Bulbancha

Remembering the “Place of Many Tongues”

The city known as “New Orleans” occupies Bulbancha, the unceded land of the Biloxi, Chitimacha, Houma, Chahta Yakni (Choctaw), Tunica, the Atakapa Ishak, Opelousas, Chawasha, and all Indigenous peoples of this region. “Bulbancha” is a Choctaw word meaning “the Place of Many Tongues.” Located at a confluence of waterways and travel routes, this place has witnessed trade and cultural interaction between various Indigenous Nations for many centuries.

This city is a place in which Indigenous and African Peoples have been trafficked, enslaved, and discriminated against, and where People of Color have fought for justice and equity for over 300 years. Indigenous Peoples have contributed an enduring cultural legacy to our city, and Indigenous Peoples live in Bulbancha to this day. We acknowledge these Peoples, and give thanks for their legacy as we strive for a more just world.