Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands, Southeastern cultures, or Southeast Indians are an ethnographic classification for Native Americans who have traditionally inhabited the area now part of the Southeastern United States and the northeastern border of Mexico, that share common cultural traits. This classification is a part of the Eastern Woodlands. The concept of a southeastern cultural region was developed by anthropologists, beginning with Otis Mason and Frank Boas in 1887. The boundaries of the region are defined more by shared cultural traits than by geographic distinctions. Because the cultures gradually instead of abruptly shift into Plains, Prairie, or Northeastern Woodlands cultures, scholars do not always agree on the exact limits of the Southeastern Woodland culture region. Shawnee, Powhatan, Waco, Tawakoni, Tonkawa, Karankawa, Quapaw, and Mosopelea are usually seen as marginally southeastern and their traditional lands represent the borders of the cultural region. The area was linguistically diverse, major language groups were Caddoan and Muskogean, besides a number of language isolates. List of peoples Acolapissa (Colapissa), Louisiana and Mississippi Ais, eastern coastal Florida Alafay (Alafia, Pojoy, Pohoy, Costas Alafeyes, Alafaya Costas), Florida Amacano, Florida west coast Apalachee, northwestern Florida Atakapa (Attacapa), Louisiana west coast and Texas southeastern coast Akokisa, Texas southeast coast Bidai, Texas southeast coast Deadose, eastern Texas Eastern Atakapa, western coastal Louisiana Orcoquiza, southeast Texas Patiri, eastern Texas Tlacopsel, southeast Texas Avoyel ("little Natchez"), Louisiana Bayogoula, southeastern Louisiana Biloxi, Mississippi Caddo Confederacy, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas Adai (Adaizan, Adaizi, Adaise, Adahi, Adaes, Adees, Atayos), Louisiana and Texas Cahinnio, southern Arkansas Doustioni, north central Louisiana Eyeish (Hais), eastern Texas Hainai, eastern Texas Hasinai, eastern Texas Kadohadacho, northeastern Texas, southwestern Arkansas, northwestern Louisiana Nabedache, eastern Texas Nabiti, eastern Texas Nacogdoche, eastern Texas Nacono, eastern Texas Nadaco, eastern Texas Nanatsoho, northeastern Texas Nasoni, eastern Texas Natchitoches, Lower: central Louisiana, Upper: northeastern Texas Neche, eastern Texas Nechaui, eastern Texas Ouachita, northern Louisiana Tula, western Arkansas Yatasi, northwestern Louisiana Calusa, southwestern Florida Cape Fear Indians, North Carolina southern coast Catawba (Esaw, Usheree, Ushery, Yssa), North Carolina, South Carolina Chakchiuma, Alabama and Mississippi Chatot people (Chacato, Chactoo), west Florida Chawasha (Washa), Louisiana Cheraw (Chara, Charàh), North Carolina Cherokee, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, later Georgia, northwestern South Carolina, northern Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Mexico, and currently North Carolina and Oklahoma Chickamauga, eastern Tennessee Chickanee (Chiquini), North Carolina Chickasaw, Alabama and Mississippi, now Oklahoma Chicora, coastal South Carolina Chine, Florida Chisca (Cisca), southwestern Virginia, northern Florida