Summary of Native American Tribes - A-2

Native American Tribes - A-2

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Acuera - Part of the Timucuan linguistic division of the Muskhogean family, the Acuera were located at the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River in Florida. They were first noted by Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, in a letter written at Tampa Bay to the Civil Cabildo of Santiago de Cuba. De Soto described where they lived as being "a large town where with much convenience we might winter." though the Spaniards did not pass through the village, while they were at Ocale, they sent to Acuera for corn. The name appears later in French explorer, René Goulaine de Laudonnière's narrative of the second French expedition to Florida in 1564-65, as a tribe allied with the Utina. Later, they were noted briefly in Spanish documents and in 1604, the an encounter between the tribe and Spanish troops. By 1655, there were two Acuera missions -- San Luis and Santa Lucia, both of which had disappeared by 1680. The inland position of the Acuera is partly responsible for the few early descriptions of them. Later, the tribe was probably gathered into the "Pueblo de Timucua," which stood near St. Augustine, Florida in 1736, and was finally removed to the Mosquito Lagoon and Halifax River in Volusia County. The tribe is entirely extinct today.

Adai - A tribe of the Caddo Confederacy, they spoke a dialect closely related to that of the Kadohadacho, Hainai, and Anadarko. The tribe-was first encountered in 1529 by Cabeza de Vaca, who called them Atayo, and said they were living inland from the Gulf of Mexico. When Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur de Iberville ascended Red River of Louisiana in 1699 he heard of the people and called them Natao, stating that their village was on the river near that of the Yatasi. According to Bernard de la Harpe in 1719, the tribe was very useful to the French traders and explorers, particularly when making portages. At that time the villages of the Adai extended from Red River southward beyond the Sabine River, in Texas. The trail which connected the Adai villages became the noted "contraband trail" over which traders and travelers journeyed between the French and Spanish provinces, and one of the villages was a station on the road between the French fort at Natchitoches, Louisana and the Spanish fort at San Antonio. With their villages scattered over territory controlled by both the French and the Spanish, the Adai were subjected to all of the adverse influences of the white race and suffered from their wars, new diseases, and alcohol which they introduced, so that by 1778 they were reported by French explorer, Athanase De Mézières Y Clugny as almost exterminated. In about 1792, 14 families of the tribe, together with a number if Mexicans, emigrated to a region south of San Antonio, Texas, but they soon melted away and were lost among other Indians. Those who remained numbered about 100. In 1805 George Champlain Sibley reported a small settlement of Adai on Lac Macdon, near an affluent of Red River; which contained only 20 men, but a larger number of women. This Adai remnant had never left their ancient locality. In 1715 Domingo Ramon, with a company of Franciscans, traversed the Adai territory and started settlements. In 1716 the mission of San Miguel de Linares was founded among them in East Texas, and there were Adai also in the mission of San de los Tejas, established in 1690. About 1735 a military post called Nuestra Señora del Pilar was added, and 5 years later this garrison became the Presidio de los Adayes. Later, the Adai tribe was placed under the division having its official head quarters at Nacogdoches, Texas. In all essentials of living and ceremony they resembled the other Caddo, by whom the remnant was finally absorbed.

Adirondack - See Algonquin. The term "Adirondack" was a derogatory name that the Iroquois gave the Algonquin, which meant "they eat trees."

Adshusheer - A tribe associated with the Eno and Shakori in North Carolina in 1701. They were thought to have been located near present-day Durham, North Carolina. The Adshusheer were probably absorbed by one of the tribes with which they were associated.

Agawam (or Agawom) - A name of frequent occurrence in south New England; Long Island, New York; and at least three villages or tribes in Massachusetts. The most important of these villages was located near present-day Ipswich, Massachusetts. However, the site was sold by the chief in 1638. This band was part of the Pennacook Confederacy, and was almost extinct in 1658. However, as late as 1726 there were still three families living near Wigwam Hill. The second tribe or band of that name had its chief town on Long hill, near Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield was sold in 1635 and the Indian town was in existence in 1675. This tribe was commonly classed with the Pacomtuc. The third was about Wareham, Massachusetts, the site of which was sold in 1655. It was probably subject to the Wampanoag, but joined in the plot against the English in 1621.

Agua Caliente - A small Cahuilla division, the tribe's name means "warm water" in Spanish. They were located at the head waters of San Luis Rey River in southern California, forming one linguistic group with the Kawia, Luiseno, and Juaneno. Living in a number of villages in the Palm Springs area, they moved the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation in 1876 with the coming of the railroad. Later the Federal Government allotted that allocated the bulk of the Reservation land to the individual members of the tribe, however the tribe maintains primary control over the use and development of all land on its reservation, including those parcels individually allocated. Today, much of Palm Springs and adjacent Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and unincorporated Riverside County is built on these lands, which was leased to developers. The activities of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have multiple economic impacts on the Coachella Valley, stemming not only from the its casino operations, but also the extensive remaining land holdings. Much of the Tribe’s original Reservation of 31,500 acres has been highly developed into a modern desert tourism center, plus extensive upscale retail and residential uses.

Akonapi - A people mentioned in the ancient Walam Olum record of the Delawares (Brinton, Lenape Legends, 190, 231, 1885), with whom they fought during their migrations. Brinton, who identities them with the Akowini of the same tradition, thinks it probable that they lived immediately N. of Ohio r. in Ohio or Indiana. He regards Akowini as "correspondent" with Sinako, and Towakon with Towako; the latter he identities with the Ottawa, called by the Delawares Taway. If this identification be correct, it is likely that the Akonapi were the Sinago branch of the Ottawa, (C. T. )

Ais/Ays - A tribe who once inhabited the Atlantic Coast of Florida, the primarily lived in villages of what is now called the Indian River. Little is known of their language or origins. They were noted by Jonathan Dickinson, who's party had been shipwrecked in 1696. By this time, they had had considerable contact with Eurepeans and regarded the Spanish as friends, but all others as enemies. They did not survive much longer as, after 1700, settlers in Carolina started raiding the Ais to capture slaves. By 1743, when the Spanish established a mission among them, the Ais numbers had declined dramatically by slave raids and disease. They were gone from the area by 1760.

Alabama/Alibamu - A Muskogean tribe of the southern United States, the tribe lived primarily within the state that now bears their name. They, along with other Muskogean speaking tribes, the Creek, Hitchiti, and Coushatta, formed the Creek Confederacy. The Alabama and closely allied Coushatta migrated from Alabama and Mississippi to Texas in the late 18th century and early 19th century, under pressure from white settlers. They essentially merged and shared reservation land. Although the tribe was terminated in the 1950s, it achieved federal recognition in 1987as the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. Today, Its 550 members have about 4,500 acres of reservation.

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