Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas

They are one of eight federally recognized tribes whose members are descended from the Muscogee Confederacy of the Southeast. Four tribes are located in Oklahoma, to where most of the Muscogee were forcibly removed from the Indigenous Muscogee homeland in Alabama and western Georgia in the 1830s during the Trail of Tears under Indian Removal, one tribe is in Louisiana, where another band of Muscogee fled European encroachment in two waves in the late 18th century and the early 19th century, and another tribe comprises the Poarch Band of Creeks, who remained in Alabama. The Seminole Indian Nation in Florida also includes a large percentage of descendants of the Creek Confederacy who relocated there and merged with another tribe.

Under pressure from European American settlement, the ancestors of this tribe were Alabama and Coushatta peoples who migrated from Alabama and the Southeast into Louisiana and finally East Texas when it was under Spanish rule in the late 18th century. They settled in an area known as Big Thicket and adapted their culture to the environment of forest and waters.[6]

When the area began to be settled by European Americans from the United States, the tribes established friendly relations and traded with the new settlers. Sam Houston helped protect them during years of conflicts with other Native Americans in the area. After the annexation of Texas by the United States, settlement increased and the tribes were under pressure again. They appealed to the state to have land set aside for their exclusive use.[6]

The Alabama–Coushatta Reservation was established in 1854,[12] when the state bought 1,110.7 acres (449.5 ha) of land for the Alabama Indian reservation. About 500 tribe members settled on this land during the winter of 1854–55. In 1855, the Texas legislature appropriated funds to purchase 640 acres (260 ha) for the Coushattas" but never followed through.[6] The Coushatta began to live with the Alabama on their reservation.

They acquired more land, so the reservation is 4,593.7 acres (1,859.0 ha), located 17 miles (27 km) east of Livingston, Texas in the Big Thicket area.[6][13]

As of the 2020, the reservation comprises a total population of 679 individuals. Of those individuals, 86.7% (589) are American Indian, 8.2% (56) are Hispanic or Latino, 6.4% (44) identify as two or more races, 5.5% (38) are White, 0.88% identify as some other race, and 0.14% (1) are African American or Black. The reservation has a young population, with 42.3% under the age of 18 in contrast to 4.5% over the age of 65.[5]

Economically, 65.9% of the population is employed. The average household earning is $49,219, which is over $10,000 less than the national average, and 17.2% live in poverty, 8.6% higher than the national average. Additionally, 11.4% of the population has a bachelor's degree or higher, 36.5% of the total population having only a high school degree or equivalent. Of the total population, 38.5% does not have at-home internet, which is 11.5% higher than the national average of 14.5%.[5]

The homeownership rate on the reservation is 76.3%, which is 10.9% higher than the national average of 65.4%.[5]

The tribe has its own wildland fire department and land management program that uses fire suppression tactics to manage the woodlands on their tribal land. This is particularly important for the longleaf pine trees that have been used by the tribe and their ancestors for basketry and home building for centuries.[14] According to The Nature Conservancy, 95% of longleaf pine forests have been lost in the region. Longleaf pines are dependent on fire to seed and grow. The Nature Conservancy funded the tribe to buy equipment and participate in training for wildland management. As a result, they manage the over 200 acres (81 ha) of pine trees they planted in 2012 and the additional 200 acres (81 ha) of older growth trees.[13]

The Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas is headquartered in Livingston, Texas. They operate as a tribal council, with a Principal Chief and Chief serving as advisors to an elected tribal council comprising a Chair, Vice chair, and five additional members.[2] The tribe's constitution and by-laws were adopted on June 16, 1971.[15]

As of 2022, the tribal chiefs and council members are as follows:[2]

• Principal Chief: Unfilled
• Chief: Donnis B. Battise (Mikko Istimatokla)
• Council member: Rick Sylestine, Chair
• Council member: Nita Battise, Vice-chair
• Council member: Yolanda Poncho, Secretary
• Council member: Ronnie Thomas, Treasurer
• Council member: Roland Poncho, member
• Council member: David Battise, member
• Council member: Melanie Battise, member

The most recent Principal Chief, Herbert G. Johnson, Sr. (Mikko Choba), died in 2021. The seat is reported as unfilled as of July 2022.[2]

Both the peoples struggled after the Civil War, as few spoke English and they had difficulty finding jobs.[6] Today, the tribe operates two primary economic enterprises: Naskila Casino, a casino, and A.C.T. Holdings, an investment and economic development LLC.[1] The tribe also has a 26-acre campground open to the public located on Lake Tombigbee.[1] The reservation also includes a truck stop, smoke shop, and a souvenir shop.[6]

In 1994, ground was broken for the now open Alabama–Coushatta Cultural Center.[6] In April 2022, the tribe broke ground on the 49,000 square foot Aati Imaabachi Imiisa Education Center to house the education department, library, a gym, play areas, and youth education programs.[18]

The reservation has two churches, a Christian First Assembly of God church and a First Indian Presbyterian church.[6]

Each June, the reservation hosts a powwow.[6]

• Wray, Dianna. "The Alabama–Coushatta Still Exist and Are Doing What They Need to Do to Continue", Houston Press. 13 November 2013.
• Wray, Dianna. "Cover Story: Dreamcatchers" Archived November 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Houston Press, 13 November 2013.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alabama–Coushatta Indian Reservation.

• Official website
• "Native American Heritage Month Collection Spotlight: James Ludwell Davis Sylestine and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas" from the Texas State Library and Archives