The Appalachees Story aired: Friday, March 18, 2005
Long before Ponce de Leon and Fernando de Soto set foot in Florida, there were the Apalachee Indians.
Among the explorers, the Appalachee had a reputation as fierce warriors. Still in the 17th century, thousands of them were baptized by Spanish friars who had set up missions in the area.
But when British troops drove the Spanish out in 1704, the Appalachee fled west, eventually settling in Louisiana.
Then the United States acquired Louisiana and the problems began anew for the Apalachee. American settlers burned down the Indians' homes in an attempt to take their land.
The tribe moved on again -- many thought they vanished into Texas. And it was written off as extinct.
Until one day in the 1990's...
Guests:
Bonnie McEwan is director of archeology at Mission San Luis in Tallahassee Florida.
