Difference between revisions of "Chickee" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Chickee.jpg|thumb|160px|A Seminole camp with a sleep chickee, cooking chickee, and eating chickee. Photo by Alexander Linn.]]
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'''Chikee''' or '''Chickee''' ("house" in the [[Creek language|Creek]] and [[Mikasuki language]]s spoken by the [[Seminole]]s and [[Miccosukee]]s) is a shelter supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof and open sides. The chickee style of architecture — [[palmetto]] [[thatching|thatch]] over a [[bald cypress]] log frame —  was adopted by Seminoles during the [[Second Seminole War|Second]] and [[Seminole Wars#Third Seminole War|Third Seminole War]] as [[U.S.]] troops pushed them deeper into the Everglades and surrounding territory. Before the Second Seminole War, the Seminoles had lived in log cabins. Similar structures were used by the tribes in south Florida when the Spanish first arrived in the 16th century. Each chickee had its own purpose and together they were organized within a camp-type community. Chickees were used for cooking, sleeping, and eating.
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[[Image:Chickee.jpg|thumb|250px|A Seminole camp with a sleep chickee, cooking chickee, and eating chickee. Photo by Alexander Linn.]]
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'''Chikee''' or '''Chickee''' ("house" in the [[Creek language|Creek]] and [[Mikasuki language]]s spoken by the [[Seminole]]s and [[Miccosukee]]s) is a shelter supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof and open sides. The chickee was adopted by Seminoles as an easily erected, disposable shelter that allowed them to move camp frequently and easily when pursued by [[U.S.]] troops. Each chickee had its own purpose—cooking, sleeping, and eating—and together they were organized within a camp-type community.  
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{{toc}}
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Today, the unique structure of the chickee has become popular for tourists. The building of chickees has become a way to retain Florida's heritage and preserve the past while at the same time providing a profitable business for Seminole tribal members.  
  
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
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'''Chickee''' means "house" in the Creek and Mikasuki languages spoken by the [[Seminole]]s and [[Miccosukee]]s. The Muskogean spelling for chickee is "chiki." Chiki is also the word for house among the [[Totonac]]s of [[Mexico]].
  
The Muskogean spelling for chickee is "chiki."  Among Creeks and Seminoles speaking the Hitchiti language, chiki is today the generic word for "house." Chiki is also the word for house among the Totonacs of Mexico. However, Creeks, who speak the Muskogee language, use chiki only to describe a summer house or open-sided residence typical of Florida. Muskogees use the word "chuko" or "choko" to describe a house with solid walls, suitable for occupancy in cold weather. "Choko" is the Puntun and Itza Maya word for "warm" or "hot."
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However, Creeks, who speak the Muskogee language, use the term to describe only a summer house or open-sided residence typical of [[Florida]]. Muskogees use the word "chuko" or "choko" to describe a house with solid walls, suitable for occupancy in cold weather. "Choko" is the Puntun and Itza Maya word for "warm" or "hot."
  
It is likely that the word chiki originally applied only to prefabricated houses and over time came to generically mean "house" among Hitchiti-speaking Creek Indians. When some Creek towns moved southward into Florida during the 18th century, they used the same word to describe lightly framed houses suitable for a semi-tropical climate.
+
It is likely that the word chickee originally applied only to prefabricated houses and over time came to generically mean "house" among Hitchiti-speaking Creek Indians. When some Creek towns moved southward into Florida during the eighteenth century, they used the same word to describe lightly framed houses suitable for a semi-tropical climate.
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
[[File:BISR FL chickee01.jpg|thumb|Chickee, Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation]]
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[[File:BISR FL chickee01.jpg|thumb|250 px|Chickee, Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation]]
'''Chikee''' or '''Chickee''' ("house" in the [[Creek language|Creek]] and [[Mikasuki language]]s spoken by the [[Seminole]]s and [[Miccosukee]]s) is a shelter supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof and open sides.  
+
A chickee is a shelter constructed from logs and a steep roof. It is supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof, and open sides.  
  
Totonac chiki's are residential structures consisting of prefabricated wood frames that are encased with adobe or concrete after being erected and tied together.
+
The traditional chickee was constructed using [[cypress]] logs to support the roof, which was then thatched by weaving together palmetto palm leaves with vines or thin ropes. There was also a platform floor, raised about three or four feet above the ground. A ladder was used to climb up to the floor. During rainstorms, tarps made of [[hide]] or cloth could be attached to the frame to keep the inside dry.
 +
 
 +
Totonac chikis are residential structures consisting of prefabricated wood frames that are encased in [[adobe]] or [[concrete]].
  
