Poarch Band of Creek Indians
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,340 (2006) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Alabama) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Muscogee | |
| Religion | |
| Protestant, traditional beliefs | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Muscogee Creek tribes |
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the only federally recognized tribe of Native Americans in Alabama. (The state has recognized eight other tribes.) Speaking the Muskogee language, they were formerly known as the Creek Nation East of the Mississippi. They are located mostly in Escambia County. Since the late twentieth century, they have operated three gaming casinos and a hotel.
The Poarch Band descends from Muscogee Creek Indians of the Lower Towns who sided with the United States against the rebelling Northern Creek "Redsticks" in the Creek War of 1813–1814. Many Creek remained in Alabama despite the Indian Removal Act of 1830. At the time, they had to give up being members of the Creek and became United States and state citizens, as a condition of remaining.
The people maintained their community ties and culture, living in Alabama as an identifiable, distinct community for the last two centuries. They gained recognition as a tribe from the federal government in the 20th century, and re-established their own government under a written constitution. The Poarch Band represents only some of the descendants of those who were not removed.
Over the decades, many Indians in the Southeast have intermarried with African-American or European-American neighbors. Some of their descendants assimilated into those social and cultural groups. Others identified as Creek, particularly if born to Creek women. The Creek kinship system was historically matrilineal, with children considered born to the mother's clan and taking their social status from her. Descent and property passed through the maternal line. As with the children of Anglo or French fathers, such mixed-race children of Creek women are fully part of the tribe.
To be eligible to enroll in the tribe, people must be descended from the American Indians listed on one of three rolls: the 1870 U.S. Census of Escambia County, Alabama; 1900 U.S. Census of Escambia County, Alabama; or 1900 U.S. Special Indian Census of Monroe County, Alabama. Besides being of Muscogee Creek heritage, they must have a minimum blood quantum of 1/4 American Indian blood (equivalent to one full-blooded Creek grandparent) and not be enrolled in any other tribe. Each federally recognized tribe has the right to make its own rules of citizenship.
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