Anniversary reflects decades of growth, cultural preservation and service to Tribal citizens and Central Louisiana.
MARKSVILLE, La. – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana is commemorating 45 years of federal recognition, marking nearly half a century of growth for the Tribe and its citizens while honoring the generations who worked to secure recognition in 1981.
The Tribe’s federal recognition became effective September 25, 1981, following a years-long effort to document the Tunica-Biloxi’s history, ancestry and continued existence as a Tribal Nation. The federal determination traced the Tribe’s documented history to 1698 and recognized the modern Tunica-Biloxi Tribe as the successor of the historic Tunica, Ofo and Avoyel tribes and part of the Biloxi Tribe.
The recognition effort was the result of years of work by Tribal leaders and citizens, including the late Chairman Earl J. Barbry Sr., who helped guide the Tribe through the federal recognition process and into a new era of Tribal self-government and economic development.
At the time of the federal recognition process, the Tribe had 200 members. Today, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has approximately 1,700 enrolled citizens across the United States. While the Tribe’s reservation remains in Marksville, where the Tunica-Biloxi people have deep ancestral roots, large communities of Tribal citizens also call the Houston and Chicago areas home.
“For our Tribe, federal recognition was the result of many years of determination by the people who came before us and believed deeply in protecting who we are,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “Over the past 45 years, we have grown in ways they could only have imagined, but we have never lost sight of the culture, traditions and sense of community they worked so hard to preserve. This anniversary gives us an opportunity to honor their work, celebrate how far we have come and continue building something even stronger for the generations that follow.”
Federal recognition established a formal government-to-government relationship between the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and the United States and helped provide a foundation for the Tribe to expand services and opportunities for its citizens. Since 1981, the Tribe has strengthened its government and developed programs supporting education, housing, health, public safety, language and culture, economic development and other needs of Tribal citizens, while continuing to grow its presence in Central Louisiana.
That growth has included major investments in both economic development and cultural preservation, while expanding the Tribe’s impact across Avoyelles Parish and Central Louisiana. In 1994, the Tribe opened what is now Paragon Casino Resort, which has become a significant employer in Central Louisiana and an important source of economic opportunity for Tribal citizens and the surrounding community. The Tribe has also continued preserving and strengthening traditions passed down for generations through language revitalization efforts and the Cultural and Educational Resources Center (CERC). Together, these efforts have strengthened the Tribe’s presence in the region and its connection to the communities it calls home.
“Forty-five years of federal recognition is an important milestone for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and a testament to the generations who have worked to preserve its culture, strengthen its community and build for the future,” said State Rep. Daryl Deshotel. “The Tribe has long been a valued partner in Avoyelles Parish, working alongside local leaders and residents to create opportunity and improve quality of life. I am proud to join the Tunica-Biloxi people in celebrating this anniversary and look forward to continuing our work together for the good of our community.”
As the Tribe celebrates 45 years of federal recognition, the milestone serves as both a reflection on how far the Tunica-Biloxi have come and a foundation for what comes next. Looking ahead, the Tribe remains focused on strengthening its sovereignty, creating new opportunities for Tribal citizens, preserving Tunica-Biloxi culture and ensuring future generations inherit a strong and thriving Tribal Nation.