Sawokli Topics – Access Genealogy

Sawokli Indians

The Sawokli Indians, likely meaning “raccoon people” in Hitchiti, were part of the Muskhogean linguistic stock’s Atcik-hata subdivision. Primarily located along the Chattahoochee River in Alabama, they established several villages in the region. Notable contact with Spanish missions began in the late 17th century. The Sawokli faced displacement due to hostile tribes but later returned to their homeland. Population estimates varied, with reports indicating around 450 individuals by the early 1830s. Their name endures in places like Sawokla, Oklahoma, and Chewacla, Alabama.

Sawokli Tribe

The Sawokli Tribe’s origins trace back to the Gulf of Mexico, likely near Choctawhatchee Bay. Historical accounts mention their interactions with Spanish missions in the late 17th century. By the early 18th century, they had relocated among the Lower Creeks. Various maps from the 18th century indicate their settlements along the Chattahoochee River, often in proximity to other Creek towns. Eventually, the Sawokli integrated with the Hitchiti, with their descendants residing near Okmulgee, a site of significance in Creek history.