Near Natchitoches in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Desadier School For Native Americans
Photographed by Joshua Lee Johnson
1. Desadier School For Native Americans Marker
On this spot in the 1870s, Chief Powder Face (Joseph Pereda Desadier) and his son, Chief Hawkeye (Joseph Desadier Jr.), built the first school for Bayou Bourbeaux's Native American children. The land and school where provided by the chiefs. Oral tribal history tells of the day U.S. forces stormed into their tribe's village and removed eight children from their homes, never to be seen again. They were taken away to be assimilated by erasing their native culture. This event brought about the chief's decision to "hide in plain sight." Desadier School was built to teach the native children the ways of the white men. Adolph Felix Desadier (Chief Square Head), his wife Victoria Fee Flores, Clarence Desadier (Chief Parrain) and wife, Louella Waters, spent their lives protecting their native families. Desadier School is a testimony to these Native American chiefs, who kept their land and family while "hidden in plain sight."
Erected 2024 by Butte Tribe of Bayou Bourbeaux.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.
Location. 31° 49.703′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Louisiana. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Piney Woods. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chief White Smoke (approx. 1½ miles away); Natchitoches - Natchez Road (approx. 4½ miles away); Site of Fort Selden (approx. 6.7 miles away); U.S. Military Road #11 (approx. 6.8 miles away); Natchitoches Indians (approx. 8 miles away); Louis Juchereau de St. Denis (approx. 8 miles away); Natchitoches Historic District (approx. 8 miles away); Roque House (approx. 8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Natchitoches.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2024, by Joshua Lee Johnson of Castor, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 1,764 times since then and 97 times this year. Last updated on September 29, 2024, by Joshua Lee Johnson of Castor, Louisiana. Photo 1. submitted on September 26, 2024, by Joshua Lee Johnson of Castor, Louisiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and the surrounding area together in context. • Can you help?
