Hurricane Katrina

02 October 2005

Forgotten Nation

On August 29th, 2005 hurricane Katrina swept ashore on the Louisiana coast. Among those communities devastated by her impact were the small Houma Indian settlements in lower Plaquemines, lower St. Bernard, and lower Jefferson parishes. The population of these Indian settlements, some 3500 tribal citizens, was hit hard by the storm. Over one thousand of that number were left homeless, their homes completely destroyed by wind and water.

As the tribe struggled to bring aid to its citizens and channel its few resources to their benefit another tragedy loomed on the horizon.
Hurricane Rita entered the Gulf of Mexico and tracked westward towards Louisiana. At risk was the core of the Houma Indian population which resides in the lower bayou region of LaFourche and Terrebonne parishes.

While we avoided the direct impact that devastated our eastern communities by Katrina, the “near miss” by Rita pushed a massive storm surge into the bayous and our more populous settlements in lower Terrebonne went under water. The Houma communities of Dulac, Grand Caillou, Montegut, Pointe-aux-Chenes, and Isle Jean Charles were inundated with seven or eight feet of water. The tribe now had an additional four thousand of its citizens with houses devastated by the effects of this new storm.

Through the course of these twin disasters there was no significant aid made available to the Houma Nation by Federal sources. The United Houma Nation is a “state recognized” tribe and does not have Federal Recognition. We have been in the process of trying to obtain “Recognition” from the United States Government for over two decades.

The Houma people have had this “non-recognized” status with the United States since Louisiana became American territory in 1803. Though they were obligated by the terms of the Louisiana Purchase Agreement to abide by the treaties and agreements we had with the colonial governments of Spain and France (which had protected our land rights) they refused to do so. When we attempted, in the early 1800’s, to file a formal claim to our lands so they would be protected under the American system we were denied that right as a tribe.

Since that time we have had to rely on our own devices to maintain our land base. Family and community leaders had to obtain individual land titles for our settlements to survive

Over the years there has been an ongoing battle to hold onto the land and resources that we need to survive as a people. From the very beginning of the American colonization there has been a concerted effort to deprive our people of their land. It began with wealthy land speculators during the territorial period, and then came the large plantation owners and finally the oil companies that flooded into our home land and with the discovery of oil in the 1930’s.

In a fair and honest society the land and resources that rightfully belong to us would have given us the ability to be self-sustaining. Reality, however, is a different story and we exist today in poor fishing communities at the end of the bayous just miles from the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Houma are honest, hard working people who make their living as fishermen, hunters, and trappers in the bayous and lakes of south Louisiana. While some Houmas have moved to more modern lands a majority of us still maintain the traditional lifestyle. Unfortunately that is also a risk.

The same forces that stole our land, devoured its resources, and devastated the delicate eco-system of the bayou country. The forces of globalization that have become the surge of the poor indigenous people of the world over came to life here, in what was an American colony.

The forces have damaged our ability to provide for ourselves and left the land vulnerable to the forces of nature such as we have seen.

It is the combination of all these factors, not just the effects of the current storms, that has brought us to the place we are today. Because our abilities to sustain ourselves have been taken from us we can-not, as a people, meet this challenge with our resources. The tragic paradox is that those same forces also still refuse to “recognize” our existence and so there is no aid available to us as a tribe from federal sources.

Fortunately for the Houma people, there has been a tremendous outpouring of aid from non-government sources. Since the news of our situation got out, we have been flooded with calls and emails from tribes, native organizations and other concerned groups and individuals.

Our challenge, as a Tribal government, has been to marshal these resources and direct them to our people. We thank the Creator for the hearts of compassion that have reached out to us in our time of need. It is this shinning light of compassion in the midst of a world consumed by greed and gain that gives us hope for the future.

The scope of the devastation has forced us to concentrate on immediate needs of food, cleaning supplies, clothing, etc. but much larger long term needs are on the horizon. The destruction of Katrina and Rita have brought to light the long lasting effects of our land loss and we know that the issues of land and houses will dominate our immediate future.

We are confident in the heart of courage that is within the Houma people. Despite all we have been confronted with we survive as a people and we will continue.

The love and care of our Creator now shines through the spirit of those he’s sent to our rescue. Through his grace and the love and generosity of those that allow themselves to be his instrument we will overcome.

Michael “T. Mayheart” Dardar 1 October 2005