American Indians of the Southeast

Location Land bordered by Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico From North Carolina to Florida and west to Mississippi Famous for interracial marriages due to their location – there was an adopted European Chief, an African American warrior, and a Spanish shaman!

Major Tribes There were Five civilized tribes in the Southeast. Cherokee: the largest of the 563 federally recognized tribes; now located mainly in Oklahoma Chickasaw: related to the Choctaw; in northeast Mississippi Choctaw: supported the colonies bid for independence from Britian; were made the “model” of Indian removal as the first to move Creek: original name “Muskogee”; related to the Seminole Seminole: formed in the 18th century of Creek, escaped African American slaves and other Native Americans who they picked up along the way.

Foods Women gathered nuts and berries Fisherman: Farmers: Hunters (with bow & arrow or by trapping): deer, rabbit, bear, squirrel, small game Fisherman: some small fish Farmers: beans, potatoes, peas, pumpkins Corn was the most important crop Women gathered nuts and berries

Important Leaders: Sequoah Cherokee silversmith Invented a way of writing the Cherokee language Created one symbol for each syllable 86 symbols in 12 years

Important Leaders: Sequoyah's Alphabet

Important Leaders: Osceola Seminole war chief Fought to keep his people in Florida Used the Florida swamplands to his advantage Captured by deceit when he arrived to sign a truce Died of malaria 3 mo. after capture

Important Leaders: Hernando de Soto Spanish explorer In search of gold and a passage to China First European to find the Mississippi River First European to meet Southeast tribes Violent encounters with the tribe – killed or enslaved

Homes They lived in large settled villages. Chickee Simple log frame Built on stilts above the ground Grass roof & no walls Invented by Seminoles Protected from snakes and swamp water

Customs & Traditions Green Corn Ceremony Booger Dance Masked dancers come into homes and chase the women Masks resembled non-Indian features (slit eyes, large noses, blond hair, etc.) Their intention is to dance with the girls The ceremony ends with a Friendship Dance Green Corn Ceremony Festival to celebrate the ripening of the year’s corn Dancing, feasting and religious observations (honors Corn Mother)

What else… Cherokee Phoenix: the first Native American newspaper Chunky: a popular game similar to lacrosse Cherokee Phoenix: the first Native American newspaper Why was writing so important? Written history Laws Records for medicine Business records Communication with distant relatives

Another fight for land… Yamasee War Began in 1715 over: Trade abuse Indian enslavement Depletion of deer Land encroachment A fight between the South Carolina settlers and various tribes including the Creek/Yamasee Tribe English had help from the Cherokee English won the war Survivors had to find new homes

Another fight for land… The removal of the Creek The Creek were living in Southeastern Georgia The European settlers wanted to push west from the coast Georgians forced them into the frontier By 1825 the Lower Creek had been completely removed By 1827 the Creek were completely gone Today they are living in Oklahoma

Another fight for land… The Indian Removal Act 1828 – Cherokee nation is rumored to have gold DeSoto finds it in the Northern Georgia mountains 1830 – President Jackson signs the “Indian Removal Act” that Congress proposed 1832 – Land lottery starts the encroachment of whites 1838 – The removal to Oklahoma begins Choctaws in Mississippi left the land east of the Mississippi for $ and moved West Cherokee left the land in Georgia by force and moved to Oklahoma

Another fight for land… The Trail of Tears

Another fight for land… The Trail of Tears Cherokee journey to Indian Territory Indian Territory – the western lands where the US wanted to resettle the southeast Indians Forced to walk with little or no provisions 1 out of 4 died along the way (only 75% survived) Sun exposure, disease, starvation About 4000 Cherokees died Escorted by 7000 Army soldiers

American Indians of the Southeast