Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas

The Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas (Alabama: Albaamaha–Kosaatihaha, Coushatta: Albaamoha–Kowassaatiha) is a federally recognized tribe made up of people from the Alabama and Koasati groups. They live in Polk County, Texas, in the United States.

These tribes are part of the larger Muscogee or Creek Confederacy, which included many tribes from places like Georgia and Alabama in the Southeastern U.S..

The Alabama–Coushatta Tribe is one of only three federally recognized tribes in Texas. By 2022, the tribe had more than 1,200 members, with about 589 living on their reservation in Texas.

History

The Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas is one of eight groups whose people come from the Muscogee Confederacy in the Southeast. Most of these groups were moved from their homes in Alabama and Georgia in the 1830s during a sad time called the Trail of Tears. Some moved to Oklahoma, others to Louisiana, and a few stayed in Alabama.

The Alabama and Coushatta peoples moved from Alabama to Louisiana and then to East Texas in the late 1700s. They settled in an area called the Big Thicket and made their homes there. Later, when more people from the United States moved into the area, the tribes tried to make friends and trade with them. Famous leader Sam Houston helped protect them during tough times.

For a while, the U.S. government tried to stop recognizing the tribe as a special group, but later changed its mind and helped them again in 1987. Today, the tribe has its own land and works to keep its traditions alive. The people speak the Alabama and Koasati languages, which are part of the Muskogean languages.

Reservation

The Alabama–Coushatta Reservation was set up in 1854. Back then, the state bought 1,110.7 acres of land for the Alabama tribe, and about 500 tribal members moved there that winter. Later, more land was added, and today the reservation covers 4,593.7 acres. It is located 17 miles east of Livingston, Texas, in the Big Thicket area.

Demographics

The Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas has a population of 679 people. Most of them, about 87%, identify as American Indian. Many families have young children, with over 40% of the people being younger than 18.

About two-thirds of the tribe members have jobs, but their average income is lower than the rest of the country. Some people live in poverty, and not everyone has a high school education or internet access at home. However, more people own their own homes compared to the national average.

Environment

The tribe takes care of its land by using special methods to manage fires. This helps keep the forests healthy, especially for the longleaf pine trees. These trees are very important because people in the tribe have used them for making baskets and building homes for many years. Most of the longleaf pine forests in the area have disappeared, so the tribe works hard to protect and grow more of these trees. They look after more than 200 acres of pine trees they planted and another 200 acres of older trees.

Government

The Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas has its main office in Livingston, Texas. The tribe is led by a tribal council. The council includes a chair, a vice chair, and five other members, with a principal chief and a second chief helping guide the tribe.

As of May 2024, the leaders are: Principal chief Donnis B. Battise, Second chief Millie Thompson Williams, and council members Rick Sylestine, Nita Battise, Crystal Stephenson, Melanie Batisse, Tina Battise, and Yolanda Poncho. Millie Thompson Williams was the first woman to serve as second chief for the tribe.

Economy

After the Civil War, the Alabama and Coushatta people in Polk County had a hard time because few spoke English and they struggled to find jobs. Today, the tribe runs two main businesses: Naskila Casino, a casino, and A.C.T. Holdings, an investment and economic development LLC. The tribe also has a campground open to the public on Lake Tombigbee, along with a truck stop, a smoke shop, and a souvenir shop.

In the past, the tribe relied on gathering, hunting, farming, fishing, and trading. More recently, they have focused on services and entertainment to create jobs and earn money. In 2002, they opened a convenience store, gas station, and tobacco store on U.S. Highway 190. Because of the tribe’s special status, these stores can sell products without state taxes. This business is slowly becoming successful, providing some profit and jobs.

The tribe also opened an entertainment center for tourists that offered casino games. They believed this followed state rules from the 1992 Texas Lottery Law. However, after nine months, the state sued to close it. A federal court agreed, saying the tribe could not offer such games because of rules from when they were recognized in 1987.

In 2006, the tribe sued a lobbyist named Jack Abramoff for trying to trick them out of money. He was working for another tribe that also had a casino. Abramoff was later punished for his actions.

Without the casino, the tribe lost funding for many programs and over 300 jobs in Polk County. They continue to work toward reopening their entertainment center with support from state and federal governments.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act from 1988 sets the rules for tribal gaming. It allows tribes to run certain types of games, depending on what the state permits. The act says gaming money must be used for government or charitable purposes, like building homes, schools, and roads, or helping health care and education.

Naskila Casino

Naskila Casino has over 790 bingo games in a big building. The tribe has fought in court with Texas over the casino. In 2001, Texas won a case stopping the tribe from operating a casino. In 2016, Texas tried to stop the tribe’s bingo hall, but the judge ruled in favor of the tribe because bingo is allowed in Texas. In 2021, the tribe joined Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in asking the United States Supreme Court to protect their right to run bingo halls. In June 2022, the Supreme Court agreed with both tribes.

Culture

In 1994, the Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas started building a cultural center, which is now open. In April 2022, they began building a large new education center that will include classrooms, a library, a gym, play areas, and programs for young people.

The tribe’s reservation has two churches: a Christian First Assembly of God Church and a First Indian Presbyterian Church. Every June, the tribe hosts a powwow on the reservation.