Louisiana Indian Tribes

The following tribes at one time are recorded in history as having resided within the present state of Louisiana. If the tribe name is in bold, then Louisiana is the primary location known for this tribe, otherwise we provide the tribes specifics as it pertains to Louisiana and provide a link to the main tribal page if available.

• Acolapissa Indians
• Adai Indians
• Alabama Indians
  Some of this tribe moved to Louisiana shortly after the territory east of the Mississippi was abandoned by the French. Most of them finally passed on into Texas, but a few are still settled in the southwestern part of the State.
• Apalachee Indians
  A band of Apalachee Indians moved from the neighborhood of Mobile to Louisiana in 1764, remained for a short time on the Mississippi River and then moved up to Red River, where they obtained a grant of land along with the Taensa. Later they sold this land and part of them probably removed to Oklahoma, but others remained in Louisiana and amalgamated with other tribes.
• Atakapa Indians
• Avoyel Indians
• Bayogoula Indians
• Biloxi Indians
  The Biloxi settled in Louisiana about 1764, and a very few are still living there.
• Caddo Indians
  The Caddo Indians are given under five different heads: the Adai and the Natchitoches Confederacy in Louisiana; the Eyeish, the Hasinai Confederacy, and the Kadohadacho Confederacy in Texas. (See Texas)
• Chatot Indians
  The Chatot entered Louisiana about 1764, lived for a while on Bayou Boeuf, and later moved to Sabine River, after which nothing more is heard of them.
• Chawasha Indians
• Chitimacha Indians
• Choctaw Indians
  Choctaw began moving into Louisiana not long after the settlement of New Orleans, at first temporarily, but later for permanent occupancy, especially after the territory east of the Mississippi had been ceded to Great Britain. Some settled on the northern shores of Lake Pontchartrain, where a few still remain, while other bands established themselves on the Nezpique, Red River, Bayou Boeuf, and elsewhere. Most of these drifted in time to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, but a few families are still scattered about the State of Louisiana.
• Doustioni Indians
  A small tribe of the Natchitoches Confederacy.
• Houma Indians
  When first encountered by Europeans, the Houma lived near the present boundary line between Mississippi and Louisiana, if not actually on the Louisiana side. In 1706 or shortly afterward they moved altogether within the limits of Louisiana, where their descendants have remained to the present day.
• Koasati Indians
  Part of this tribe entered Louisiana near the end of the eighteenth century and lived on Red River and in the western part of the State. At the present day, the largest single band of Koasati in existence is northeast of Kinder, La.
• Koroa Indians
  The Koroa camped, hunted, and had at times more permanent settlements in northeastern Louisiana.
• Mugulasha Indians
  This was a tribe which formerly lived in the same town as the Bayogoula on the lower course of the Mississippi. Some early writers state that they were identical with the Quinipissa and they will be treated in connection with that tribe.
• Muskogee Indians
  The true Muskogee were represented by one band, a part of the Pakana tribe, which moved into the colony about 1764. They were settled upon Calcasieu River in 1805. Later they seem to have united with the Alabama now living in Polk County, Tex., but there are no known survivors at the present day.
• Natchez Indians
  When this tribe was attacked by the French after they had destroyed the Natchez post, they escaped into Louisiana and fortified themselves at Sicily Island, from which most of them again escaped. A part under the chief of the Flour Village attacked the French post at Natchitoches in the fall of 1731, drove the Natchitoches from their town, and entrenched themselves in it. St. Denis, commander of that post, attacked them, however, having been previously reinforced by some Caddo and Atakapa., and inflicted upon them a severe defeat. After this no considerable number of Natchez seem to have remained in Louisiana.
• Natchitoches Confederacy
• Ofo Indians
  This tribe entered Louisiana some time in the latter half of the eighteenth century and finally united with the Tunica, settling with them at Marksville. (See the articles Mosopelea Indians and Tunica Indians.)
• Okelousa Indians
• Opelousa Indians
• Ouachita Indians
  A tribe of the Natchitoches Confederacy.
• Pascagoula Indians
  This tribe entered Louisiana about 1764 and lived on Red River and Bayou Boeuf. Their subsequent history is wrapped in uncertainty.
• Quapaw Indians
  From 1823 to 1833 the Quapaw lived with the Kadohadacho on a southern affluent of Red River.
• Quinipissa Indians
• Souchitioni Indians
  see Natchitoches Confederacy.
• Taensa Indians
• Tangipahoa Indians
• Tawasa Indians
  Some Tawasa accompanied the Alabama to Louisiana but not until after the separate existence of the tribe had been ended.
• Washa Indians
• Yatasi Indians
  A tribe of the Natchitoches Confederacy.