Atakapa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Atakapa (also Attacapan) were a Southeastern culture of Native American tribes and with a common language that lived along the Gulf of Mexico. Their territory ranged from the Trinity River and Galveston Bay in Texas to Bayou Teche and Vermillion Bay in Louisiana. They hunted small game, and ate fish, roots, berries, and shellfish. The Atakapa also planted crops.
[edit] Subdivisions or tribes
- Akokisa. Trinity Bay and the lower course of Trinity River
- Atakapa (Attacapa). s.w. Louisiana.
- Bidai. Trinity River about Bidai Creek.
- Deadose. South central Texas.
- Patiri. Along Caney Creek, Texas.
- Tlacopsel. s.e. Texas
The name Atakapa is derived from the Choctaw name Atakapa meaning 'people eater' (hattak 'person', apa 'to eat'), which is a reference to the practice of cannibalism exercised by Gulf coast peoples on their enemies.
