History

- The Creeks are descendants of the Mississippian mound-building people who thrived around Southeastern population centers.

- Ancestors of the Creeks have lived in the region for around 10,000 years and traveled extensive trade routes throughout eastern North America and westward into Mesoamerica.

- Recent archaeological research proves that the ancient peoples of eastern North America independently developed farming practices in which they domesticated or cultivated native seeds and squash centuries before corn and beans were introduced from Mesoamerica.

- The Creeks were adept at managing their natural resources using fire and tree girdling to manage weeds, increase production of wild food plants and improve forage for animal management.

- Before the Europeans arrived with their many infectious diseases the ancestors of the Creeks had enjoyed centuries of relative health and vigor.

-Within a brief time following first contact with Europeans, as many as 90% of the Southeastern indigenous population died by the sword, from small pox and other European diseases, or were captured and sold as slaves.

- The Muscogee and other neighboring tribal groups speaking several languages were part of a loose confederacy. They once lived in small independent towns along waterways throughout most of what is now Georgia, Alabama and north Florida as well as surrounding territories. Collectively they were called "Creeks" by British traders.

- The Creeks were skilled farmers, hunters and fishermen and for the most part lived well off the abundance of the land. They were adept at making all the material things they needed from the natural resources around them. This included tools, weapons, clothing, shelter, clay pots, baskets and woven-fiber fabrics -- all functional and beautiful.

- The Creeks were deeply respectful of the natural environment. Through ceremony, song and dance they expressed this deep respect.

- When the first English settlers came to the Southeast, the Indian people were friendly to them, offered them land and helped them learn the skills they needed to survive in this new environment.

- In return, many thousands of Southeastern Native people were captured and sold as slaves to work on Caribbean Island plantations.

- When the first Europeans arrived in mighty sailing ships with powerful guns, they thought the indigenous people were primitive and backward because they did not have such advanced technology. We need to remember that the Native people lacked the one essential resource for the advancement of technology. In all of North America there were no large animals such as horses and oxen that could be domesticated and used as a reliable source of energy to start the progression of technological development.

- In other ways, the Indians were far more advanced than their European counterparts. Life was not easy, but the Creek people lived in complete harmony with their surrounding environment. They enjoyed an ordered community way of life and a personal freedom entirely unknown to but a few elite in Europe.

- Gradually the Creeks were squeezed off their land by European settlers and pushed to the west. In 1836, by order of President Andrew Jackson, the infamous Indian Removal began. All Creek people were forced from their homes, held in prison camps and marched westward to Indian territory. Thousands of old people and children died along the way. A good and ancient way of life was forever destroyed.

- Being masters of the forests, rivers and swamps many Creeks were able to avoid removal by hiding and outright public denial of their Creek heritage. Eventually they intermarried with other races and blended into the dominant culture. Some were able to maintain a semblance of 'community' with other Creeks, but many were left in isolation, quietly clinging to the remnants of their culture.

- Today there are thousands of Creek descendants still living in the Southeast and indeed across the country. Most have been denied all knowledge of their heritage and are actively seeking to learn and honor their Creek ancestors.

- Shining through the images of a long-passed way of life, we can clearly see the underlying intelligence, spiritual richness, wisdom and basic human values which can teach many lessons about living well in today's world. This is what the early European and American settlers failed to see. Let us not miss it now.

Diverse Peoples of the Creek Confederacy

The Creeks of the Southeast were not one single people, speaking one language. Rather the Creek Confederacy was made up of a number of independent tribal groups with a common agrarian way-of-life who were united for the common good of all. All major decisions affecting the whole were meant to be made by consensus. Therefore there was no single leader with the authority to make treaties or speak for the whole without consultation.

A New Look at History - Even though this working concept seems perfectly logical in today's United States of America, this division of authority among the Creeks was largely ignored by the early state and federal governments as well as some Creek leaders themselves who ceded vast tracts of land without the knowledge or consent of the People. The consequences were disastrous as the rights and lands of thousands of Creeks were taken away by devious means, leaving them destitute, hated and helpless.

Southeastern history, taught from the point of view of the victors, still today, often minimizes the wrongs done to the Creeks and focuses only on the angry reprisals and the danger the 'savages' represented to the thousands of 'peaceful settlers' flooding onto Indian lands. Perhaps in fairness and honesty, we should also acknowledge the human suffering of thousands of settled Creek families who had long since adapted to a new way of life, yet were forcibly driven from their homes and prime farm lands onto the fringes of existence and ultimately, for many, out of their ancient homeland entirely. Let us not forget.

The New Way of Thinking about the Early Southeastern Creek Peoples

Some Thoughts to Ponder...

In just a few years, beginning with the Desoto Expedition in 1540, a holocaust of Spanish Swords and diseases befell the ancient People of the Southeast.

The amazing thing is that these hearty, adaptable, self sufficient People survived and over the next 100 years or so the People made these great accomplishments

1. They UNITED - They pulled together the scattered remnants of several culturally diverse yet inter - related peoples speaking several languages or dialects into a loose confederation of independent towns and villages. This would later become known as the Creek Confederacy.

2. Created a new form of GOVERNMENT - They adopted an egalitarian form of government far different than the hierarchy of the past which was based on heredity and rank.

3. Preserved TRADITIONS - They carefully preserved & adapted many of their cultural traditions which have carried over as compelling links to the past.

4. Utilized SKILLS & LABOR - Everyone had certain skills to help provide for the family and was expected to use them in a very well defined division of labor.

a. They knew the techniques of farming, and had long been cultivating many food plants.

b. They knew how, when and where to hunt and fish.

c. They knew what wild plants were used for medicines, food and flavoring.

d. They knew how to make everything they needed from the bounty of the land.

5. They had an ordered reckoning of KINSHIP which fostered strong families and community.

6. They had STRICT RULES OF CONDUCT which, when broken were swiftly punished resulting in very little crime.

7. COUNCIL OF THE WISE - They had an orderly way of discussing problems and problem solving.

8. They had a deep respect for a HIGHER AUTHORITY which permeated every aspect of their daily lives, requiring them to be pure and to live in harmony with nature and one another.

9. They worked to provide all they needed to live well, yet they had a PERSONAL FREEDOM AND LEISURE available to only an elite few in Europe.

When the Europeans came again, they could not see the beauty and logic of the Creek Peoples' way of life. The Europeans thought them to be ignorant, lazy, childlike savages less intelligent and less human than themselves.

Sadly, this way of thinking has not changed considerably even unto the present day.

Though their way of life was vastly different from their mound-builder ancestors, many aspects of Creek oral traditions, counting system, architecture and ceremony harkens back to the life ways of the ancients.

A new wind is blowing as traditional Creeks and people of Southeastern Creek descent do the work of discovering and sharing a greater knowledge and understanding of our proud heritage.

The time has come for the contributions of our Creek ancestors to the rich historical and cultural fabric of our Southeastern homeland to receive the place of honor and recognition it rightfully deserves.