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The Creek Indians, part of the Five Civilized Tribes, were once a dominant nation in the southeastern United States. They were an amalgamation of several tribes, with settlements around a “mother city.” The family played an important role in their life, and they lived in mud huts. Today, only a few Creek nations have federal or state recognition, with approximately 10 tribes still located across the nation.
The Creek Indians, also called Muscogee Indians, are a large Indian nation that once dominated most of the southeastern United States. They were part of the Five Civilized Tribes, as they assumed much of the lifestyle of the European settlers and got along well with their neighbours. By 1600, most Creek Indians were driven westward into Oklahoma by Europeans, although some Creek Indians can still be found living in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama today.
The true Indian spelling of Muscogee is Mvskoke. Their native language is also known by the same name, although most have learned to speak English. The tribesmen were later coined by European Creek Indians, due to their geographical location and their tendency to create ceremonial pyramids along river banks.
While often seen as one tribe, the Creek are actually a collective amalgamation of several Native American tribes. Their settlements are situated around a “mother city,” similar to a state capital in the United States. A city rarely has more than 500-600 people, and as the population increases, some of the occupants leave for a new location nearby. Each town is built around a square, with shops and houses around the perimeter.
The traditional home of the Creek Indians was a mud hut, complete with a turf or log roof. This later evolved into log home construction, possibly due to European influence. Nowadays, houses have become more modernized. Cities still consist of the same basic structure, but houses are often more scattered around farming and agriculture.
The family generally plays an important role in Creek Indian life. Clans are made up of families whose ancestors belonged to the same group: each Creek is a member of the same clan as its mother. The mother’s brother is thought to be the primary leader and role model in the family. Not all clan members are related by blood, but they commonly refer to each other as family members. For example, the children of a Creek Indian tribe often refer to each other as brother and sister, even if not blood relatives.
Today, there are few government-recognized Creek nations in the United States. The only two that have achieved federal recognition are the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama. A handful of other tribes have gained state recognition in Alabama and Georgia. In total, there are approximately 10 Creek tribes still located across the nation.
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