The Natchitoches are a of native American tribe of Algonquin speaking people who are descendants of the Caddo, the second son o Diklah, son of Joktan, son of Eber ¹, son of Salah, son of Arphazad, son of Shem.

The sons of Caddo originally settled in the Coastal Plains region in the four state area including Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, primarily within the area of the south pine belt plains ecoregion. Their homeland included settlements along the Red River (of the South) in northeast Texas and northwester Louisiana, as well as encampments along the upper Sabine River and Trinity Rivers in Texas.

The Natchitoches developed into three Caddo speaking confederacies, which included the Hasinai whose homeland was between the Sabine and Trinity rivers in eastern Texas; and the Kadohadacho whose homeland was at the modern day borders of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Lower Natchitoches lived in the vicinity of the French Trading Post near Natchitoches, Louisiana (31.7525211, -93.0878943).

Upper Natchitoches lived as part of the Kadohadacho confederacy to the north.

Ouachita (or Washita) lived along the Quachita River which flows from southwestern Arkansas into north central Louisiana. The Ouachita River merges with the Tensas River and becomes the Black River (31.6314541, -91.8070096) which flows south to merge with the Red River (31.2668364, -91.8342402). The Red River flows another 27.5 miles and becomes the Atchafalaya River which flows to the Gulf of mexico

Yatasi lived in the area where modern day Shreveport, Louisiana now exists.

Doustioni were a small band who lived near the Gulf of Mexico, but later settled near their relatives, the Lower Natchitoches in a location near to the Red River. They were eventually absorbed into the other Caddo tribes.

Descendants of the Natchitoches along with other members of the Caddo Confederacy tribes are enrolled in the federally recognized Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

In 2017, the State of Louisiana state-recognized the Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana, affirming its distinct cultural and historical identity. This recognition acknowledges the unique heritage of the Natchitoches people and their continued presence in the region.