Description
The Chatot (also Chacato or Chactoo) were a Native American tribe who lived in the upper Apalachicola River and Chipola River basins in what is now Florida. They spoke a Muskogean language, which may have been the same as that of several other peoples in western Florida, including the Amacano, Chine, Pacara, and Pensacola. Patricia Galloway, and were connected with the Choctaw. The Chatot were involved in a war with the Apalachee and Amacano people in 1639. When the Chato were first discovered west of the Apalachicola River they were known as the Chacatos, Chaqtos, Chatots and the Chactots; after numerous relocations of the tribe new synonyms referring to the names of the Chato People were generated after their sighting in 1763. These synonymous names included the Chactoo, Chacchous, Chaetoos and Chattoos.
Language
They spoke a Muskogean language, which may have been the same as that of several other peoples in western Florida.
Culture
The culture and nature of the Chato are largely unknown due to the lack of recorded history on their way of life. Based on the proximal location of the Chato to the neighboring Apalachee Tribe, it is inferred that the Chato’s culture and way of living were similar to that of the Apalachee. In 1675 the Chato executed a religious revolt against the missionaries due to the suffocating nature of the Spaniards attempting to impress the Christian religion upon Chato beliefs. The conflict did not last long due to another neighboring tribe, the Chisca, that continually raided the missionary villages.