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Home/Bayou Region/Houma Language
palmetto hut near tree branches on a mowed grass lawn

Houma Language

An effort is underway to reclaim the Native language of the Houma Tribe of southeastern Louisiana. Though tribal members stopped speaking the Houma language generations ago, a simple song has become the key to its restoration.

drawing of a native man with cypress trees and a fish
A tribal image on display at Los Islenos Museum in St. Bernard, LA.

the houma in louisiana

When the first Europeans arrived in Louisiana, the Houma Tribe lived close to Baton Rouge. Colleen Billiot, a Houma Tribe member, notes, “The reason Baton Rouge is called Baton Rouge, that red stick was our red stick. It denoted where our lands ended and the Bayou Goula began.” Over time, the Houma migrated to the bayou parishes of southeastern Louisiana, adapting to life as fishermen and trappers. In doing so, they gradually began speaking Cajun French, causing their native language to fade into dormancy.

cassette tape in clear case labeled grandmothers Indian song
Audio cassette with recording of the alligator song.

song sparks houma language revival

“There were no native speakers of it for roughly a century when we started this project,” says Billiot, who co-founded the Houma Language Project over a decade ago. Her passion for reclaiming the Houma language, known as Uma, was ignited by a cassette tape recording of her great-grandmother singing the tcãtcuba’ song, which means “alligator” in Uma. But Billiot admits that beyond the word for alligator, little else was known about the song. “They didn’t have the specifics of what they were singing,” she explains.

the written word

old text with words written in native language and English
Houma words published by anthropologist John R. Swanton. (courtesy Smithsonian Institution)

More clues emerged that helped with the revival of the Uma language.  Among them were 80 Houma words written down over a century ago by anthropologist John R. Swanton, whose research on Native peoples of the southeastern United States was published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1911. Billiot’s team discovered that the Uma language had similarities to Choctaw. “When we didn’t have a word, we would look at Choctaw,” Billiot says, “we would transcribe it into our alphabet.”

houma language featured on tv

Watch this Heart of Louisiana story on reclaiming the Houma language.

a dictionary for the future

The Houma Language Project has now created a dictionary of more than 3,000 Uma words, which even includes terms for modern things like “computer” and “cell phone.” Some examples of Uma words are nita’ for bear, suba’ for horse, kweni’ for grandmother, and fufu’ for grandfather. To help teach the language, the project has made its alphabet, dictionary, and video lessons available online.

woman in gray print dress with shoulder length brown hair
Colleen Billiot at the Los Islenos Museum in St. Bernard, LA.

saving the houma language and culture

Billiot believes that reclaiming the Houma language is essential to restoring cultural pride. “Language is part of who you are and your culture,” she says. “It’s a great way to bring people together and give them a sense of pride.” Reclaiming the language of the Houma is likely to be a generations-long effort, but it is one that connects people to their roots and keeps a vital part of their heritage alive.

piece of native pottery, arrow points and stone tool
Pieces of native pottery, arrow points and stone tool.
blue posts holding up bell and Islenos sign in front of white house with green lawn
Los Islenos Museum in St. Bernard, LA.

houma language project online

You can learn more about the Uma language of the Houma Tribe online, including the dictionary, alphabet and video tutorials. Click here for the Houma Language Project. You can also watch videos on the Houma Language Project’s YouTube channel.

los islenos museum

The Los Islenos Museum is located at 1357 Bayou Road in St. Bernard, LA. The Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society of St. Bernard manages the property. The museum’s purpose is to promote the language, heritage and cultural traditions of the Canary Islanders who settled in the area in the late 18th Century.

louisiana’s native history

closeup of hands weaving a disk from palmetto straw

Houma Baskets

    woman wearing hat with shovel and bucket in archealogy dig

    Ice Age Dig

      hand woven baskets of river cane

      River Cane

        Written by:
        Dave McNamara
        Published on:
        August 20, 2024
        Thoughts:
        4 Comments

        Categories: Bayou Region, Featured

        Reader Interactions

        Comments

        1. Peggy Boudoin

          August 20, 2024 at 9:58 pm

          Love it I am Houma Indian good to learn this thanks

          Reply
        2. Linda Kelone

          August 23, 2024 at 5:14 pm

          Would love to learn your language.

          Reply
        3. Linda Kelone

          August 23, 2024 at 5:17 pm

          Would love to learn your language and to make your baskets. I am not a Houma Indian.

          Reply
        4. Gretta

          August 28, 2024 at 10:06 am

          My 11 year old grandaughter is a member of the Houma tribe. I am excited to learn that there are resources for her to learn more about her heritage on her mother’s side.

          Reply

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