Prior to the early 18th century, most of Georgia was home to Native Americans belonging to a southeastern alliance known as the Creek Confederacy.  According to tradition, the Confederacy migrated to the southeastern US from the Southwest.  The Confederacy was probably formed as a defense against other large groups to the North.  The name "Creek" came from the shortening of "Ocheese Creek."

The Creek people lived in large permanent towns with smaller outlying villages that were associated with the larger town.  Towns were governed by a Chief (or "Mico"), an assistant chief, and a "Mico Apokta" (speaker for the chief).  When a Creek town reached a population of about 400-600 people, they would split with about half moving to a new, nearby site.  The new town would begin its own development, but would always maintain a "mother-daughter" relationship with the original town.  By the 1700's, Creek towns began to spread out.

The Creeks adopted the plow and raised livestock.  While most Creek still lived in traditional huts (not teepees) roofed with wood shingles or grass, some began to build log homes with chimneys.  By the end of the century, Creek towns were well fenced with fine stocks of cattle, horses, and hogs; surrounded by fields of corn, rice, and potatoes.

In the early 1800's, they were moved to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  There, they had to re-establish their tribal government.  In the early history of the Creek Nation, their entire population was divided into clans.  The clan functioned as a social and political unit because the tribal organization was built around families.

Near by each dwelling, the Creek women maintained a small garden plot for their family.  Their main food supply, however, was grown in a much larger field which belonged to the entire town.  Corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, and melons were plentiful.  Wild fruits were also available for their use.  They dried meat, corn, pumpkin, peaches, and apples.  Hickory nuts and acorn were pounded and the mashed nut meat was placed into boiling water.  The oil was then skimmed off the top and used in much of their cooking.  Deer was the main meat eaten, but they also fished.

The cultural activities of the Creek people were held on sacred ceremonial grounds known as "stomp dance grounds."  Stomp dances were held to celebrate various occasions such as planting time, the coming of the medicine man, marriage, and hunting seasons.  There were also songs and dances that served as prayers to the animals since the Creeks believed all creations and life beings were attributes from the "Master of Breath."  The most festive occasion for the Creeks was the Green Corn Ceremony.  This was the celebration of the first ripening of the corn in summer and served as the tribe's new year.  The ceremony lasted for about eight days.  Songs, dances, and games were played during the week.  The men and women drank a black herb mixture that cleaned and purified their bodies.  They then fasted before the new corn was tasted for the first time.  After the purification process, preparation for the dances was made, and feasting began.

The native Creek beliefs were that all creations and nearly all reasons for being alive were simply attributed to the "Master of Breath" or "Hesaketvmese."  They believed a good life would be rewarded.  They also had prophets who they believed conferred with the supernatural in diagnosing disease and predicting the future.

The Creek doctor always faced East in a special place where he prepared medicine.  He cared for physical illness and alleviated pain and emotional suffering caused by the loss of loved ones and other mental anxieties.  They learned many songs and chants that were used while preparing medicine, and also learned the different kinds of herbs, leaves, and roots they needed.  They made medicines for diarrhea, dysentery, burns and scalds, fever, pain of insect bites and stings, urinary infections and ailments, worms in children, chest colds, and chronic disease of the liver.  Some medicine men made medicine to consecrate ceremonial grounds each year when the Creeks prepared for the summer activities.