Pointe-au-Chien, near Houma, La., ignored by media and hurricane relief efforts
Contact: Chairman Charles Verdin, Sr., (985) 856-5336
Secretary Michelle Matherne, (985) 594-3267
P.O. Box 416
Montegut, LA 703770
Contact: Chairman Charles Verdin, Sr., (985) 856-5336
Secretary Michelle Matherne, (985) 594-3267
P.O. Box 416
Montegut, LA 703770
Photo: Community home with roof blown off by Hurricane Gustav/Photo copyright Joel Waltzer
September 8, 2008
Most of Louisiana's remaining Native Americans reside in four centuries-old communities in the southern-most ends of Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, such as Pointe-au-Chien (renamed "Chenes" by non-Indians). In this sleepy, modest fishing town, Indian French is the language most often heard, and generations of smiles and laughter almost always accompany a good pot of jambalaya or plate of soft shell crabs. Today, these unique communities, their language, Indian culture, lifestyle and even their identity as a separate people are deeply threatened. With the destruction of the barrier islands, and no levees protecting them, the Pointe-au-Chien people are under continual threat of harm from natural disasters.
On September 1, 2008, Hurricane Gustav ripped through these historic bayou towns with ferocious winds and a six foot storm surge. In its wake, Gustav left a trail of ripped roofs or crumpled houses, overlain with uprooted marsh and thick mud, unparalleled elsewhere in Louisiana. Almost all of these simple homes sustained major damage, from being pushed off their foundation to having their roofs ripped off. Generations of entire extended families have lost everything, with no monetary means to recover. In addition to housing damage, the Pointe-au-Chien Tribal building was blown off of its foundation.
If the Pointe-au-Chien and Isle a Jean Charles Indian communities are to survive, they need help in rebuilding and recovery efforts. To date, few elected officials and no agency representatives at any level have visited them. To date, no media representatives have been there to report on the devastation to the tribes. Unseen, and unheard, and without any utilities, their despair grows. Their immediate needs are simple: food and water to sustain them, tarps and screws to secure their roofs and walls (where possible), tools and supplies to muck out, and earth-moving equipment and roll-off containers to get the debris out. So far, only the Louisiana Environmental Action Network's disaster relief mission, the American Red Cross, and Four Directions Solidarity Network have delivered on some of these needs. The Tribe is working with the National Relief Charities to deliver needed supplies to the people. But greater assistance is needed in this devastated area.
At present, specific needs include generators and box fans, building supplies such as roofing paper, sheet metal and screws, water for cleaning and drinking, cleaning products, pressure washers, tarps, tools, first aid supplies, squeegees, shovels, storage containers and heavy duty garbage bags. In the medium term, they will need building materials to rebuild their homes, and personal items, furniture, clothes, refrigerators, freezers, and toys need to be replaced. Long term, the community will need assistance with storm hardening and surge protection, and for the government to get serious about coastal restoration in the Bayou Lafourche basin. Immediately, the Community could really use some energetic young people to help them muck out.
If you want to go there and assist with the clean up, please provide contact information to Joel Waltzer at joel@waltzerlaw.com. Donations can be made to the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, PO Box 416, Montegut, LA 70377, http://pactribe.tripod.com/, or the Louisiana Environmental Action Network's Gustav relief effort, by visiting its website at http://leanweb.org.html/. Donations made to either the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe or LEAN are tax deductible.For more information: Chairman Charles "Chuckie" Verdin of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, (985) 856-5336; or Marylee Orr, Director, LEAN, (225) 588-5059; or Joel Waltzer, tribal lawyer, (504) 430-0844.
September 8, 2008
Most of Louisiana's remaining Native Americans reside in four centuries-old communities in the southern-most ends of Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, such as Pointe-au-Chien (renamed "Chenes" by non-Indians). In this sleepy, modest fishing town, Indian French is the language most often heard, and generations of smiles and laughter almost always accompany a good pot of jambalaya or plate of soft shell crabs. Today, these unique communities, their language, Indian culture, lifestyle and even their identity as a separate people are deeply threatened. With the destruction of the barrier islands, and no levees protecting them, the Pointe-au-Chien people are under continual threat of harm from natural disasters.
On September 1, 2008, Hurricane Gustav ripped through these historic bayou towns with ferocious winds and a six foot storm surge. In its wake, Gustav left a trail of ripped roofs or crumpled houses, overlain with uprooted marsh and thick mud, unparalleled elsewhere in Louisiana. Almost all of these simple homes sustained major damage, from being pushed off their foundation to having their roofs ripped off. Generations of entire extended families have lost everything, with no monetary means to recover. In addition to housing damage, the Pointe-au-Chien Tribal building was blown off of its foundation.
If the Pointe-au-Chien and Isle a Jean Charles Indian communities are to survive, they need help in rebuilding and recovery efforts. To date, few elected officials and no agency representatives at any level have visited them. To date, no media representatives have been there to report on the devastation to the tribes. Unseen, and unheard, and without any utilities, their despair grows. Their immediate needs are simple: food and water to sustain them, tarps and screws to secure their roofs and walls (where possible), tools and supplies to muck out, and earth-moving equipment and roll-off containers to get the debris out. So far, only the Louisiana Environmental Action Network's disaster relief mission, the American Red Cross, and Four Directions Solidarity Network have delivered on some of these needs. The Tribe is working with the National Relief Charities to deliver needed supplies to the people. But greater assistance is needed in this devastated area.
At present, specific needs include generators and box fans, building supplies such as roofing paper, sheet metal and screws, water for cleaning and drinking, cleaning products, pressure washers, tarps, tools, first aid supplies, squeegees, shovels, storage containers and heavy duty garbage bags. In the medium term, they will need building materials to rebuild their homes, and personal items, furniture, clothes, refrigerators, freezers, and toys need to be replaced. Long term, the community will need assistance with storm hardening and surge protection, and for the government to get serious about coastal restoration in the Bayou Lafourche basin. Immediately, the Community could really use some energetic young people to help them muck out.
If you want to go there and assist with the clean up, please provide contact information to Joel Waltzer at joel@waltzerlaw.com. Donations can be made to the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, PO Box 416, Montegut, LA 70377, http://pactribe.tripod.com/, or the Louisiana Environmental Action Network's Gustav relief effort, by visiting its website at http://leanweb.org.html/. Donations made to either the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe or LEAN are tax deductible.For more information: Chairman Charles "Chuckie" Verdin of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, (985) 856-5336; or Marylee Orr, Director, LEAN, (225) 588-5059; or Joel Waltzer, tribal lawyer, (504) 430-0844.
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