Nestled deep in the Big Thicket of East Texas lies Texas' oldest Reservation, home of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. Its location is on a 4,600+ acres of virgin timberland called home by some 500 members of the tribe. Once separate entities, they are both members of the Upper Creek Confederacy of Indians and are of the Muskogean Nation and their languages similar to the Muskogean dialect. The two tribes migrated from southeastern United States (Alabama and Mississippi) and were closely related before they came to Texas.

The first documentation of either tribe came in 1541 during the Hernando De Soto expedition.  In search of new territory for Spain farther west of the East Coast, De Soto and his party encountered the Alabama Tribe in the Mobile Bay area.  Upon leaving this region, De Soto explored further north, encountering several other tribes prior to locating the Coushatta Tribe on the Tennessee River.  Each encounter with the different tribes were similar; a member of the expedition often stole a valuable good and the tribes would retaliate though De Soto prevailed as the tribes were not as well equipped as the Spaniards.

Until the 1700's, no other documentation is known about either tribe or where they ventured.  However, in 1714, French settlers located the Alabama Indians near the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers in Alabama.  Their immediate neighbors were the Coushatta Indians.  The French decided this would be the ideal place to establish a fort for settlers and trading with the local natives.  Ft. Toulouse was erected outside the Alabama villages where these Indians often served as the middleman for trading since they were known for their peacemaking and negotiating while the Coushatta would serve to protect or attack when needed.  Therefore, hostility occurred rarely in this region.

The end of the French and Indian War resulted in the defeated French relinquishing all of its claims to the United States, including Ft. Toulouse.  The settlers abandoned the area and migrated south to Mobile Bay to board their ships.  Members of the Alabamas decided they would follow their friends as opposed to encountering the English settlers.  Members of the Coushattas as well as the Pakanas followed suit.  However, not every Tribal member made this journey, eventually partaking of the Trail of Tears after the Creek Wars were over and land was ceded to the United States.

Those Indians who followed the French ventured as far south as possible as they were entering Choctaw territory.  The Alabamas and the Choctaws had mutual respect for each other; however, the Alabamas were also careful not to provoke them.  It is believed the French gave some families safe journey by ship into Spanish Lousiana; however, not all were able to do so and they skirted the coast of Mississippi to reach this new territory.  Some Coushattas attempted to venture through northern Alabama and Mississippi but eventually turned back upon encountering Choctaw warriors.

In 1805, approximately 1,000 Alabamas came to Tyler County's Peach Tree Village. The Coushattas were already in East Texas, having arrived into the Big Thicket area sometimes after 1795. Their inter-tribal friendship became even stronger as they roamed and hunted this new land together.

When they first formed villages, their homes were fashioned out of the abundant East Texas timber and the leaves of palmettos were used as roofs.

Early 1800's

The Texas Congress grants each tribe two leagues of land along the Trinity River. Their land is soon taken over by white settlers, leaving them homeless. Sam Houston recommends that the state purchase 1,280 acres for the Alabamas and set aside 640 acres for the Coushattas. The land for the Coushattas is never plotted nor surveyed; and so, either through marriage or special permission, they come to live on the allotted land with the Alabamas - uniting the two to become the Alabama-Coushatta. Many other Coushattas move to an area near Kinder, Louisiana, where a majority of whom still reside today.
The Alabama-Coushatta live for 74 years without any assistance. With their land being unsuitable for raising crops or grazing cattle, they are forced to roam the Big Thicket area in search of food. When hunting becomes prohibited during certain seasons, malnutrition and disease strike hard. At one time the Tribal population was reduced to less than 200.

1920's
The poor living condition of Indian people is brought to the attention of State and Federal Governments. As a result, beggining in 1928, both Governments appropriated funds to help improve these conditions. The Federal Government purchases an additional 3,171 acres of land adjoining the original reservation to be held in trust for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe. Also, two and four bedroom frame houses are built to replace meager log cabins, shallow water wells are dug to help eliminate long treks to local springs for water, and, most importantly, medical and educational needs are at last recognized.

1954
The Federal Government relinquishes its trusteeship of all lands and other assets pertaining to the Alabama-Coushatta. With the assistance of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council, the State of Texas Hospital and Special Schools take over the responsibility of the Tribe.

