Pre-contact distribution of Atakapa

The Atakapa (pronounced "uh-TAK-uh-paw", also spelled Attakapa, Attakapas, Attacapa, formally known as the Ishaks, pronounced "ee-SHAKS", translated as The People ^[1] ) were a Southeastern culture of Native American tribes and with a common language that lived along the Gulf of Mexico. Image File history File links distribution of Atakapa language info created by w:User:Ish_ishwar in 2005 released under CC-by-2. ... Image File history File links distribution of Atakapa language info created by w:User:Ish_ishwar in 2005 released under CC-by-2. ... A sacred religious symbol to the Southeastern tribes was the solar cross which was a symbol of both the sun and fire. ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ...

Their territory ranged from the Trinity River and Galveston Bay in Texas to Bayou Teche and Vermilion Bay in Louisiana. They hunted small game, and ate fish, roots, berries, and shellfish and also planted crops. Though the tribe's population at various times was speculated in tens of thousands, historians agree those numbers had dwindled to mere hundreds when Louisiana was undergoing colonization in the 1700s and different bands migrated westward. The Trinity River is a river in the state of Texas in the United States. ... Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along Texass coastline. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... The Bayou Teche is a 125-mile long waterway of great cultural significance in south central Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Events and trends The Bonneville Slide blocks the Columbia River near the site of present-day Cascade Locks, Oregon with a land bridge 200 feet (60 m) high. ...

HaHaHaHa

The Choctaw Indians told the French settlers about the "people of the West" and called them Atakapa. The French referred to them as "le savage". The name Atakapa is a Choctaw name meaning 'people eater' (hattak 'person', apa 'to eat'), which is a reference to the practice of cannibalism exercised by Gulf coast peoples on their enemies. For other uses, see Choctaw (disambiguation). ...

In 1528, they saved the Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca and his mates from ship-wreck and starvation. De Vaca remained with them until 1535. ^[2] Cabeza de Vaca described Ishaks as "well built". ^[3] Events June 19 - Battle of Landriano - A French army in Italy under Marshal St. ... Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (c. ... Events January 18 - Lima, Peru founded by Francisco Pizarro April - Jacques Cartier discovers the Iroquois city of Stadacona, Canada (now Quebec) and in May, the even greater Huron city of Hochelaga June 24 - The Anabaptist state of Münster (see Münster Rebellion) is conquered and disbanded. ...

In 1703, Bienville sent three Frenchmen up the Sabine River who met the Atakapa and in 1714 the Atakapa are one of 14 tribes that come to De l'Epinay, who was acting French Governor of Louisiana between 1717 and 1718 ^[4], while he is fortifying Dauphin Island, Alabama. ^[5] Events February 2 - Earthquake in Aquila, Italy February 4 - In Japan, the 47 samurai commit seppuku (ritual suicide) February 14 - Earthquake in Norcia, Italy April 21 - Company of Quenching of Fire (ie. ... It has been suggested that Bienville (disambiguation) be merged into this article or section. ... Sabine River can refer to: The Sabine River in the United States The Sabine River in New Zealand. ... Battle of Gangut, by Maurice Baquoi, 1724-27. ... // Events January 4 — The Netherlands, Britain & France sign Triple Alliance February 26-March 6 What is now the northeastern United States was paralyzed by a series of blizzards that buried the region. ... Year 1718 (MDCCXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Dauphin Island, Alabama is a town in Mobile County, Alabama, on a barrier island also named Dauphin Island. ...

French historian Antoine Simon Le Page du Pratz, who spent 16 years in Louisiana, from 1718 to 1734, wrote: This article is about the U.S. State. ... Year 1718 (MDCCXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Events January 8 - Premiere of George Frideric Handels opera Ariodante at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. ...

Along the west coast, not far from the sea, inhabit the nation called Atacapas (sic), that is, Man-Eaters, being so called by the other nations on account of their detestable custom of eating their enemies, or such as they believe to be their enemies. In the vast country there are no other cannibals to be met with besides the Atacapas; and since the French have gone among them, they have raised in them so great an horror of that abominable practice of devouring creatures of their own species, that they have promised to leave it off: and, accordingly, for a long time past we have heard of no such barbarity among them. ^[6]

Since then the Ishaks consider Atakapa a derogatory name and no proof of cannibalism has ever been found.

The three other tribes in the area, the Opelousas, the Choctaws, and the Alabamans, considered the Atakapas their enemy and together successfully drove them from their land, almost destroying the entire tribe. ^[7] Opelousas is a city located in St. ... The Choctaws are a Native American group who, in times past, lived in the land occupied by the southeast United States, using the trail that is now known as the Natchez Trace as a trade route to the north. ...

Today

An Atakapa indian statue in St. Martinville, Louisiana.

Many names of present day towns can be traced back to the Ishaks. The town of Mermentau is a corrupted form of the local cheif Nementou. The word Plaquemine of Plaquemine Brûlée means "persimmon" in the Indian language. Bayou Nezpiqué was named for an Indian with a tattooed nose. Bayou Queue de Tortue was believed to have been named for Chief Celestine La Tortue of the Atakapas nation. ^[8] The name "Calcasieu" comes from the Atakapa language katkosh, for "Eagle", and yok, "to cry". Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mermentau is a village in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...

Many historians believed they were eventually decimated in the 1850s mainly from disease and poverty. However, many descendants still exist and fight for a recognition of their identity. Many descendants today share a mix lineage of African-American and Atakapas-Ishak Indian making it difficult federal recognition. ^[9] For the game, see: 1850 (board game) 1850 (MDCCCL) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...

On October 28, 2006, the Atakapa-Ishak nation met for the first time in over 100 years as "One nation". There were 450 people who represented Louisiana and Texas. The mistress of ceremony and newly appointed Director of Publications and Communications, Rachel Mouton started out by introducing Billy LaChapelle who opened the afternoon with an Atakapa prayer in English and in the Atakapa language. ^[10] is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Subdivisions or tribes

• Western Atakapa
  • Akokisa. Trinity Bay and the lower course of Trinity River
  • Bidai. Trinity River about Bidai Creek.
  • Deadose. South central Texas.
  • Patiri. Along Caney Creek, Texas.
  • Tlacopsel. s.e. Texas
• Eastern Atakapa
  • Atakapa-Ishak (Attacapa). Present-day Acadiana parishes of St. Martin, Lafayette, Iberia, St. Landry, Vermilion, St. Mary and Acadia in Louisiana. ^[11]

Location of the San Jacinto river The Akokisa were a people that lived on Galveston Bay and the lower Trinity and San Jacinto rivers in Texas. ... Trinity Bay is the northeast portion of Galveston Bay, bordered by Chambers and Harris counties. ... The Trinity River is a river in the state of Texas in the United States. ... The Trinity River is a river in the state of Texas in the United States. ... Map of Acadiana Region with the Cajun Heartland USA subregion highlighted in dark red. ... St. ... Lafayette Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Iberia Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... St. ... Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... St. ... Acadia Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

See also

• Atakapa language

Pre-contact distribution of the Atakapa language Atakapa is an extinct language isolate native to southwestern Louisiana and nearby eastern Texas. ...

References