Top photo by Halle Parker (Lowlander Center); bottom photo by Wayan Barre (Progressive Magazine)
The Pointe au Chien Indian Tribe
We are a proud and resilient people who continue to occupy the territory of our ancestors. Descended from the Chitimacha, Biloxi, Acolapissa, and Atakapas Indians, we have resided in the Pointe au Chien village for hundreds of years. Archeological discoveries reveal Indigenous inhabitants in our village and its surroundings for many thousands of years. As Indigenous peoples of the Terrebonne Basin, the fastest eroding area in the United States, we are at a crossroads of unprecedented environmental change and adaptation to maintain our unique cultural heritage.
In the Wake of Hurricane Ida
When Hurricane Ida hit on August 29, 2021, Pointe au Chien was in the eye of the storm and bore the brunt of the damage. Before Ida, almost 70 houses stood in Pointe au Chien; after Ida, only 12 were livable. Our elders were displaced, our family lands devastated, and our boats and livelihoods were destroyed.
Recovery has been slow. Our community is often overlooked by nonprofits and government agencies as we are located on the coast, far from the big cities, and close to many oil and gas pipelines. It’s been three years since the hurricane, and the majority of our community continues to live in FEMA trailers or in retrofitted sheds as we wait to return home.
This video was filmed by the Catholic Dioceses of Houma and Thibidoux; the donation link included in it is no longer available. Pointe au Chien received roofing for one house with the funds donated via the Dioceses.
Building Back Resiliently
The Fight Continues
Still, our tribe fights on with or without outside aid. We have implemented nature-based climate solutions to reduce coastal erosion and lessen the force of hurricanes. We rebuild houses that can withstand winds of at least 160 mph and remain protected from the next Category 4 hurricane. We pass down our traditional knowledge of land and sea in our school, culture camp, and in our greenhouse. We live and work in the intersection of true sustainability, uniting the natural, the built, and the cultural environments that irrevocably shape each other.
We are working as a network inside and outside of Pointe au Chien to bring the resources and volunteers this community needs to rebuild its homes. We ask that you give as much as you can to support and help procure building materials for this unique and beautiful tribe.
For More Information
To learn more about the Pointe au Chien Indian Tribe, please visit their website.