Creek Indians were also known as Muskogee Creek. Cultural area is the Southeast United States. Creek Indians trace their ancestry through the female line. The children belong to the same clan as their mother.

Subsequent archaeological investigations indicated that Creek Indians derived from prehistoric southern Appalachian Woodland cultures such as the Western Lamar in the region of present Georgia and Alabama. While there were local variations, all were believed to share what is termed Mississippian culture.

Along with town and regional identities, the Creek privileged their family and clan connections. For instance, each individual belonged to a clan moiety and resided with their extended relatives in a town in clan clusters. Creek society was also matrilineal, as children inherited the clan of their mothers.

Background: Tribes in the American Southeast, including the Muscogee (Creek) and the Cherokee Nation, participated in slavery as they attempted to adopt the norms of white settlers.