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Indian
tribe linked with Texas history
by Bob Bowman |
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Thousands
of people drive through East
Texas each year without the knowledge that an Indian reservation--one
that played a role in the independence of Texas--exists within the
pine forests.
The difficulties faced by the Alabama-Coushatta tribes to remain on
their land and create economic opportunities for their people reach
back to the 1830s.
The tribes saw their lands taken by white settlers and encountered
setbacks that have wiped out other Indian reservations in the U.S.
Yet, the tribes remain steadfast and strong, continuing to maintain
their humble root on lands between Livingston and Woodville..
The first historical reference to the tribe was in 1541 when Spanish
explorer DeSoto noted a reference to the Alabama tribe in the area
that would eventually become Alabama.
The tribe moved westward and settled in Mississippi and Louisiana
before putting down roots in Mexican East Texas around 1787. The Coushattas
soon joined the Alabamas.
Early in 1836, as Sam Houston's army was retreating eastward across
Texas, pursued by the Mexican army under Santa Anna, many Texas settlers
fled toward the Sabine River
in the "Runaway
Scrape."
As the revolutionary army marched toward San
Jacinto, Houston sent a delegation to ask the Alabamas and Coushattas
for assistance.
The delegation dispatched by General Houston to negotiate for the
services of about 250 Alabama and Coushatta warriors arrived at Long
King's Village several days before the battle
of San Jacinto.
While the discussions were proceeding, the battle
of San Jacinto was fought, and the services of the Indians were
no longer needed.
Although the Alabamas and Coushattas did not participate militarily
in the war, they were generous in their efforts to feed and care for
settlers who passed through their villages in the Runaway
Scrape.
“We helped them with food, shelter and crossing the Trinity River,”
said Arnold Battise. who was born on the reservation. “Sam Houston
was a friend to the Indians, so when he learned about our assistance,
he became instrumental in having a reservation awarded to our tribe.”
The Alabama-Coushattas are the only native American group requiring
members to be full-blooded, Battise says. “We want to survive and
maintain our culture,” he said. “But we still need revenue to keep
our culture alive.”
The Indians have tried several economic enterprises, a tourism program
and a gaming center. The tourism program wasn’t a financial success
and the gaming center was shut down for legal reasons.
One of the tribe’s efforts is to offer native language classes to
tribal members, but of the 1,100 tribal members, only 300 speak the
traditional language of their forefathers.
“We’ve changed our perspective because of what’s going on in the modern
world,” said Battise, “but we want to maintain our long-standing heritage
and culture.” |
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