Ascension Parish LA

Bayogoula Indians

The Bayogoula tribe, meaning “bayou people,” was located near present Bayou Goula in Iberville Parish. Their language was part of the southern Muskhogean division, closely related to Houma and Choctaw. First visited by Iberville in 1699, they initially shared a town with the Mugulasha. The tribe faced significant challenges, including attacks from the Houma and Taensa. By 1739, remnants of the Bayogoula were found between the Houma and Acolapissa. Their history is intertwined with the Houma and significant in the early encounters with French colonizers.

Houma Indians

The Houma Tribe, derived from “saktcihomma” meaning red crawfish, spoke a Muskhogean language closely related to Choctaw and likely separated from the Chakchiuma. They originally inhabited areas near the Mississippi-Louisiana boundary. With historical ties to explorers such as La Salle and Iberville, the tribe faced various challenges including alliances and conflicts with neighboring groups, notably the Tunica. Their population has fluctuated significantly over time, with modern descendants residing in Terrebonne and La Fourche Parishes, maintaining their cultural identity.

Chitimacha Tribe

The Chitimacha Indians, part of the Chitimachan linguistic family, originally inhabited the shores of Grand Lake and the banks of Grand River in Louisiana. By 1881, their population was reduced to a few individuals along the Grand River and at Charenton near Bayou Tèche. They gained early attention through conflicts with French settlers, particularly after the murder of missionary St. Cosme in 1706. Known as Pántch-pinunkansh, they practiced agriculture, maintained strict monogamy, and had distinctive customs including elaborate tattooing. Their villages spanned several locations, including Donaldsonville.