The Biloxi-Chitimacha Confederation of Muskogee were recognized as a tribe by the state of Louisiana in 2005. They previously split off from the United Houma Nation, Inc., and applied for Federal Recognition in 2008. Their application is still waiting for review.
Official Tribal Name: Biloxi-Chitmacha Confederation of Muskogee
Address: P.O. Box 856 Zachery, LA 70791
Phone: (225) 359-2476
Official Website: www.biloxi-chitimacha.com/
The Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Confederation of Muskogees is an alliance of three ancestrally related but independent state-recognized tribes located in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. An overarching governing body made up of representatives from each of the three tribal communities works together to achieve common goals, but each community has a separate tribal government, history, and traditions that are related but unique.
According to the tribe’s official web site, the Chitimacha settled the bayous of southern Louisiana as far back as 500 A.D. The Chitimacha later faced encroachment by French, Spanish and U.S. settlers. At first European contact, they only had stone tools and weapons, had never seen a horse and had no knowledge of the wheel.
Bayou Pointe-Aux-Chenes and nearby Isle de Jean Charles are home to Houma as well as native Chitimacha tribe members. Currently, 350 Chitimacha remain on the tribe’s Louisiana reservation.
In the 18th century, most Chitimacha adopted Cajun French and the last native speaker died in 1940. According to Native Languages of the Americas, Chitimacha is now an extinct language though some of the younger generation are working to revive it.
The Biloxi-Chitimacha community was devastated by the explosion and oil spill in April of 2010 that released 4.9 million barrels of crude oil and gas into the ocean, killing 11 and injuring 17 others while virtually shutting down the seafood industry in the area.