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The Chitmacha Tribe Online
Quiz
Read the about the
Chitimacha Tribe below. Then complete the bottom online
portion of this quiz.
In Charenton Louisiana, there are Native Americans who live
on their Chitimacha Reservation. This Indian Nation is very
proud of their heritage. The reservation is located near
Bayou Teche. The Chitimacha Tribe has been in Louisiana for
a very long time. The word “Chitmacha” means “red
altogether”.
There is an old
Chitimacha legend that says that Bayou Teche was created by
a huge poisonous snake. It was so large that it was not
measured in feet but in miles. The legend says that it head
was where Morgan City is now and it’s tail was near St.
Martinville. If you look on the internet or any map, it
shows you that the mythical snake would have been almost 25
feet long! Many legends and stories of the older Chitimacha
Indians are still part of the tribe today.
On the reservation long
ago life was different. Both then and now the reservation
had beautiful trees. Long ago they lived in round or
rectangular houses. Louisiana Indians did not live in
teepees. Today, the Chitimacha Tribes live in regular
houses, have a museum, offices, and a school. The
reservation at this time is on 260 acres of land. The
school built in the village is for children in Pre K through
eighth grade. When the students leave this school they
attend either West St. Mary High School located in Baldwin,
Louisiana or Hanson Memorial High.
The Chitimacha Indians
hunted, fished and trapped to survive. Dance, music and
storytelling have always been a part of the Chitimacha
tribes. Music was made by drums, alligator skins, gourd
rattles and flutes. The children practice their dance each
week. Basket weaving is a still a part of the Chitimacha
traditions. The Chitimacha Tribe is very proud of it’s
history.
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