Yuchi Tribe
Yuchi Tribe
The Yuchi people, spelled Euchee and Uchee, are people of a Native American tribe who historically lived in the eastern Tennessee River valley in Tennessee in the 16th century. The Yuchi built monumental earthworks. In the late 17th century, they moved south to Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. After suffering many fatalities from epidemic disease and warfare in the 18th century, several surviving Yuchi were removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s, together with their allies the Muscogee Creek.
The term Yuchi is commonly interpreted to mean “over there sit/live” or “situated yonder.” Their autonym, or name for themselves, Tsoyaha or Coyaha, means “Children of the Sun.” The Shawnee called them Tahokale, and the Cherokee call them Aniyutsi.
Yuchi Tribal Leaders
Timpoochee Barnard
Yuchi Leader. Born one of eight children of a Scots trader, Timothy Barnard, and a Yuchi woman. He was taught the Yuchi dialect of his mother, the English of his father, and the Muscogee dialect of the Creek people since the Yuchi people had been largely exterminated or absorbed by the Creek and Cherokee by the 18th century. Barnard served as the agent of the Lower Creeks in 1793 and 1794 and was one of the interpreters at the Treaty of Coleraine in 1796. In January 1814 Barnard was commissioned major and placed in command of one hundred Yuchi warriors. Barnard fought with the Americans at the Battle of Callabee Creek. He was one of the signatories to the treaty of Fort Jackson in August 1814 which ended the Creek War. In 1818 under General Andrew Jackson he fought in the Seminole War and distinguishing himself in the Battle at Natural Bridge, where was rescued the only survivor of a massacre on the Apalachicola River. He took a Creek wife and settled near the Creek Agency on the Flint River in present day Georgia where he fathered six children. In 1825 Chief McIntosh of the Creek nation, signed the Treaty of Indian Springs which agreed to cede all Lower Creek land to Georgia. Barnard opposed the treaty, and was one of the delegation that went to Washington to protest against its validity. Barnard then retired to his home near Fort Mitchell in present day Alabama. He was believed to have been about 60 at the time of his death. Andrew Jackson would later eulogize Barnard to his son, William: “A braver man than your father never lived.”
| BIRTH | |
|---|---|
| DEATH | unknown |
| BURIAL |
Fort Mitchell, Russell County, Alabama, USA |
Credit: Iola
Editor: Here is our collection of weblinks about the Yuchi tribe and their society. The links include traditional folklore, contemporary art as well as museum pieces, and issues and struggles of today as well as the tragedies of yesterday. Suggestions for new links are always welcome.
Yuchi Language:
Information and language learning materials from the Yuchi Indian language.
Yuchi Facts for Kids:
Questions and answers about Yuchi culture.
Yuchi Legends:
Collection of Yuchi Indian legends and folktales.
Euchee Tribe of Indians:
Official homepage of the Oklahoma Euchee tribe.
Yuchi Indian Tribe History:
Overview of Yuchi history and culture.
Yuchi Legends:
Collection of Yuchi Indian legends and folktales.
Yuchi Indians:
Detailed article on the Yuchi tribe from the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.
Four Directions: Yuchi:
Timeline and links about Yuchi history.