Native American History Month: A Look at the Original New Orleans Inhabitants

Collision with French settlers and other European explorers did not bode well for the indigenous peoples in this region, and these settlers enslaved and killed many of them. During the forty years of Spanish rule in the region, this enslavement was outlawed, but once the U.S. finalized the Louisiana Purchase, the Chitimacha, as well as tribes in other parts of Louisiana, found themselves forced from their land. These other tribes included the Atakapa, Caddo, Choctaw, Houma, Natchez, and Tunica, many of whom had to make homes outside of Louisiana altogether.

Tribal Influence Today

As you walk through New Orleans, whether roaming on your own or on one of our city or ghost tours, it can be difficult to spot visual remnants of the Native American influence, a heartbreaking reality, especially considering how long the tribes inhabited this space and the impact they had on the region (and the fact that these tribes still exist). But if you know where to look, you can still find traces of this history, like in some of our street names. For example, Tchoupitoulas Street, one of our longest running roads that follows the length of the Mississippi in the Uptown area of New Orleans, comes from a Choctaw word meaning “those who live at the river.”

Another New Orleans facet that points back to Native American influence in the region is the tradition of Black Masking Indians or Mardi Gras Indians, Black people in various communities around the city who create elaborate, handmade “suits” of feathers and beads. The story of the origins of these “tribes” remains shrouded in a bit of mystery, but many say that it is a nod to the way that Native Americans sheltered runaway slaves during the Antebellum Period. When enslaved Black people managed to escape their enslavers in the areas around New Orleans, many would seek refuge in the surrounding swamplands where the Native Americans had taken up residence. Others say that the Mardi Gras Indians honor the struggles that Native Americans and Black people have both long endured in the United States. Black Masking Indians have an incredibly rich history and legacy in the city, now representing a coming together of communities to create art and music that make up the cultural fabric of New Orleans, but many consider these tribes’ connections to the Native Americans in our region a bit controversial, another example of how histories and legacies are rarely simple and straightforward.

The Chitimacha Today

Today, the Chitimacha Tribe continues to survive and thrive, living in an area just a few hours away from New Orleans. They have grown several businesses and community services and are the second largest employer in St. Mary Parish. The tribal members also carry on the incredibly intricate art of river cane basketry, a handcraft tradition they have perfected over thousands of years as one generation passed it along to the next. Their artwork can be found at many of the Louisiana festivals throughout the year.

As you visit and explore New Orleans, it is good to remember that New Orleans was not always New Orleans – that there is so much more to our history than what we see today and that the people who lived here still exist in vibrant and beautiful ways.

For more information on the Chitimacha Tribe: https://chitimacha.gov/