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Opelousa Indian Language (Opelousas)
The Opelousa Indians were a small tribe of central Louisiana, relatives of the Atakapas.
There are no remaining records of the Opelousa language, but it was probably a Gulf language.
8th-century Indian agent John Sibley reported that Opelousa was distinct from Atakapa and that many Opelousas were bilingual in the two languages.
The Opelousas have not existed as a tribe since the late 1700's, when they were ravaged by an epidemic. Most of the survivors are said to have merged
with the Atakapa tribe, who were also victims of the same epidemic.
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Opelousa Indian Tribe History:
Article on the Opelousa tribe from the Handbook of American Indians.
The Opelousas:
Article on the Opelousa Indians from the University of Louisiana.
Opelousa Tribe:
Opelousa tribal profile, timeline, and links.
Books for sale on the Opelousa Indians
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
Indian Tribes of the Lower Mississippi Valley:
Book on the history of the Gulf and Mississippian tribes, including a chapter on the Opelousa.
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