Atakapa People - Subdivisions or Bands

Subdivisions or Bands

Atakapa-speaking peoples are called Atakapan, while Atakapa refers to a specific tribe.

• Western Atakapa
  • Akokisa, lived along the lower course of Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers and eastern shores of Galveston Bay
  • Atakapa (proper), Calcasieu Lake near present day Lake Charles
  • Bidai, around Bedias Creek, ranging from the Brazos River to Neches River, Texas
  • Deadose, a band of Bidai that separated in the early 18th c., east-central Texas
  • Orcoquiza, lived north of Galveston Bay along the Trinity and Colorado rivers
  • Patiri or Pastia, north of the San Jacinto River valley, Texas. Little is known about them.
  • Tlacopsel, Acopsel, or Lacopspel, southeast Texas
• Eastern Atakapa
  • Groups settled near Vermilion Bay and the Mermentau River, Louisiana. Present-day Acadiana parishes of St. Martin, Lafayette, Iberia, St. Landry, Vermilion, St. Mary and Acadia in Louisiana.