Native American Facts For Kids was written for young people learning about the Natchez for school or home-schooling reports. We encourage students
and teachers to visit our Natchez language and culture
pages for more in-depth information about the tribe, but here are our answers to the questions we are most often asked by children, with
Natchez pictures and links we believe are suitable for all ages.
How do you pronounce "Natchez"? What does it mean?
It's pronounced "natch-ez," and it was originally the name of their main village. Later, it began to be used to refer to the people as well.
Where do the Natchez live?
The Natchez were original residents
Mississippi and
Louisiana. Most Natchez descendents today live in Oklahoma.
Is there still a Natchez Indian nation today?
No. The Natchez tribe was destroyed by the French in the early 1700's.
But are there any Natchez Indian people left?
There are people of Natchez descent still alive today, particularly among the Chickasaw,
Creek and
Cherokee tribes. Those three tribes absorbed many Natchez refugees
after their tribe's destruction. Other Natchez people were sent to the West Indies as slaves by the French, and
some Afro-Caribbean people today may have Natchez and other Indian ancestry.
How was the Natchez Indian nation organized?
The Natchez were one of the few North American Indian tribes who were ruled by a king. The Natchez king was called the Great Sun,
because the Natchez people believed he was descended from the sun. Unlike European kings, Natchez royalty
was traced through the mother's bloodline, not the father's. So the son of the Great Sun would not become the next Great Sun -- his oldest sister's son would.
The Natchez Great Sun was an absolute ruler, which means that he had the power to make all the decisions for the tribe himself. In reality, though,
the Great Sun usually had to listen to the opinions of a council of warriors, priests, and other important Natchez men, because he needed their support.
What language did the Natchez speak?
They spoke their native Natchez language, but nobody speaks this language anymore. When the Natchez refugees joined other tribes
like the Creeks and Cherokees, they began speaking the languages used by those tribes. If you want to see what the old Natchez language was like,
there is a Natchez picture glossary here.
How did Natchez Indian children live?
They did the same things all children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house.
Many Natchez children liked to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian kids had more
chores and less time to play, just like colonial children. But they did have
corn husk dolls,
toys and games to play. Teenage boys played a spear-throwing game called chunkey. Natchez mothers, like many
Native Americans, traditionally carried their babies in
cradleboards
on their backs--a custom which many American parents have
adopted now.
What were men and women's roles in the Natchez tribe?
Unlike most North American tribes, men and women did not have equal status in the Natchez tribe. Men were higher-ranking than women,
held leadership positions, were in charge of the household, and even got to eat first. However, both genders took part in storytelling,
artwork and music, and traditional medicine.
What were Natchez homes like in the past?
The Natchez people lived in villages of adobe houses with thatched roofs. One family lived in each house. The Natchez houses were arranged around a
village square that was used for ceremonies and sports events.
What was Natchez clothing like? Did they wear feather headdresses and face paint?
Natchez men wore breechcloths and leather leggings.
Natchez women wore wraparound skirts made of deerskin or woven fiber.
Shirts were not necessary in Natchez culture, but both men and women wore tunics in cooler weather.
The Natchez also wore moccasins on their feet.
Here are some photographs
and links about Indian clothing in general.
The Natchez didn't wear long headdresses like the
Sioux. The Great Sun wore a fancy feathered crown, but other
Natchez men usually went bare-headed. Some Natchez warriors shaved their heads except for a scalplock
(one lock of hair on top of their heads.) Women usually wore their hair in one long braid.
Natchez men and women both painted their faces for special occasions and also decorated their bodies with complex
tribal tattoos.
What was Natchez transportation like in the days before cars? Did they paddle canoes?
Yes--the Natchez Indians made long dugout canoes from hollowed-out cypress logs. Over land, the Natchez used dogs as pack animals.
(There were no horses in North America until colonists brought them over from Europe.)
The Great Sun always rode in a litter, which is a special kind of carriage carried on the shoulders of other men.
What was Natchez food like in the days before supermarkets?
The Natchez were farming people. They raised crops of corn, beans, pumpkins, and squash.
Natchez men also hunted deer, wild turkeys, and buffalo and went fishing in the rivers.
Natchez recipes included cornbread, hominy, and soups.
What were Natchez weapons and tools like in the past?
Natchez hunters used bows and arrows or spears. Fishermen used fishing harpoons and nets.
Farmers used hoes carved from hickory wood. In war, Natchez men fired their bows or fought with tomahawks and war clubs. Natchez warriors sometimes
used hide shields to defend themselves.
What were Natchez arts and crafts like?
The Natchez were known for their pottery, baskets,
and woodcarvings.
What other Native Americans did the Natchez tribe interact with?
The Natchez traded regularly with the other tribes of the southeast, especially the Caddo
and Chickasaw. These tribes communicated using a simplified trade language
called Mobilian Jargon. Sometimes the Natchez fought with the neighboring
Chitimacha and
Choctaw tribes. After their defeat by the French, Natchez refugees were
adopted into the Chickasaw,
Creek, and
Cherokee tribes.
What kinds of stories did the Natchez tell?
There are many traditional Natchez legends and fairy tales. Storytelling was very important to the
Natchez Indian culture. Here is a story about the sacred fire of the Natchez.
What about Natchez religion?
Sorry, but we cannot help you with religious information. Religions are too complicated and culturally sensitive to describe appropriately
in only a few simple sentences, and we strongly want to avoid misleading anybody. You can visit this site to learn more about
Natchez sun worship or this site about
Indian religions in general.
Can you recommend a good book for me to read?
You may like Southeastern Legends,
a collection of Native American tales from many Southeastern tribes including the Natchez.
Or The Natchez Indians
is a good book about Natchez culture and history for kids.
You can also browse through our reading list of recommended American Indian books in general.
How do I cite your website in my bibliography?
You will need to ask your teacher for the format he or she wants you to use. Our names are Laura Redish and
Orrin Lewis and the title of our site is Native Languages of the Americas. The site was first created in 1998 and last updated in 2006.
Thanks for your interest in the Natchez Indian people and their language!
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