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The impact of the Gulf Coast tragedy on Native Americans

By Robin Rose
For the Tidings

Brandon Lerda and I have been in Raceland, La., for a week working with the United Houma Nation — Native American people from the bayous — this is a tribe of locals who have gotten double whammied first by Katrina and then by Rita. When I began reading the initial grassroots volunteer stories, I knew I needed to make time in my life and come here, and as I began “seeing� myself here, it was with these people. There are many, many, many square inches of need in this devastated South, along the Gulf Coast. The devastation is profound. The effected peoples’ faces are deeply infused with a sense of trauma. Yet for me, the call of these people began in the wee hours of the morning in my prayers for all, and in the songs of my heart.

My connection with Chief Brenda (Robicheax) was immediate. Brenda is a native from the bayou. Her father was a poor shrimper and she was the first in the family to graduate high school. She was the first Houma Indian child escorted to public school in 1965. Her potent spirit is manifesting incredible strength for the families who depend on her leadership and support as their homes and lives are disrupted.

Imagine everything you own — every single thing in a muddy pile on the side of the road that merely days ago was covered in water â€” seven to 12 feet of water in their homes, many are already hovels. Every item has been ruined. Days ago we drove down a road that had water over it. One of my new-found family members, Douglas Fazzio, rode his outboard boat around Dulac, a trawlers’ village, at roof levels the day after Rita. He rescued people who had refused to believe what was happening and then got stuck in their homes. Some of the people have told me the water came up so fast their barely had time to grab their shoes and run out — some in the middle of the night — running off to shelter at higher ground.

They were politically/historically run down the bay-yah, as Douglas told me to say, by invading Europeans and now live on the very edge, geographically and economically. Brenda’s husband, Dr. Mike Robichaux, grew up in Raceland, and his family’s estate is now housing many people. These are loving and generous people, amidst worrying about their devastated people, are offering gracious hospitality to the volunteers. It was, thus, a pleasing communal experience with people from very diverse walks of life and the Houmas who live here, some displaced themselves.

I have been going out to Dulac with a mobile “clinic� accompanied by Douglas or his wife Anita, both from the community of Dulac (they moved to Houma to get their boys away from the alcoholism rampant in Dulac). Douglas is tall, dark and handsome as he says (he is), a jokester and a flirt, and everyone in Dulac knows him. Going around with him has created an openness and willingness of people often ignored by FEMA/Red Cross/�whitey� in general.

Now neighborhoods know me. I have been giving tetanus and flu shots, checking on people in their homes, we have brought food boxes, cleaning supplies, water, and needed medical care including medications and wound care. Some can’t afford to gas to get out of Dulac and get help.

But what I first saw was streets full of water. As it recedes, the streets are full of nasty toxic black mud. These are stoic, optimistic people who are working their butts off cleaning out everything in their homes, sloshing in the mud. The older people are really struggling. The mold is getting to people. Some are sleeping the whole family/clan of them in campers. Some of these places are so rotten it’s almost not worth rebuilding what’s left. One trailer yesterday — the entire roof was off, this noticed while it was again raining (only in short bursts), and its in the 90’s and humid as all get out. Some of the days its felt like a mobile sauna.

Meanwhile, Brandon is working with the roofing crew, headed up right now with the expertise of Bob, an very inspiring man from Canada (eh) and has long experience with Habitat for Humanity (its logo tattoos on his right arm). There are two strong women on this crew. They are repairing roofs from Katrina damage for people with the funds for the materials. Not everyone has these funds, and many are waiting on the inadequate monies from insurance. One pregnant woman yesterday told me the insurance company told her not to remove anything in her house until they came (they hadn’t yet) and the mold is growing daily while the kids get sick.

I have wanted to share some things — to bring the energetic support and blessings.

Dr. Mike’s grandfathers general store is now a center for distributing clothing and food and cleaning and hygiene supplies as well as support in getting FEMA and Red Cross connections ... a free store, manifested by Brenda, tribe members and volunteers. Folding clothing the other day after a long day of medical care out back, listening to blasting rock and roll, Brenda, Michael, and I — it reminded me so much of the dry goods store on The Farm (our intentional community in Tennessee). Watching these people and their laughter amidst piling every item that defines their lives on the mud-lined street with signs “do not remove� because insurance has to evaluate these piles of destroyed accumulation ... I am humbled and inspired.

So what’s needed? PLENTY (the relief organization I am working with) has a presence with this tribe now. Ralph McAtee and I are coordinating together to plug in people and materials. The United Houma Nation tribal council is guiding how it’s needed. I intend to stay involved and come back.

For now we need people — carpenters and people to help in the house clean-up crew. People to help with the Store and data entry for the tribe to track what is being done. Medical personnel with licensure, especially prescribing privileges, are also needed. I am available to connect with anyone interested at all. I think a week is minimum commitment for being integrated and effective.

However, if you can’t give time, we need money ... anything from a dollar to whatever you can give, donated through PLENTY is 100-percent tax deductible, and through the tribe is another way ... money for buying roofing materials is the current Band-Aid, and ultimately bigger money to raise these homes on stilts. The ones on stilts are drier after the storms, though not entirely unscathed. These people are a tribe and their land is their culture and what they know and love. I am interested in manifesting a crafters shop once the immediate devastation is passed. We also need furniture and appliances — insurance I hear doesn’t always provide coverage for replacement of these items ... these are the ones seen in the high piles of household goods lining the streets now.

This is a powerful time. We all grow stronger together as we share the burden.

Robin Rose in an Ashland doctor who spent time with the Native Americans from the United Houma Nation in the bayous of Louisiana. Both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita impacted the tribe, which continues to be helped by PLENTY International.