The Chitimacha have lived in Louisiana for 6,000 years. They grew grains, sweet potatoes, corn, beans, squash and melons. Men were hunters and fishermen who used canoes to travel through the rivers.
The 18th century was very difficult for them. They had a long war with the French, resulting in their population being decimated and many becoming slaves to Europeans. Disease killed even more than the war. When the British defeated France in the French and Indian War in the 1750s-60s, they deported Acadians (French colonists) to Chitimacha lands. Acadians intermarried with the Chitimacha people, further weakening their distinction. The tribe was nearly extinct in the early 20th century. Many had to sell their land to pay taxes, weakening them economically.
The Chitimacha are among the only First Nations groups in Louisiana to have their reservation in their traditional land. Their population is growing, and they have taken charge of their children’s education, even though their language is extinct. They now speak English though a few speak Cajun. The Chitimacha have a casino and a museum that is funding a project to resurrect their language. In 2008 they began to work with Rosetta Stone to produce teaching tools for their language. Each Chitimacha family is given a copy to learn their ancient language.
This tribe has been Roman Catholic since the days of French colonists. Yet well over half of them are either secular or they practice their ethnic religion.
The Chitimacha people need the chance to grow and flourish as a people. They are taking concrete steps, but they have a long way to go.
Pray for the Chitimacha people to grow and flourish in the 21st century.
Pray for them to hear and respond to the message of Jesus Christ in their own language.
Pray for Chitimacha disciples to make more disciples.
Scripture Prayers for the Chitimacha in United States.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chitimacha
http://www.chitimacha.gov/history-culture/tribal-history
http://www.chitimacha.gov/
http://www.bigorrin.org/chitimacha_kids.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitimacha
https://www.chitimacha.gov/
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Chitimacha |
People Name in Country | Chitimacha |
Alternate Names | |
Population this Country | 400 |
Population all Countries | 400 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 2 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 11358 |
ROP3 Code | 102167 |
ROP25 Code | 301750 |
ROP25 Name | Chitimacha |
Country | United States | ||
Region | America, North and Caribbean | ||
Continent | North America | ||
10/40 Window | No | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Country | United States |
Region | America, North and Caribbean |
Continent | North America |
10/40 Window | No |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Primary Religion: | Ethnic Religions |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 1.00 %) |
30.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
50.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
20.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Primary Language | English (400 speakers) |
Language Code | eng Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | English (400 speakers) |
Language Code | eng Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking English |
Primary Language: English
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1530-1995) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1380-2011) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1382-2020) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |