Hello Natchez Indians...we meet again!

Sitting at home the other day, my husband says "Why haven't you done a post on the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians?"

And I responded with "Uh...."

Of course we have been to the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians...just not in the last year since starting Instead of Doing Dishes!

He planted the seed...so on a beautiful summer day we headed to Natchez and to the Grand Village.

The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians is not where you would expect to find it.  Behind a local hospital and medical community, through a residential neighborhood...there sits the former home of a now extinct group of Native Americans.

When you pass through the gates, you will probably head first to the museum.  At least, that is what we did.  Staff? Super nice! We signed in and started the self guided tour of the artifacts that have been found not just on-site, but all over the Natchez area!

My four year old found the museum to be "pretty cool" (his words:)). But his favorite part was the "Touch Table." Yes, you read me right.  All of us got to touch grinding stones, bones, antlers, rocks...all sorts of artifacts! You want a kid friends place, this would be it. 

Hank shows off a grindstone.

Luke poses with antlers.

There is a short eight minute film offered for anyone who wants to view it.  The room with the television is quite incredible for the fact that it houses local artists interpretations of the Natchez Indians. These artists range from school children to adults.  It is quite an impressive collection!

A little history on the Natchez Indians.  I have visited the Grand Village several times, but I have also read a brief account of the Natchez Indians.  Obviously, the namesake for which the town of Natchez was named.  The Natchez Indians were once a thriving tribe covering lots of territory. From the banks of the Mighty Mississippi, to St. Catherine's Creek, and even into Franklin County, the Natchez Indians were thought to be one of the more extensive tribes of it's time.  Like most Native Americans, Europeans arrived bringing disease and fights over territory.  By the time the Natchez left, there were not to many remaining.

The Natchez Indians were made their way to live with other tribes in Oklahoma.  Once there, they were absorbed into the larger tribes and the name Natchez Indian no longer existed.

From the museum, you take a short walk through the local flora to find "the village." The Natchez Indians left three mounds.  One mound was abandoned by the Indians in the 1700's and remains much as it was when discovered.  The other two mounds, the Great Sun's Mound and the Temple Mound, are also visible. The Great Sun's Mound would have been the home of the village chief.  Upon a chief's death, the mound would be raised for the next chief.

Mound B and C

The Temple mound would have housed the bones of the chiefs who had gone before as well as a perpetual fire in honor of those chiefs.  

There is a nature trail down to St. Catherine's Creek, but we weren't in the shoes for a hike today (this has never stopped us before, but after the debacle at Historic Jefferson College, Heather has vowed to never hike with me again :) We will see...)

A reconstructed home also sits in the opening.  The kids got a kick of getting to go inside and seeing how small houses used to be for the Natchez Indians.

The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians makes for a lovely stroll any day, but if you really want to see it in action...check out the annual Pow-Wow!

We did not make it this past year, but here are a few sights from previous Pow-wows.  If you are in the Natchez area when this goes down, you should definitely check it out. The costumes are amazing! The music and pageantry are something worth seeing.

Be sure to pack up the family one day soon and check out the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians!

Until next time,
Rosemary