CRS Discussion Board

From: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/10/1335220#transcript

We take a look the plight of American Indians living in southeast Louisiana weeks after hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. Tribal leaders say they have been overlooked by the media, relief organizations and the federal government. [includes rush transcript]

AMY GOODMAN: We are joined on the phone now by Brenda Dardar-Robichaux, the Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation. We are also joined by Charles Verdin, the Chair of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian tribe. We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Let's begin with Brenda Dardar-Robichaux, can you describe where in Louisiana the tribe is and what has happened?

Continue reading "Transcript from Goodman's Interview" »

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From www.indianz.com

Friday, October 21, 2005

Fighting back tears, the leader of a Louisiana tribe described on Thursday the devastation her people have felt after being hit not by one but two hurricanes. Brenda Dardar Robichaux, the principal chief of the United Houma Nation, said tribal communities in the bayous of southeastern Louisiana were completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The storm hit the Gulf Coast in late August, forcing more than 3,000 members to flee their homes.

"What we saw was total devastation," Robichaux said at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The vice principal chief's mobile home was among those flooded and displaced by Katrina, she said. Then just a few weeks later, tragedy struck again. This time it was Hurricane Rita, which didn't hit tribal communities directly but caused a massive storm that led to even more flooding. "What I saw was just heartbreaking," Robichaux said after touring one tribal town that was submerged.

Continue reading "Louisiana Tribe Devastated by Katrina and Rita" »

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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.

Continue reading "Louisiana tribes receive no federal aid" »

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Tribes Impacted by Hurricane Katrina & other Useful Information

Bayou Lafourche Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha:
Chief Randy Verdun, Bayou Lafourche Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha: (225) 485-8765, Randy_Verdun@albemarle.com

Coushatta Tribe of Louisianna: http://www.coushattatribela.org/

Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha:
Chairman Marlene Foret, Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha: (985) 594-6593, mmforet@mobiletel.com

Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha:
Chief Albert Naquin, Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha: (985) 232-1286, whitebuffaloa@netscape.net

Jena Band of Choctaw Indians: http://www.jenachoctaw.org/

National Congress of American Indians: www.ncai.org
They are coordinating national fundraising efforts for tribes impacted by the hurricane. There are lots of news stories about how and to what extent tribes have been impacted on their home page.

National Native American Law Students Association: www.nationalnalsa.org
This website has links to all of the tribal websites of tribes impacted by the hurricane.

Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe:
Chairman Charles Verdin, Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe: (985) 594-6250, cell (985) 856-5336, pacit@thecowscorner.com

For more information: Patty Ferguson, Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, Ferguson@SacksTierney.com

Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha: http://www.chitimacha.com/
Jen-I'm not sure if this is the same tribe as the Bands of Biloxi-Chitimacha listed above or if they are affiliated with each other.

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana: http://www.tunica.org/

United Houma Nation: http://www.unitedhoumanation.org/

United Houma Nation Principal Chief Brenda Dardar Robichaux: bdr@unitedhoumanation.org

Hurricane Katrina and Rita Information (from the Houma website)

On August 29 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 devasted 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 underwater. The Houma communities of Dulac, Grand Caillou, Montegut, Pointe-aux-Chien, and Isle de Jean Charles were inundated with seven or eight feet of water. The tribe now had a additional four thousand of its citizens with houses devastated by the effects of this new storm.

If you want to Volunteer or Donate to help out with the hurricane relief effort, contact the Houma Tribal Government at bdr@unitedhoumanation.org or (985) 475-6640. We will continue to provide more information on the extent of the damage to our various communities and relief efforts in the near future.

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Hurricane Katrina Tribal Status Report

September 1, 2005 – morning

No injuries or deaths were reported from the reservations impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Chitimacha Tribe – LA

The Chitimacha Tribe reported that they have several hundred tribal members who live in the New Orleans area.  Many of these members are returning to the reservation to seek shelter due to loss of their homes.  As a result the Tribe has set up a shelter and is expecting need housing for several hundred people for en extended period of time.  The Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PBCI) immediately volunteered to help with logistical and clean-up issues.  Currently the Nashville Area Office (NSAO) has cots, blankets and pillows en-route to PBCI from the Trans Am program.  A load of cots was also taken down from the NSAO.  PBCI will be acting as a staging area for equipment and supplies and assist in transportation to the Chitimacha Reservation.  PBCI will be using their emergency response trailers and a police escort to get the supplies to Chitimacha.   

Coushatta Tribe – LA

The tribe may need to open a shelter but as of this morning, that had not taken place.

Tunica Biloxi Tribe – LA

The tribe has opened a shelter at the Mari Center and already had 450 people there before the storm. They had some concerns over food and ice for the people at the shelter but were able to work through the local Red Cross office for assistance.

Jena Band of Choctaw – LA

The tribe may need to open a shelter for overflow from the Tunica Biloxi Tribe but as of their last report, they were not requesting assistance.  There was a need for some small generators for some tribal members in the Mobile area, but the PBCI were able to meet the need with generators that NSAO had supplied to them immediately after Hurricane Dennis.

Mississippi Band of Choctaw – MS

MBCI opened two shelters.  The hospital was reported to be in full operation yesterday.  There are still areas without power.  Yesterday afternoon NSAO received a request for small generators for special needs patients.  That request has been met and generators are on their way and should arrive at MBCI this afternoon.  There was also a request for two larger generators to provide relief for some sewer lift stations that have lost power.  NSAO has sent two medium sized generators along with the small generators.  The tribe will be swapping the medium size generators with some larger ones on site (which will be moved to the lift stations) to meet the local need.

Seminole Tribe – FL

Reporting in the recovery stage and not in need of our assistance,  The Seminole Tribe sent several law enforcement officers to Mississippi via PBCI to assist in patrol  activities for impacted tribes.

Miccosukee Tribe – FL

Power was restored late Sunday afternoon and the tribe is not requesting additional assistance.

Poarch Band Of Creek Indians – AL

The PBCI are not requesting assistance.  They are in fact rendering assistance to other tribes.

General Statement

Activity for the NSAO has increased over the last few days, as tribes have been able to get out into the communities and assess damage.  Several tribes, who initially indicated they thought everything was ok, later found needs for assistance.  This is not a criticism, but a “heads up” for those who might be in similar situations in the future.  In spite of the fact that the NSAO had multiple contact numbers (office phone, cell phone, home phone, tribal police, etc.) for key tribal officials, communications went down on all of those systems and there was no communication available with several tribes for a day or longer.  This shows the critical need for independent communications systems during emergency situations.  The NSAO has purchased several satellite phones for our staff to use during emergency operations.  We will be encouraging the tribes to do the same.  We will also be looking into HF radio systems and developing networks of volunteer amateur licensed radio operators (Hams) throughout the Area.  Should you need further detail or information my contact information is given below.

Captain B. Kevin Molloy, Nashville Area Office Emergency Management Officer,

IHS National Emergency Operations Coordinator

Cellular 615-308-7157, Office 615-467-1504, bruce.molloy@ihs.gov

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