TUNICA-BILOXI INDIANS
Ms. Smith’s Social Studies
5th Hour
COMING TO LOUISIANA

Both the Tunica and Biloxi
Indians lived in Mississippi.
The Tunica Indians were
forced out of Mississippi
when the Chickasaw Indians
took over their lands
 The Biloxi Indians were
forced to leave by the French.

COMING TO LOUISIANA
By the late 1780s both reside in Avoyelles Parish
 In the 1920’s these tribes became allies and
joined together to form one tribe

SURVIVAL

Their homes were located near major waterways
taking advantage of trade routes.
They traded goods such as salt and arrow heads
 Instead of money Indians used shells, quartz, or
pearls

SURVIVAL

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe used waterways as a
source of travel and food.

They carved canoes from cypress logs
SURVIVAL

They are well known for their pottery, baskets,
and woodcarving.
SURVIVAL

The Tunica people were farming people.
Both men and women planted and harvested crops.
 Their main crops were corn, beans, squash, and
pumpkins.
 They were known for intercropping (planting in the
same spot)

SURVIVAL

Not only were the men farmers, they were also
hunters.

They hunted deer, wild turkey, and buffalo
SURVIVAL

While the men were the hunters the women
collected fruits, nuts, and mushroom used for
cooking and cared for the children
SURVIVAL
The children did the same things all children do-play with each other, go to school and help
around the house.
 Tunica children like to go hunting and fishing
with their fathers.
 They did have dolls, toys and games


Stickball – popular game
SURVIVAL
Their villages were surrounded by reinforced
walls called palisades.
 Their homes were thatched houses.


One family lived in a house year round.
CLOTHING
The men wore breechclothes and leggings
 The women wore wrap around skirts of deer skin
or fiber
 Both men and women wore tattoos and
moccasins for their feet.

SUMMARY

Tunica-Biloxi Indians had a very simple lifestyle.
They were forced from their homes and quickly
adapted to their new surroundings. Homes were
built near major waterways to allow easy access
for travel and food. Trading, hunting, and
farming became a way of live for the TunicaBiloxi Indians. Louisiana is still the home to
many Tunica-Biloxi Indians.