Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands, Southeastern cultures, or Southeast Indians are an ethnographic classification for Native Americans who have traditionally inhabited the area now part of the Southeastern United States and the northeastern border of Mexico, that share common cultural traits. This classification is a part of the Eastern Woodlands. The concept of a southeastern cultural region was developed by anthropologists, beginning with Otis Mason and Franz Boas in 1887. The boundaries of the region are defined more by shared cultural traits than by geographic distinctions.Jackson and Fogelson 3 Because the cultures gradually instead of abruptly shift into Plains, Prairie, or Northeastern Woodlands cultures, scholars do not always agree on the exact limits of the Southeastern Woodland culture region. Shawnee, Powhatan, Waco, Tawakoni, Tonkawa, Karankawa, Quapaw, and Mosopelea are usually seen as marginally southeastern and their traditional lands represent the borders of the cultural region.Jackson and Fogelson 6

The area was linguistically diverse, major language groups were Caddoan and Muskogean, besides a number of language isolates.

List of peoples

Acolapissa (Colapissa), Louisiana and MississippiSturtevant and Fogelson, 69 Ais, eastern coastal FloridaSturtevant and Fogelson, 205 Alafay (Alafia, Pojoy, Pohoy, Costas Alafeyes, Alafaya Costas), FloridaSturtevant and Fogelson, 214 Amacano, Florida west coastSturtevant and Fogelson, 673 Apalachee, northwestern Florida Atakapa (Attacapa), Louisiana west coast and Texas southeastern coast Akokisa, Texas southeast coast Bidai, Texas southeast coast Deadose, eastern Texas Eastern Atakapa, western coastal Louisiana Orcoquiza, southeast Texas Patiri, eastern Texas Tlacopsel, southeast Texas Avoyel ("little Natchez"), LouisianaSturtevant and Fogelson, 81-82 Bayogoula, southeastern Louisiana Biloxi, Mississippi Chacato (Chatot, Chactoo), west Florida Caddo Confederacy, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, TexasSturtevant, 617 Adai (Adaizan, Adaizi, Adaise, Adahi, Adaes, Adees, Atayos), Louisiana and Texas Cahinnio, southern Arkansas Doustioni, north central Louisiana Eyeish (Hais), eastern Texas Hainai, eastern Texas Hasinai, eastern Texas Kadohadacho, northeastern Texas, southwestern Arkansas, northwestern Louisiana Nabedache, eastern Texas Nabiti, eastern Texas Nacogdoche, eastern Texas Nacono, eastern Texas Nadaco, eastern Texas Nanatsoho, northeastern Texas Nasoni, eastern Texas Natchitoches, Lower: central Louisiana, Upper: northeastern Texas Neche, eastern Texas Nechaui, eastern Texas Ouachita, northern Louisiana Tula, western Arkansas Yatasi, northwestern Louisiana Calusa, southwestern Florida Cape Fear Indians, North Carolina southern coast Catawba (Esaw, Usheree, Ushery, Yssa),Folgelson, ed. (2004), p. 315 North Carolina, South Carolina Chakchiuma, Alabama and Mississippi Chawasha (Washa), Louisiana Cheraw (Chara, Charàh), North Carolina Cherokee, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, later Georgia, northwestern South Carolina, northern Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Mexico, and currently North Carolina and OklahomaFrank, Andrew K. Indian Removal. Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved 10 July 2009. Chickamauga, eastern Tennessee Chickanee (Chiquini), North Carolina Chickasaw, Alabama and Mississippi, now Oklahoma Chicora, coastal South Carolina Chine, Florida Chisca (Cisca), southwestern Virginia, northern Florida Chitimacha, Louisiana Choctaw, Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of Louisiana; later Oklahoma Chowanoc (Chowanoke), North Carolina Congaree (Canggaree), South CarolinaSturtevant and Fogelson, 188 Coree, North Carolina Croatan, North Carolina Cusabo coastal South Carolina Eno, North Carolina Escamacu, South Carolina Etiwan, South Carolina Grigra (Gris), MississippiSturtevant and Fogelson, 598-9 Guacata (Santalûces), eastern coastal Florida See (Ais people) Guacozo, Florida Guale (Cusabo, Iguaja, Ybaja), coastal Georgia Guazoco, southwestern Florida coast Houma, Louisiana and Mississippi Jaega (Jobe), eastern coastal Florida Jaupin (Weapemoc), North Carolina Jororo, Florida interior Keyauwee, North Carolina Koasati (Coushatta), formerly eastern Tennessee, currently Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas Koroa, Mississippi Luca, southwestern Florida coast Lumbee, North Carolina Machapunga, North