Louisiana tribes receive no federal aid
Louisiana tribes receive no federal aid
Posted: September 30, 2005
by: Brenda Norrell / Indian Country Today
HOUSTON - The United Houma Nation and other Louisiana tribes hit by Hurricane Katrina said they have received no federal or national aid to help them with their recoveries.
Houma Chief Brenda Dardar Robichaux said the Houma, the American Indian tribe hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina, has received no national or federal assistance: tribal members have received nothing from FEMA or the America Red Cross, and cannot get through to either agency.
Grass roots volunteers are camped in Robichaux's yard in Raceland, La., south of New Orleans. They are living in tents and delivering medical and construction aid to tribal members, but have little in the way of cash or supplies.
Further, Robichaux said some tribal members are still unaccounted for and assumed to be in shelters or relatives' homes. The tribe is searching for those Houma tribal members in shelters who speak only Cajun French and may be unable to communicate their needs.
One Houma village was blown away by Hurricane Katrina and another, ''Boothville,'' is underwater. There are 3,400 Houma tribal members who lost their homes or have damage to their homes.
Robichaux, however, said tribal members realize they are responsible for themselves and rebuilding their lives and are not waiting for others to help them.
The Biloxi-Chitimacha Tribe has received no aid.
Chief Albert Naquin, of the Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha, said: ''We haven't received any relief yet. I have an 86-year-old woman with a roof that leaks, and rain is on the way.
''There are some workers in Pointe-au-Chien, and I will go see if they can go do a quick patch job on her roof.''
Patty Ferguson, Pointe-au-Chien tribal member, said Poarch Creek Band tribal members from Alabama are in the tribal community, but funds are needed for construction supplies.
''They can do the work themselves, if they have supplies,'' Ferguson said.
Ferguson, also interviewed on ''Radio Left,'' said community members want to hold on to their ancestral land. She said some tribal members are homeless and others are suffering because the fishing and seafood industry has provided little income during the hurricane season.
Robichaux, Ferguson and Indian Country Today were interviewed on ''Radio Left'' regarding the lack of coverage by the mainstream media of Louisiana's coastal tribes hard hit by Hurricane Katrina.