The Natchitoches (Caddo: Náshit'ush) are a Native American tribe from Louisiana and Texas. They organized themselves in one of the three Caddo-speaking confederacies along with the Hasinai (between the Sabine and Trinity rivers in eastern Texas), and Kadohadacho (at the borders of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana).

History

Natchitoches territory was along the Red River of the South in northeastern Texas and northwestern Louisiana, they were important allies of the French in the 17th and 18th centuries, played a major role in the subjugation of the Natchez in the Natchez uprising and the so-called Natchez wars. In the early 17th century, the Natchitoches were joined by some of the remnants of the Kadohadacho, a tribe with many members who had been killed or enslaved by the Chickasaw. They settled on the Cane River around present day Natchitoches, Louisiana, which is a city named after the tribe.

Name

Many historians have claimed that the name Natchitoches is derived from the native word nashitosh meaning "paw paw people". However, Native American linguist John R. Swanton wrote that the word may actually be derived from nacicit meaning "Place where the soil is red".

Member tribes

Member tribes of the historic Natchitoches Confederation:

Today

Descendants of the Natchitoches people may be enrolled memebers of the State recognized tribe: Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana. The Natchitoches belong to the Caddo Confederacy along with 25 other tribes that may be enrolled in the federally recognized Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. In 2017, the State of Louisiana state-recognized The Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana, whose members identify as being descendants of the Natchitoches.

Sources