 
==Historical Use==
 
==Historical Use==
The chickee style of architecture &mdash; [[palmetto]] [[thatching|thatch]] over a [[bald cypress]] log frame &mdash;  was adopted by Seminoles during the [[Second Seminole War|Second]] and [[Seminole Wars#Third Seminole War|Third Seminole War]] as [[U.S.]] troops pushed them deeper into the Everglades and surrounding territory. Before the Second Seminole War, the Seminoles had lived in log cabins.<ref>[http://www.seminoletribe.com/culture/chickee.shtml Seminole Tribe of Florida - Chickee], accessed August 14, 2009</ref> Similar structures were used by the tribes in south Florida when the Spanish first arrived in the 16th century.<ref>Austin, Daniel W. (1997). "The Glades Indians and the Plants they Used. Ethnobotany of an Extinct Culture." ''The Palmetto'', 17(2):7 -11.[http://www.fnps.org/palmetto/v17i2p7austin.pdf], accessed August 14, 2009</ref> Each chickee had its own purpose and together they were organized within a camp-type community. Chickees were used for cooking, sleeping, and eating.
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The chickee style of building was adopted by Seminoles during the [[Seminole Wars]] as [[U.S.]] troops forced them deeper into the [[Everglades]] and surrounding territory. Prior to the Second Seminole War, the Seminoles had lived in log [[cabin]]s often two stories tall with sleeping quarters upstairs. However, due to the necessity of having dwellings that could be erected quickly and easily from local materials, and were disposable, the Seminoles developed the chickee.  
 +
 
 +
Each chickee had its own purpose and together they were organized within a camp-type community. Different chickees were used for cooking, sleeping, and eating. There were about eight to ten chickees in one village.
 +
 
 +
In the warm climate of South Florida the chickee did not need walls. However, the raised floor was helpful for protection from insects and snakes, and also kept it dry. They built these structures with long posts so that the chickee would not sink into the marsh or swamp. The steep roof protected the structure from rain.
 +
 
 +
Similar structures, while not referred to as chickees, are present further north, in the [[Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge]] in southern Georgia. They are made from [[bison|buffalo]] hides.
  
Totonac chiki's are residential structures consisting of prefabricated wood frames that are encased with adobe or concrete after being erected and tied together. This same type of prefabricated house, called "post ditch construction" by archaeologists in the United States, first appeared in what is now Georgia around 750 C.E. and became commonplace after the founding of a settlement around 900 C.E., now known as Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Georgia. The use of post ditch construction spread outward from Ocmulgee to other areas of the southeastern United States. By 1050 C.E., most houses at the large indigenous community now called Cahokia, Illinois were of post ditch construction.
+
Totonac chikis consist of prefabricated wood frames encased in [[adobe]] or [[concrete]]. This same type of prefabricated house, called "post ditch construction" by archaeologists in the United States, first appeared in what is now Georgia around 750 C.E. and became commonplace after the founding of a settlement around 900 C.E., now known as Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Georgia. The use of post ditch construction spread outward from Ocmulgee to other areas of the southeastern United States. By 1050 C.E., most houses at the large indigenous community now called Cahokia, Illinois were of post ditch construction.
  
 
==Modern use==
 
==Modern use==
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[[File:INDIAN VILLAGE - NARA - 544507.jpg|thumb|250 px|Miccosukee Indian Village, 1972. Fred Ward, Photographer.]]
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Although chickees are no longer used for housing, they continue to be used by Native American villages of the [[Miccosukee]] in the Everglades.
  
[[File:INDIAN VILLAGE - NARA - 544507.jpg|thumb|250 px|Miccosukee Indian Village, 1972. Fred Ward, Photographer.]]
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More notably, though, chickees have become popular constructions for tourists and travelers. These structures were originally designed to be efficient and functional in the climate of South Florida, and this continues to be attractive for a variety of uses. For example, some restaurants in Florida use this unique design to attract visitors.  
Chickees continue to be used by Native American villages of the [[Miccosukee]] in the Everglades. Some upscale homes in southern Florida feature chickee-inspired buildings as garden or poolside structures. A few restaurants in Florida still use this unique design to attract visitors.  
 
  
Chickees are also used in backcountry areas of [[Everglades National Park]] where mangroves or large bodies of water prevent camping on dry land. Made and maintained primarily for backcountry campers, these wooden structures stand several feet above the water and can usually accommodate four to five campers. These structures have portable restrooms. Some "double chickees" are linked by a walkway and can accommodate eight to ten people.  
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Chickees are also used in backcountry areas of [[Everglades National Park]] where [[mangrove]]s or large bodies of water prevent camping on dry land. Made and maintained primarily for backcountry campers, these wooden structures stand several feet above the water and can usually accommodate four to five campers. Some "double chickees" are linked by a walkway and can accommodate eight to ten people.  
  
There are about eight to ten chickees in one village. Chickees are very helpful, especially in the rain. Similar structures, while not referred to as chickees, are present further north, in the [[Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge]] in southern Georgia. They are made from buffalo hides.
+
Some upscale homes in southern Florida feature chickee buildings as garden or poolside structures.
  
==Notes==
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Chickee construction is now a profitable business for Seminole tribal members.
<references/>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
Line 40: Line 52:
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
All links retrieved November 1, 2012.
+
All links retrieved February 11, 2017.
*[http://www.semtribe.com/Culture/Chickee.aspx Chickee] The Seminole Tribe of Florida
 
 
*[http://www.tribalhealthyhomes.org/chickee.htm Southeastern Houses: Chickee] National Tribal Healthy Homes
 
*[http://www.tribalhealthyhomes.org/chickee.htm Southeastern Houses: Chickee] National Tribal Healthy Homes
 
*[http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/native/miccos/miccos08.htm Photographs of Chickees] Exploring Florida
 
*[http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/native/miccos/miccos08.htm Photographs of Chickees] Exploring Florida

Revision as of 22:28, 13 January 2023

A Seminole camp with a sleep chickee, cooking chickee, and eating chickee. Photo by Alexander Linn.

