Origin of the Name

The name "Houma" comes from the Choctaw word *humma*, meaning "red." The Houma people were known as the "Red People," likely referencing either their war colors or red stick markers that symbolized their territory. This has also been linked to the "Red Stick" or *Isti Humma*, a symbol used to mark boundaries.

Range

Historically, the Houma lived in what is now westernMississippi and Louisiana, especially along the lower Mississippi River. By the 18th century, they had migrated southward and were settled around present-day Houma, Louisiana. Today, the Houma Nation is primarily based in southern Louisiana, especially in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

Diet

The Houma diet was rich and diverse, based on the natural resources of the Mississippi River delta. They farmed maize (corn), beans, squash, and sunflowers. They also fished in the bayous and rivers, caught shellfish, and hunted deer, alligators, and birds. Wild plants like berries and roots supplemented their food supply.

Home Type

The Houma lived in thatched huts made of palmetto leaves and cane, suited to the swampy, humid climate of southern Louisiana. Their homes were often raised on stilts to protect against flooding. The structures were dome-shaped or rectangular with sloped roofs.

Culture

Houma culture blended influences from neighboring tribes like the Choctaw and later European colonists. They spoke a Muskogean language, now lost, but many Houma people today speak French or Louisiana Creole due to centuries of French colonial influence. Spiritual beliefs included reverence for nature spirits and the sun, and they practiced ceremonies involving dance, music, and feasting. The Houma were known for their craftsmanship, especially basket-weaving, palmetto mats, and painted pottery. One cultural tradition involved the use of a "red stick" to mark boundaries and declare war—a practice that later inspired the name for Baton Rouge, Louisiana ("red stick" in French). Storytelling, especially about animals and tribal history, was also an important part of Houma life.

Warfare

The Houma were skilled warriors who used bows, clubs, and blowguns. While not as expansionist as some larger tribes, they defended their territory vigorously. Their conflicts often arose from competition over resources or alliances with European powers. In the colonial era, the Houma allied with the French against tribes like the Chickasaw and the British-backed tribes. As European colonization intensified, warfare became more about survival and preservation of land and culture.

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Discussion Questions

1. How did the Houma people's environment shape their food and housing choices?
2. What role did the "red stick" play in Houma society, and how did it influence place names today?
3. How did the Houma adapt to cultural influences from European colonists?
4. Why is it important to preserve the cultural traditions of tribes like the Houma today?

Glossary

• Bayou – A slow-moving stream or river, typically found in low-lying, swampy areas of the southern United States.
• Choctaw – A Native American tribe from the southeastern United States; their language influenced many tribal names, including "Houma."
• Muskogean language – A family of Native American languages spoken by several southeastern tribes, including the ancestral language of the Houma.
• Palmetto – A type of palm plant with fan-shaped leaves, used by the Houma to build roofs and walls for their homes.
• Creole – A cultural and linguistic blend of African, French, Spanish, and Native American influences found especially in Louisiana.
• Red Stick – A symbolic object used by the Houma and other tribes to mark territory or declare war; also the origin of the name "Baton Rouge."
• Sunflowers – One of the crops grown by the Houma; valued for their seeds and oil.
• Stilts – Posts or pillars used to raise houses above the ground to avoid flooding, especially in wet or swampy areas.