De Soto's First Encounters

Richard Green

De Soto encountered Indian groups as he traveled northwest from Florida. Chiefdoms were the precursors of tribes -- usually associated with mounds, they were ruled by a leader who had absolute power. But as de Soto arrived, chiefdoms had started to dissolve.

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De Soto from the Native Perspective

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The retelling of the de Soto story has been biased from a European perspective. It is time for Native Americans to offer their perspectives.

De Soto Expedition: Telling a Balanced Story

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Scott Pardue explains the importance of telling the story of De Soto in a balanced way.

The Significance of de Soto

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Scott Pardue shares the significance of de Soto's exploration throughout the Southeastern United States.

Tribes Shared Information on de Soto

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The tribes, or chiefdoms, who had long traded together, carefully observed and communicated de Soto’s abusive actions to forewarn others.

The Chickasaws: Avoiding an Uncontrolled Confrontation

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Green relates that while de Soto remained camped in their village, how careful the Chickasaws were to avoid doing anything to trigger violence.

The Native Outlook on a Sustainable Way of Life

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Hermann Trappman, historian and artist, discusses how the Native Americans viewed the world differently than the European conquistadors.