|
We, the Atakapa-Ishak
(uh-TAK-uh-paw - ee-SHAK), are a Southwest Louisiana/Southeast Texas tribe of ancient Indians who lived in the Gulf of Mexico's northwestern
crescent and called ourselves Ishak.
The name means The People.
In prehistoric times we Ishak divided into two populations known to this day as,
"The Sunrise People" and "The Sunset People". Some Ishak lived on
the south coast of what is now Texas, down to Matagorda Bay. Other Ishak lived
on the upper coast of the Gulf's northwestern crescent at what is now Southeast
Texas and Southwest Louisiana. In Louisiana, on the coast, we spread
all the way to what is now Vermilion Bay. The former Ishak, those on the lower
coast, inhabited the land to perhaps a distance of a week's walk. Those on the
upper coast inhabited the land to perhaps a distance of several weeks' walk.
We were called Atakapa by the Choctaw. The name was used by the Spaniards
and French colonizers in Louisiana, as a slur word to refer to the Ishak
people. This gave us a reputation and rumor of being "man
eaters", which continues through today. We, the descendents of the
Atakapa-Ishak Indians exist unrecognized and misnamed under various names of
choice like Creoles, Creole Indians, and Creoles of Color. The term
"colored" has clouded our racial identity. Atakapa-Ishak descendents show a wide range of complexions which is attributed to the genes for light or brown complexions. Many
Atakapa-Ishak no longer know their correct racial identity.
Our heritage is rich and diversified and one of which to be proud. There is much in our lives today that points
to our prehistoric ancestors. Tasso and oyster pie were food products of their inventing. Zydeco, the good time dance is their gift to our country. Relics of Atakapa-Ishak
names include Anacoco, Calcasieu, Carencro, Lacassine, Mamou, Mermentau,
Opelousas, Teche and others. The most beautiful and pleasing, is our native language, which has been translated into the English grammar for the Christmas Carol Silent Night, Holy Night and other works by linguist, Hugh Singleton.
The naming of U. S. Highway 190 between the Sabine River and DeRidder, LA, as the Atakapa-Coushatta Trace is attributed to the fact that Atakapa Indians inhabited and traversed Beauregard Parish.
The placement of the historical marker you see at the top of this page is
credited to Ms. Velmer Smith, an honored and long time supporter of our people.
It is located adjacent to Highways 190 and 111 at the junction. It is more clearly defined as part of the Atakapa foot trails in the Atakapas' homeland that reached as far up as parts of present-day Natchitoches, Rapides, and Sabine Parishes and parishes lying along all the S.E. Texas and S.W. Louisiana coast. The Atakapa-Ishak have been identified as the only tribe, consisting of six bands to inhabit all of Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas for centuries prior to habitation by Europeans.
The aborginal Atakapa Ishak of Louisiana were a quiet, peaceful, meek, even
passive people, yet we have served this nation in all its wars. Though neglected
and unschooled from 1690's to early 1900's, we have proven ourselves highly
intelligent, of accomplished talents, industrious and self-sustaining. Numbers
of us have become professionals and individuals serving our country in positions of honor, such as President Carter's Ambassador to Kenya and the Seychelles, Dr. Wilbert LeMelle of New Iberia, LA and Alex Boudreaux of Lake Charles,
who served as a Tuskogee Airman during WW II.
The Atakapa-Ishak are not extinct, as some historians once thought, and
our people have been honored in many ways. The USS Atakapa (ATF-149) was
an Abnaki-class of fleet ocean tug that was named after our tribe.
To learn more about the USS Atakapa, click on their patch below.
Our Present
The Atakapa-Ishak of today are working diligently on bringing the divided populations
of Sunrise and Sunset people together as one unified nation. Through the
efforts of Chief Michael Amos, council members and others of the tribe, much
progress has been made. We are on the federal registry as of February 2007
for Federal Recognition of the tribe. We have obtained our 501(c)3
nonprofit status and informed our young people of tuition assistance for
college educations. A few have applied already.
We welcome support from anyone to help us on this long journey. It
is our goal to be recognized as the historical tribe of southwest Louisiana and
southeast Texas, in order for us to stand proud as the Atakapa-Ishak Nation, throughout the U.S.
"Let our children and children’s children stand proud....
We are the Ishak - Sunrise and Sunset People!"
For more information about our people, click on the image below.
To view the 2007 article in News From Indian Country, click on the link
below:
News From Indian Country - Atakapas say culture still alive
|