1957 The Tribal Council is established and recognized as the main governing body. Seven Tribal members are elected to serve as members of the Council by popular vote and serve three-year staggered terms. Those elected are the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Tribal Council meets twice a month to conduct the business of the Tribe. The Tribal Administrator handles day-to-day activities. The Attorney General ruled that the Tribal Council has the right to manage timber on the Reservation and to use the revenue from timber sales to finance different projects that would benefit the tribe. Authority is also given to conduct a timber management program in cooperation with the Texas Forest Service. This will prevent the excessive or premature cutting of timber, thereby protecting the long-range financial interest of the people. As a result, the Alabama-Coushatta won the state's top award for forestry conservation and achievement in timber management.

1957 A Kindergarten was established to assist the children for a better education and prepare them for public schools. It is now known as the Head Start Program and serves one hundred children consisting of Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Anglo Americans. The children of the Alabama-Coushatta tribe attend public schools at Big Sandy, Livingston, or Woodville. Young Tribal members have a desire for higher education and a large number of them are continuing on at the college or university level today. The Tribe's Education Department is available to assist students in completing application forms or applying for scholarships.

1959
Texas lawmakers pass a bill enabling the Tribal Council to lease land on the reservation for mineral rights. Income from timber sales and mineral leases is used to a great degree to finance the education of young tribal members who are interested in furthering their education.

Early 1960's
Tribal leaders begin to look for a solution to the problems of limited job opportunities. Poor soil, the high cost of farm implements, and lack of modern farm knowledge, rule out farming as a source of family income. The outlook for industrial development is discouraging because of large investments required, and again, lack of technological knowledge.

During this time, Texas is enjoying a boom in tourism. The industry is creating jobs throughout the state. A decision to invite guests to the Alabama-Coushatta reservation to enjoy the beautiful scenery and learn of the Tribe's customs and way of life is made.

1963
With assistance from the State of Texas, the Tribe builds a museum, gift shop, and a restaurant. A Tribal dance square and tour through the Big Thicket is added later. More than 20,000 guests visit the reservation during the first year of operation and today, ten times that number visit annually.

1965
In September, the State's management of the Tribe is shifted to the newly created Texas Commission of Indian Affairs, which is made up of three people appointed by the Governor.

1971 A 26-acre lake is completed and offers an ideal spot for picnics, camping, and swimming. Lake Tombigbee is completely encircled by a paved road and the lake is restocked yearly to provide a variety of fish for the amateur angler. A total of 131 campsites are now available to accommodate those who wish to rough it out in the primitive section to full hook-up sites. Modern restrooms and cabins have been added as well.

1975
A grocery store with a modern laundromat is opened. The Reservation also has its own water and sewer systems. New jobs created by tourism have greatly improved living conditions of the Tribal people.

Since the mid 1970's, seventy new brick homes have been built on the Reservation through the Mutual Help Housing Project administered by HUD and the Tribal Council. The project offers home ownership to residents.

1987
After years of being under the auspices of the State of Texas, the Tribe starts the wheels rolling to become a federally recognized tribe. Working with the Native American Rights Fund, the Tribe pursues legislation to become federally recognized and on August 18, 1987, President Ronald Reagan signs Public Law 100-89 reinstating the Alabama-Coushatta as such.

1988 The Tribal Council contracts for health care with Indian Health Care and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish the Indian Health Service. IHS is staffed by Tribal members and operated in a small building on the Reservation. In 1989, the Chief Kina Health Clinic, named after former Chief Kina Robert Fulton Battise, is dedicated with 3,300 square feet of space. Today, the Health Clinic has expanded its facilities so that it may better serve the people.

1997
The Solid Waste facility is opened.

2002
Construction of a 250 feet by 150 feet covered pavilion is completed to house the annual powwow which is held every year at the first weekend in June and other events which the Tribe sponsors throughout the year.

The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe are a very proud people and work hard to hold on to their culture while learning to adjust to the modern world of technology. A large majority of its members speak the Native language and create traditional crafts. To keep these alive, a high priority is placed on teaching the Alabama-Coushatta language by holding classes taught by the elders of the Tribe.

For more information about the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, please visit the Handbook of Texas Online .