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Native American Tribes of Tennessee

Did you know the word "Tennessee" comes from a Cherokee Indian name? It comes from Tanasi, which was the name of a major Cherokee town in southeastern Tennessee. The Cherokee Indians were not the only native people of this region, however.

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Tennessee included:

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The Cherokee tribe

The Chickasaw tribe

The Koasati tribe

The Quapaw tribe

The Shawnee tribe

The Yuchi tribe

See also our new Cherokee, Chickasaw, Koasati, Quapaw, Shawnee, and Yuchi Facts for Kids pages!

There are no federally recognized Indian tribes in Tennessee today.

Most Native Americans were forced to leave Tennessee during the Indian Removals of the 1800's. These tribes are not extinct, but except for the descendants of Tennessee Indians who escaped from Removal, they do not live in Tennessee anymore. They were moved to Indian reservations in Oklahoma instead. If you click on the link for each tribe above, you can find more information about them.

Other Indian tribes, bands and communities remaining in Tennessee today include:

Chikamaka Cherokees:
PO Box 998
Tracy City, TN 37387
http://www.chikamaka-cwy.org/

Etowah Cherokee Nation:
PO Box 5454
Cleveland, TN 37320

Recommended books about Tennessee Native Americans:

Tennessee Indian Dictionary: Introducing Tennessee's Native American history and culture to kids.

Tennessee's Indian Peoples: History of the Cherokees and other Tennessee Indians.

Tribes That Slumber: Indians of the Tennessee Region: Interesting ethnography of the Native American tribes of Tennessee.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Tennessee state:

Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs: Organization representing the interests of Tennessee's Native American community.

Native Nashville: News, historical and genealogicl information, and links related to Tennessee Indian tribes.

Back to the index of Native American tribes
Back to our index of Indian tribes by state
Back to our Native American websites for kids

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