Chikee or Chickee ("house" in the Creek and Mikasuki languages spoken by the Seminoles and Miccosukees) is a shelter supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof and open sides. The chickee was adopted by Seminoles as an easily erected, disposable shelter that allowed them to move camp frequently and easily when pursued by U.S. troops. Each chickee had its own purpose—cooking, sleeping, and eating—and together they were organized within a camp-type community.

Today, the unique structure of the chickee has become popular for tourists. The building of chickees has become a way to retain Florida's heritage and preserve the past while at the same time providing a profitable business for Seminole tribal members.

Etymology

Chickee means "house" in the Creek and Mikasuki languages spoken by the Seminoles and Miccosukees. The Muskogean spelling for chickee is "chiki." Chiki is also the word for house among the Totonacs of Mexico.

However, Creeks, who speak the Muskogee language, use the term to describe only a summer house or open-sided residence typical of Florida. Muskogees use the word "chuko" or "choko" to describe a house with solid walls, suitable for occupancy in cold weather. "Choko" is the Puntun and Itza Maya word for "warm" or "hot."

It is likely that the word chickee originally applied only to prefabricated houses and over time came to generically mean "house" among Hitchiti-speaking Creek Indians. When some Creek towns moved southward into Florida during the eighteenth century, they used the same word to describe lightly framed houses suitable for a semi-tropical climate.

Description

Chickee, Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation

A chickee is a shelter constructed from logs and a steep roof. It is supported by posts, with a raised floor, a thatched roof, and open sides.

The traditional chickee was constructed using cypress logs to support the roof, which was then thatched by weaving together palmetto palm leaves with vines or thin ropes. There was also a platform floor, raised about three or four feet above the ground. A ladder was used to climb up to the floor. During rainstorms, tarps made of hide or cloth could be attached to the frame to keep the inside dry.

Totonac chikis are residential structures consisting of prefabricated wood frames that are encased in adobe or concrete.

Historical Use

The chickee style of building was adopted by Seminoles during the Seminole Wars as U.S. troops forced them deeper into the Everglades and surrounding territory. Prior to the Second Seminole War, the Seminoles had lived in log cabins often two stories tall with sleeping quarters upstairs. However, due to the necessity of having dwellings that could be erected quickly and easily from local materials, and were disposable, the Seminoles developed the chickee.

Each chickee had its own purpose and together they were organized within a camp-type community. Different chickees were used for cooking, sleeping, and eating. There were about eight to ten chickees in one village.

In the warm climate of South Florida the chickee did not need walls. However, the raised floor was helpful for protection from insects and snakes, and also kept it dry. They built these structures with long posts so that the chickee would not sink into the marsh or swamp. The steep roof protected the structure from rain.

Similar structures, while not referred to as chickees, are present further north, in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia. They are made from buffalo hides.

Totonac chikis consist of prefabricated wood frames encased in adobe or concrete. This same type of prefabricated house, called "post ditch construction" by archaeologists in the United States, first appeared in what is now Georgia around 750 C.E. and became commonplace after the founding of a settlement around 900 C.E., now known as Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Georgia. The use of post ditch construction spread outward from Ocmulgee to other areas of the southeastern United States. By 1050 C.E., most houses at the large indigenous community now called Cahokia, Illinois were of post ditch construction.

Modern use

Miccosukee Indian Village, 1972. Fred Ward, Photographer.

Although chickees are no longer used for housing, they continue to be used by Native American villages of the Miccosukee in the Everglades.

More notably, though, chickees have become popular constructions for tourists and travelers. These structures were originally designed to be efficient and functional in the climate of South Florida, and this continues to be attractive for a variety of uses. For example, some restaurants in Florida use this unique design to attract visitors.

Chickees are also used in backcountry areas of Everglades National Park where mangroves or large bodies of water prevent camping on dry land. Made and maintained primarily for backcountry campers, these wooden structures stand several feet above the water and can usually accommodate four to five campers. Some "double chickees" are linked by a walkway and can accommodate eight to ten people.

Some upscale homes in southern Florida feature chickee buildings as garden or poolside structures.

Chickee construction is now a profitable business for Seminole tribal members.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Jumper, Betty M. Legends of the Seminoles. Pineapple Press, 1994. ISBN 978-1561640409
  • Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0195138771
  • Waldman, Carl. Atlas of The North American Indian. New York, NY: Checkmark Books, 2000. ISBN 978-0816039753
  • Waldman, Carl. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. New York, NY: Checkmark Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0816062744
  • Wasserman, Adam. A People's History of Florida 1513-1876. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2009. ISBN 978-1442167094
  • West, Patsy. Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of Southern Florida. Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2003. ISBN 978-0738514697

External links

All links retrieved February 11, 2017.

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