Merryville in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Atákapa Trace Junction
wŕnne tol hokínul
— "roads join together" ...Atŕkapa —
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, July 5, 2019
1. Atŕkapa Trace Junction Marker
Portion of historical Atákapa trails connecting their S.E. Texas bands ("Sunset People") to S.W. Louisiana bands ("Sunrise People"), especially the Opelousa band. Composed of six bands, the "Atákapas", a Choctaw name, called themselves "Ishák" ("The People").
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles.
Location. 30° 50.109′ N, 93° 30.572′ W. Marker is in Merryville, Louisiana, in Beauregard Parish. Marker is at the intersection of Ronald Reagan Highway (U.S. 190) and State Highway 111, on the right when traveling west on Ronald Reagan Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Merryville LA 70653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Atakapa-Coushatta Trace (approx. 5.7 miles away); Site of the Coushatta Indian Village (approx. 5.7 miles away); Charles "Leather Bitches" Smith (approx. 5.9 miles away); Leather Britches (approx. 5.9 miles away); Burk's Log Cabin (approx. 5.9 miles away); Sam Houston Jones (approx. 5.9 miles away); Grabow Riot (approx. 10.2 miles away); World War II DeRidder Army Air Base Memorial (approx. 10.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Merryville.
More about this marker
this page online
Also see . . .
1. The American Revolutionary War 1779 and Louisiana's Militia. History of the Atakapa involvement in the American Revolutionary War (Submitted on July 31, 2020, by Kenneth Ramagost of Unknown, Louisiana.)
2. Library of Congress historical document showing the lives of Atakapa Indians. Because the document is difficult to read, I used the text to speech for easy listening. (Submitted on July 31, 2020, by Kenneth Ramagost of Unknown, Louisiana.)
Additional commentary.
1. An American officer's record of staying with the Atakapas.
Atakapa Indians are inhabitants of south-east Texas and south Louisiana to the Atchafalaya Basin east side and considered the majority Indian population for this area before the Revolutionary War. They were heroes of the War because 180 traveled with Acadians via Bayou Goula to the Fort of Baton Rouge helping Bernardo De Galvez become victorious over the British in one of the most important battles of the war. [Also see links 1 & 2 above].
The second link written by Dr. J. O. Dyer shares an American officer's short stay with the Atakapa in the early 1800s. The Atakapa settling in Louisiana for thousands
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, July 5, 2019
2. Atŕkapa Trace Junction Marker
They were almost destroyed by northern tribes being the only tribe which sold land to the Louisiana colonies. I needed to repeatedly review the report because it showed how south Louisianans existed as Indian fishermen with many of their livelihood methods. This is Louisiana's immigrant common grounds literally and figuratively, an environment of brothers and sisters and I believe recognized as everyone's Ancestors by spirit and blood. [See link 2 above for the Library of Congress document.]
— Submitted July 31, 2020, by Kenneth Ramagost of Unknown, Louisiana.
Photographed By Kenneth Ramagost
3. American Revolution, 180 Atakapas assisted Bernardo De Galvez in the Revolutionary War
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2019, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 439 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 21, 2019. 3. submitted on July 31, 2020, by Kenneth Ramagost of Unknown, Louisiana.