Carolina Matecumbe (Matacumbêses, Matacumbe, Matacombe), Florida Keys Mayaca, Florida Mayaimi (Mayami), interior Florida Mayajuaca, Florida (See Ais people) Mikasuki (Miccosukee), Florida Mobila (Mobile, Movila), northwestern Florida and southern Alabama Mocoso, western Florida Mougoulacha, Mississippi Muscogee, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, later Oklahoma Abihka, Alabama,Sturtevant and Fogelson, 374 later Oklahoma Alabama, formerly Alabama, southwestern Tennessee, and northwestern Mississippi,Sturtevant and Fogelson, ix now Oklahoma and Texas Pakana (Pacâni, Pagna, Pasquenan, Pak-ká-na, Pacanas), central Alabama, later Texas Apalachicola Province, (Lower Towns of the Muscogee (Creek) Confederacy), Alabama and Georgia Apalachicola (town), Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina Coweta (town), Alabama and Georgia Cusseta (town), Alabama and Georgia Hitchiti (town), Alabama and Georgia Oconee (town), Alabama and Georgia Sabacola (town) (Sawakola, Sabacôla, Savacola, Sawokli), Alabama and Georgia Chiaha, Creek Confederacy, Alabama Eufaula tribe, Georgia, later Oklahoma Kialegee Tribal Town, Alabama, later Oklahoma Osochee (Osochi, Oswichee, Usachi, Oosécha), Creek Confederacy, Alabama Tallapoosas, Creek Confederacy, Alabama Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Alabama, Georgia, later Oklahoma Tukabatchee, Muscogee Creek Confederacy, Alabama Naniaba, northwestern Florida and southern Alabama Natchez, Louisiana and Mississippi later Oklahoma Neusiok (Newasiwac, Neuse River Indians), North Carolina Norwood culture, Apalachee region, Florida, c. 12,000 BCE — 4500 BCE Ofo (Mosopelea), Arkansas and Mississippi, eastern Tennessee Okchai (Ogchay), central Alabama Okelousa, Louisiana Opelousas, Louisiana Pacara people, Florida (See Amacano people) Pamlico, formerly North Carolina Pascagoula, Mississippi coast Pee Dee (Pedee), South CarolinaSturtevant and Fogelson, 302 and North Carolina Pensacola, Florida panhandle and southern Alabama Potoskeet, North Carolina Quinipissa, southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi Roanoke, North Carolina Saluda (Saludee, Saruti), South Carolina Santee (Seretee, Sarati, Sati, Sattees), South Carolina (no relation to Santee Sioux), South Carolina Santa Luces, Florida (See Ais people) Saponi, North Carolina,Haliwa-Saponi Tribe. . Retrieved 10 July 2009. VirginiaSturtevant and Fogelson 293 Saura, North Carolina Saxapahaw (Sissipahua, Shacioes), North Carolina Secotan, North Carolina Seminole, Florida and Oklahoma Sewee (Suye, Joye, Xoye, Soya), South Carolina coast Shakori, North Carolina Shoccoree (Haw), North Carolina, possibly Virginia Sissipahaw, North Carolina Sugeree (Sagarees, Sugaws, Sugar, Succa), North Carolina and South Carolina Surruque, east central FloridaHann 1993 Suteree (Sitteree, Sutarees, Sataree), North Carolina Taensa, Mississippi Tawasa, AlabamaSturtevant and Fogelson, 78, 668 Tequesta, southeastern coastal Florida Timucua, Florida and Georgia Acuera, central FloridaHann 1996, 5-13 Agua Fresca (or Agua Dulce or Freshwater), interior northeast Florida Arapaha, north central Florida and south central Georgia? Cascangue, coastal southeast Georgia Icafui (or Icafi), coastal southeast Georgia Mocama, coastal northeast Florida and coastal southeast Georgia Saturiwa, northeast Florida Tacatacuru, coastal southeast GeorgiaMilanich 1999, p. 49. Northern Utina north central Florida Ocale, central Florida Oconi, interior southeast Georgia Potano, north central Florida Tucururu (or Tucuru), central? Florida Utina (or Eastern Utina), northeast central FloridaMilanich 1996, p. 46. Yufera, coastal southeast Georgia Yui (Ibi), coastal southeast Georgia Yustaga, north central Florida Tiou (Tioux), Mississippi Tocaste, Florida Tocobaga, Florida Tohomé, northwestern Florida and southern Alabama Tomahitan, eastern Tennessee Topachula, Florida Tunica, Arkansas and Mississippi Utiza, Florida Uzita, Tampa Bay, FloridaHann 2003:11 Vicela, Florida Viscaynos, Florida Waccamaw, South Carolina Wateree (Guatari, Watterees), North Carolina Waxhaw (Waxsaws, Wisack, Wisacky, Weesock, Flathead), North Carolina and South Carolina Westo, Virginia and South Carolina, extinct Winyah, South Carolina coast Woccon, North Carolina Yamasee, Florida, Georgia Yazoo, southeastern tip of Arkansas, eastern Louisiana, MississippiSturtevant and Fogelson, 190 Yuchi (Euchee), central Tennessee, then northwest Georgia, now Oklahoma

