The Chitimacha (/ˈtʃɪtɪməʃÉ'Ë / CHIT-i-mÉ™-shah; or
/tʃɪtɪˈmÉ'Ë ÊƒÉ™/ chit-i-MAH-shÉ™), also known as Chetimachan or
the Sitimacha, are a Federally recognized tribe of Native Americans
who live in the U.S. state of Louisiana, mainly on their reservation
in St. Mary Parish near Charenton on Bayou Teche. They are the only
indigenous people in the state who still control some of their
original land, where they have long occupied areas of the Atchafalaya
Basin, "one of the richest inland estuaries on the continent." In 2011
they numbered about 1100 people.The people historically spoke the
Chitimacha language, a language isolate. The last two native speakers
died in the 1930s. But the tribe has been working since the 1990s to
revitalize the language, based on notes and recordings made by
linguist Morris Swadesh about 1930. They have started immersion
classes for children and adults. In 2008 they partnered with Rosetta
Stone in a two-year effort to develop software to support learning the
language. Each tribal household was given a copy to support use of the
language at home. The Chitimacha have used revenues from gambling to
promote education and cultural preservation, founding a tribal museum
and historic preservation office, and restoration of their
language.The Chitimacha are one of four federally recognized tribes in
the state. In addition, Louisiana recognizes several other tribes who
do not have federal recognition. In the late 20th century, Louisiana
had the "third-largest Native American population in the eastern
United States."The Chitimacha Indians and their ancestors inhabited
the Mississippi River Delta area of south central Louisiana for
thousands of years before European encounter. Tradition asserts that
the boundary of the territory of the Chitimacha was marked by four
prominent trees. Archaeological finds suggest that the Chitimacha and
their indigenous ancestors have been living in Louisiana for perhaps
6,000 years. Prior to that they migrated into the area from west of
the Mississippi River. According to the Chitimacha, their name comes
from the term Pantch Pinankanc, meaning ‘men altogether red,’ also
meaning warrior.
/tʃɪtɪˈmÉ'Ë ÊƒÉ™/ chit-i-MAH-shÉ™), also known as Chetimachan or
the Sitimacha, are a Federally recognized tribe of Native Americans
who live in the U.S. state of Louisiana, mainly on their reservation
in St. Mary Parish near Charenton on Bayou Teche. They are the only
indigenous people in the state who still control some of their
original land, where they have long occupied areas of the Atchafalaya
Basin, "one of the richest inland estuaries on the continent." In 2011
they numbered about 1100 people.The people historically spoke the
Chitimacha language, a language isolate. The last two native speakers
died in the 1930s. But the tribe has been working since the 1990s to
revitalize the language, based on notes and recordings made by
linguist Morris Swadesh about 1930. They have started immersion
classes for children and adults. In 2008 they partnered with Rosetta
Stone in a two-year effort to develop software to support learning the
language. Each tribal household was given a copy to support use of the
language at home. The Chitimacha have used revenues from gambling to
promote education and cultural preservation, founding a tribal museum
and historic preservation office, and restoration of their
language.The Chitimacha are one of four federally recognized tribes in
the state. In addition, Louisiana recognizes several other tribes who
do not have federal recognition. In the late 20th century, Louisiana
had the "third-largest Native American population in the eastern
United States."The Chitimacha Indians and their ancestors inhabited
the Mississippi River Delta area of south central Louisiana for
thousands of years before European encounter. Tradition asserts that
the boundary of the territory of the Chitimacha was marked by four
prominent trees. Archaeological finds suggest that the Chitimacha and
their indigenous ancestors have been living in Louisiana for perhaps
6,000 years. Prior to that they migrated into the area from west of
the Mississippi River. According to the Chitimacha, their name comes
from the term Pantch Pinankanc, meaning ‘men altogether red,’ also
meaning warrior.
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