Protecting Homes
The Pointe au Chien Indian Tribe did not build their homes on the coast; the coast came to them. The village used to extend for many miles south of where only water now lies. Evidence of cattle pastures and old cemeteries, now accessible only by boat and surrounded on all sides by salt water, still emerge from the marshland.
Tribal members know that their current homes are also at risk of hurricanes, salt water intrusion, and slow erosion. They are, however, determined to stay and rebuild exactly for that reason. Southern Louisiana is the buffer for the rest of the state and the rest of the country; if it erodes, then the state is threatened by the same fate. Pointe au Chien is willing to stay and weather these storms. To do this, however, they need to rebuild their homes so that the physical structures can weather storms just as well as their inhabitants.
A large white cross marks the location of one of the old Pointe au Chien cemeteries
Old cattle fences still rise from the wetland, reminding us that cattle used to graze much farther down the bayou than people now live.
In collaboration with The Lowlander Center, Mennonite volunteers, and the Live Oak Baptist Church, the Pointe au Chien Indian Tribe has, in the last three years, reconstructed two homes destroyed by Hurricane Ida. These homes are built to withstand wind speeds of at least 170 miles per hour, meet Fortified Gold Level Certification standards, and conserve energy efficiently. In Fall 2024, volunteers from the Mennonite Disaster Services arrived in Pointe au Chien and began construction on five more homes to the same standards.
The tribe continues to raise money to meet the urgent need for housing. Home by home, we are progressing towards our goal, ensuring that the entire community is protected.
Meet Brenda and Earl Billiot
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Brenda and Earl were the first to have their home rebuilt after Hurricane Ida. Construction began on August 29, 2023, the two year anniversary of the storm.
Their home, and all subsequent homes, are built to withstand another Category 4 Hurricane. We built it with screws rather than nails, greatly adding to its tensile strength, so that wind has a much harder time pulling it apart. We strapped the pilings and sealed the roof, protecting the house from wind and water.