Federally recognized tribes

Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma Caddo Nation of Oklahoma Catawba Indian Nation, South Carolina Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Louisiana Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama Seminole Tribe of Florida Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma

History The following section deals primarily with the history of the peoples in the lengthy period before European contact. Evidence of the preceding cultures have been found primarily in archeological artifacts, but also in major earthworks and the evidence of linguistics. In the Late Prehistoric time period in the Southeastern Woodlands, cultures increased agricultural production, developed ranked societies, increased their populations, trade networks, and intertribal warfare.Messenger, Lewis C. "The Southeastern Woodlands: Mississippian-Late Prehistoric Cultural Developments." University of Indiana: MATRIX. (retrieved 2 June 2011) Most Southeastern peoples (excepting some of the coastal peoples) were highly agricultural, growing crops like maize, squash, and beans for food. They supplemented their diet with hunting, fishing, Four Directions Institute. (retrieved 2 June 2011) and gathering wild plants and fungi.

Belonging in the Lithic stage, the oldest known art in the Americas is the Vero Beach bone found in present-day Florida. It is possibly a mammoth bone, etched with a profile of walking mammoth; it dates to 11,000 BCE."Ice Age Art from Florida." Past Horizons, 23 June 2011 (retrieved 23 June 2011)

Poverty Point culture The Poverty Point culture inhabited portions of the state of Louisiana from 2000–1000 BCE during the Archaic period. Many objects excavated at Poverty Point sites were made of materials that originated in distant places, indicating that the people were part of an extensive trading culture. Such items include chipped stone projectile points and tools; ground stone plummets, gorgets and vessels; and shell and stone beads. Stone tools found at Poverty Point were made from raw materials that can be traced to the relatively nearby Ouachita and Ozark mountains, as well as others from the more distant Ohio and Tennessee River valleys. Vessels were made from soapstone which came from the Appalachian foothills of Alabama and Georgia. Hand-modeled lowly fired clay objects occur in a variety of shapes including anthropomorphic figurines and cooking balls.

Mississippian culture