as opposed to a reservation, spans Creek, Hughes, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties in Oklahoma.
Land Area:
Tribal Headquarters: The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town is headquartered in Wetumka, Oklahoma.
Time Zone:
B.I.A. Office:
Population at Contact:
Registered Population Today:
The tribe includes 380 enrolled members, of which 324 live within the state of Oklahoma, as of 2011.
Tribal Enrollment Requirements:
Tribal enrollment is based on lineal descent from 1890 and 1895 tribal rolls and does not require a minimum blood quantum. Due to its historic relationship with the Muscogee Creek Nation, tribal members can maintain dual citizenship in both tribes.
Genealogy Resources:
Black Creeks adopted through the Dawes Commission between 1898 and 1916
Government:
Charter:
Name of Governing Body:
Number of Council members: Twelve
Dates of Constitutional amendments:
Number of Executive Officers: The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town is governed by a chief, second chief, secretary, floor speaker, solicitor, chairman of the governing committee, and the governing committee itself, with twelve elected members.
Elections:
Language Classification:
Muskogean
Language Dialects:
Number of fluent Speakers:
Dictionary:
Origins:
Bands, Gens, and Clans
Social Organization:
Related Tribes:
Other federally recognized Coushatta tribes are the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas. Two other Muscogee tribal towns are federally recognized, and 40 tribal towns, or talwa, remain enrolled in the Muscogee Creek Nation. The tribe maintains a close relationship with the Muscogee Creek Nation and falls under the jurisdiction of their tribal courts. Some members are dually enrolled in the Muscogee Nation.
- Alabama-Coushatta Tribe (Texas) (F)
- Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town (Oklahoma) (F)
- Alibamu Indians
- Chattahoochee Creeks
- Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians (S)
- Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana (Louisiana)
- Creek Freedmen
- Kialegee Tribal Town (Oklahoma) (F)
- Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe (East of the Mississippi) (S)
- Machis Lower Creek Indian Tribe (Alabama) (S)
- Mississippian Moundbuilders
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation (Oklahoma) (F)
- Ochese Creeks
- Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama (F)
- Star Clan of Muscogee Creeks (Alabama) (S)
- Thlopthlocco Tribal Town (F)
- Also see Creek Tribes
Traditional Allies:
In the early 17th century, after a conflict with French settlers, the Alabama tribe and the Quassarte tribe formed an alliance.
Traditional Enemies:
Ceremonies / Dances:
Modern Day Events & Tourism:
Museums:
Legends / Oral Stories:
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Animals:
Clothing:
Adornment:
Housing:
Subsistance:
Economy Today:
The Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town operates a tribal housing program, a smoke shop, and a casino, the Red Hawk Gaming Center in Wetumka.
Religion Today: Protestant Christianity, Traditional Ttribal Religion
Traditional Religion & Spiritual Beliefs:
Burial Customs:
Burial customs practiced by Creek Freedmen
Wedding Customs
Radio:
Newspapers:
Catastrophic Events:
Famous Alabama People
Tribe History:
In the News:
Further Reading:
