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Taensa

  

 

Ethnie: TAENSA
Language: Natchez
Family: Natchez
Stock: Gulf Muskhogean
Phylum: Muskhogean
Macro-Culture: Eastern Woodlands
Speakers Extinct
      The Taensa were a sedentary hunter/farmer nation.  They were located at the western end of Lake Joseph.  They were closely related to the Natchez mound culture.  They were involved in numerous conflicts withother tribes and, for the most part, absorbed onto other cultures.
Aboriginal Locations (# of Villages)
LA   (Chaoucoula 1, Conchayon 1, Couthaougoula 1, Myhougoulas 1, Ohytoucoulas 1, Taensas 1, Talaspa 1)
Present Locations
LA  Avoyel Taensa Tribe Nation, Marksville
Year History
1540 Probably encountered by De Soto
1682 Met by LaSalle who returned to spend four days with tribe, made and renewed treaty of peace
1686 Visiitd by Tonti 
1690 Tonti made their village a starting point on a visit to the Natchitoches and their allies
1700 Iberville visited village when temple was destroyed by lighting
1706 Tribe abandoned villager due to Chickasaw and Yazoo threats, located at Bayougoula village; soon rose up and destroyed a large portion of the Bayougoula, drove remainer away
1715 At the Manchac, moved to Mobile
1744 Moved to Tensaw River
1763 Moved to Red River location
1784 Moved to Bayou Boeuf along with Apalachee, both tribes intermarried into Chitimacha and Alabama thereby losing much of their tribal identity
Year Total LA Population Source
1698 280 LaHarpe estimate
1700 300 NAHDB calculation
1800 0 NAHDB calculation
1805 5 Sibley estimate
1900 0 NAHDB calculation 
2000 0 NAHDB calculation 
Other speakers of the same language:
Avoyel, Natchez
Taensa Sites:
At different times there were about 40 Indian tribes in Louisiana ...  http://www.charentonheritage.com/laIndianhistory.html
Bayougoula and Mugulasha  http://members.lycos.nl/Shades/nativeamericans/bayougoula.htm
Cane River Culture  http://www.caneriverheritage.org/main_file.php/heritagearea.php/33/
HCR 123 Walker  http://house.louisiana.gov/Agendas%20-2003/May-03/0515%20CJ.pdf
Indian Life in the Loess Hills When Europeans Arrived  http://www.backyardnature.net/loess/ind_miss.htm
Legislative Affairs  http://www.sagchip.org/la/week_review/2002/052402-wk-review.htm
Louisianan Native Nations  http://www.eatel.net/~wahya/tribes.html
Louisiana Tribes Index  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~prsjr/na/se/la_pg1.htm
Taensa Indians  http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/TT/bmt4.html
Taensa Indians  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14429c.htm
Taensa Indians  http://www.rra.dst.tx.us/c_t/indians/TAENSA%20INDIANS.cfm
Taensa Indian Tribe  http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/natchez/taemsaindianhistory.htm

Last updated 04/25/05  Copyright © 2005 by Four Directions Press