Helping the Houma Tribal Nation

[Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy]

(Apologies for cross postings, etc. – original photos have been removed for listserve posting)
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Hello,
There are many places that are still suffering from the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast, but I just want to bring your attention to one that doesn't make the news.* I am sitting in the airplane on my way home from the area right now writing this after a short few days with the Houma tribal people of Louisiana.*
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I took part in a disaster and economic recovery event to bring a little bit of aid to a struggling community.* I was shocked by what I saw as I traveled and worked in this community.* A lot more needs to be done.* I saw a people conditioned to be self-sufficient battling without the resources necessary to provide relief for their people.* What has taken place as far as relief has occurred with little or no help from FEMA, the state or anyone else.* There have been some donations, but not enough funding to really take things into their own hands, as it appears they must continue to do.* There have been volunteers, most of who came on college breaks or just came from wherever they called home to help - with a few tribes and Native organizations sending supplies and help.
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These people need serious assistance to bring their community back together.* They need four wheel drive vehicles, trailers, heavy duty power tools (19+ volt battery as there are power issues), wheel barrows, hand tools, temporary housing, but most of all they need financial assistance to get people back in homes, back in business and back to their lives.* A number of people I met had lost their business, their home and had already been told by multiple agencies that they would not be eligible for grants or low-interest loans.* This is not unique to the Houma people; the residents of New Orleans have received the same treatment.* And like some areas of New Orleans, the economic situation for the people was in some sense already in crisis mode compared to the rest of the country.* And then came the storms.
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During a break from tearing down a destroyed home, we met a tribal member who has not been able to go back to her completely wiped-out community and is afraid she will lose her temporary housing.* She is battling brain cancer and knows the tribe is doing what they can but the resources are not there.* While she seemed in amazingly good-enough spirits and greeted us warmly for someone with her plight, I could see the pain her story caused our guide from the tribal administration.* The stories are many.
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I urge you, I ask you, pass this note along to all your connections, your people, your family.* And then send what you can from and/or for the list above and I will be glad to give more suggestions.* You can bring it or send it directly to the Chief's address below. Part of the long term idea for the community that we are working on with them is to create a business/housing lending and training institution, so you might consider helping to capitalize that now or in the future.
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Principal Chief Brenda Dardar Robichaux
United Houma Nation
20986 Hwy 1
Golden Meadow, LA* 70357
(985) 475-6640
bdr@unitedhoumanation.org (bdr@unitedhoumanation.org)
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To be clear, the tribe is under a non-profit status, which has the benefit of tax write-offs for you, but also means they do not have the muscle of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service or any of the other mechanisms behind them.* Your contribution will go a long way.* They will also need physical labor for demolition, clean-up and rebuilding for the long-term.* For my part, I will return to do more work on the long term economic strategies and probably pick up a hammer again while I am there.* If you have already given to any of the relief efforts, thank you.
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If you have questions, feel free to call me.* Thank you for your time.
Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy
Director of Training & Technical Assistance
First Nations OWEESTA Corp
1010 Ninth Street, Suite 3
Rapid City, SD* 57701
(605) 342-3770 phone
(605) 342-3771 fax
ssarkozy@oweesta.org (ssarkozy@oweesta.org)
www.oweesta.org

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