APALACHEE INDIANS

THESE INDIANS ARE ORIGINALLY FROM THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA AND NOW THEY LIVE IN LOUISIANA. THEIR HISTORICAL TERRITORY WAS KNOWN FOR TO THE SPANISH COLONISTS AS THE APALACHEE PROVINCE. THEY OCCUPIED VELDA MOUND AROUND 1450 CE. BY THE 17TH CENTURY THEY ABANDONED IT TO MOVE TO THE APALACHEE BAY. THEY SPOKE MUSKOGEE WHICH IS NOW EXTINCT. ONCE EUROPEANS MOVED IN THEY WERE FORCED TO MOVE TO LOUISIANA NEAR RAPIDES PARISH.

ABOUT 1100 A.D. THESE PEOPLE BEGAN TO CULTIVATE CROPS. AGRICULTURE BECAME IMPORTANT TO THEM. IT WAS PART OF THE FORT WATTON CULTURE, A FLORIDA CULTURE, INFLUENCED BY MISSISSIPPI CULTURE. THEY GREW SURPLUS CROPS AND THEN SETTLED INTO LARGER VILLAGES. THEY SPECIALIZED IN THE ARTISTIC GOODS. AT THE TIME WHEN DE SOTO ARRIVED IN 1540, THE APALACHEE LIVED IN VARIOUS SIZED VILLAGES, AND SOME LIVED ON FARMSTEADS.

SOME OF THEIR ABORIGINAL VILLAGES ARE PROTECTED IN LAKE JACKSON MOUNDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL STATE PARK. THIS IS WHERE THE LARGEST COMMUNITY WAS WITH SEVERAL MOUNDS AND 200 HOUSES. THEY WERE FARMERS OF CORN, BEANS SQUASH, PUMPKINS. AND SUNFLOWERS. THEY ALSO COLLECTED VARIOUS WILD PLANTS, HICKORY NUTS, AND ACORNS. THEY HUNTED AND OF COURSE ATE FISH FROM THE OCEAN. THEY HAD AN EXPANSIVE TRADE NETWORK ALL THE WAY TO THE GREAT LAKES. THEY MADE SHELLS, SHARKS TEETH, DRIED FISH AND TURTLE MEAT AND OTHER ITEMS FOR TRADE. THEY MADE POTTERY, WOVE CLOTH, AND CURED BUCKSKINS. THEIR HOUSES WERE FROM CYPRESS AND POPLAR TREES AND COVERED WITH PALMS LEAVES. THEY MADE OVEN UNDER THE GROUND. THEY STORED THEIR MEAT, ETC. IN PITS LINED WITH MATTING. THE APALACHEE WORE DEERSKIN LOINCLOTHS. THE WOMEN MADE SKIRTS OF SPANISH MOSS OR OTHER FIBERS. THEY DID USE FACE TATTOOS. THE MEN SMOKED CEREMONIAL TOBACCO. THEY ARE CONSIDERED AS THE MOST ADVANCED INDIGENOUS NATION IN FLORIDA.

TWO SPANISH EXPEDITIONS ENCOUNTERED THE APALACHEE IN 1650. HOWEVER, THE APALACHEE OVERPOWERED THEM. IN 1650 HOWEVER THEM. IN 1539 DE SOTO CAME BACK HERE SEEKING GOLD AND THE APALACHEE HATED THE SPANISH BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS TENSION. THE APALACHEE WERE PREPARED AND KILLED MANY OF THEIR HORSES AND THE SPANISH LEFT THEM ALONE. TODAY THE TRIBE IS LOCATED IN LOUISIANA AND HAS ABOUT 300 MEMBERS.

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