August 2007 Archive

August 2007

STATE OF THE UNITED HOUMA NATION

With the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on our tribal community, long-term hurricane relief efforts have moved to the forefront of the UHN's strategic plans for the next 3-5 years. Efforts are focused on 2 distinct areas – members' immediate rebuilding needs and future community development.  The UHN estimates that following Katrina and Rita, approximately 7,000 tribal members were directly affected by these hurricanes with nearly half displaced.

The United Houma Nation received funds from various grants and contributions. These donations have greatly impacted the United Houma Nation and its tribal members in our relief efforts. The funds were used to hire a Relief and Administrative Assistant for the United Houma Nation Hurricane Relief Office. With the contributions, the United Houma Nation Relief Office has been able to help tribal members with making individual home repair grants, individual fishing vessel
repair grants, assisting by providing furniture, bedding, personal hygiene supplies, school supplies, food, etc. Thousands of tribal members have received aid from the United Houma Nation Hurricane Relief Office. A database has been set up to record names, addresses,
phone numbers, and items received by tribal members helped at the Relief Office. Pictures are taken of homes in need of repair, and after the grants are received for building supplies, pictures are taken of the repairs made. Files are kept on everyone who receives the home repair grant. The same process is followed for the fishing vessel grant. To date, 130 housing material grants have been awarded, 11 members have received down payment assistance and 61 fishermen have
been awarded vessel awards. In addition, there are 61 applicants awaiting assistance with new applications continuing to be received from slow to recover communities.

The needs of the tribal members greatly outweigh the funds available to them. This is the biggest challenge that faces the United Houma Nation. Though the Hurricane Relief Office has been able to help to replace some furniture losses and purchase building supplies to help repair their homes, it is not enough to get tribal members back into homes that were gutted or completely destroyed. Tribal members who have received the home repair grant are very appreciative of the help provided to them, but it is disheartening to know that it is not enough to get them back into their homes in a timely manner.

Looking back at the past year, the United Houma Nation Tribal Government and Staff has learned that we must become self-sufficient to ensure the future of the Houma People. It is disappointing but not surprising that the Federal Government, FEMA, Road Home, etc. whose role is to assist in recovery efforts for all citizens, has been ineffective. Tribal members seeking assistance from these agencies are often faced with cultural and language barriers on top of the bureaucracy that hinders the application process.

Data collection at our Relief Office, community outreach events and tribal council meetings indicate that many tribal members lack the basic resources needed to adequately prepare for and recover from future disasters. Our tribal communities face extinction by the constant threat of coastal erosion and hurricanes. In order for our tribal communities to survive, tribal citizens must have their home elevated or must relocate inland to higher ground. Therefore, we have been working with Iowa State University, School of Community Design to plan for a possible relocation of our People.

We have begun to devise an emergency response plan and to seek certification as a Community Emergency Response Team through the Department of Homeland Security.

To follow-up and track community changes, the United Houma Nation is currently conducting a community needs assessment that consists of a written survey to be circulated to every tribal member registered as well as a series of community meetings to gather input directly from
members of the Tribal community.  Once complete, this tool will help the Council and administration of the UHN to pinpoint the specific needs of each community and create future goals and objectives to be addressed by the Tribe.  In particular, this assessment is
specifically targeting the identification of pressing issues for the Nation post-Katrina and Rita.  In addition, member input is sought at regular Tribal Council meetings.

Due to historical discriminatory practices and tribal isolation, many United Houma Nation tribal members lack the skills to be assertive and assume leadership roles. In looking at the long-term leadership development, the majority of the United Houma Nation's leadership efforts are focused on youth. Tribal youth development projects are focused on including the family in the development of young leaders. Consequently, at many tribal leadership activities whole families are
actively engaged in the leadership development. Youth initiatives offering support and resources needed to help young people through college, preparing for their future and any other issues facing youth of today continues to be a focus of the Houma Nation.  By ensuring that the next generations of tribal members are skilled leaders will ensure that the tribe will break the cycle of dependence and create a generation of confident, proud tribal leaders.

Women of the Houma Nation have had considerable influence in tribal government and have historically held formal leadership positions. The Houmas have a long-standing tradition of having women leaders dating back to the 1700's.  This tradition continues to this day, as two the
last three tribal leaders have been women. United Houma Nation tribal government and United Houma Nation staff are motivated to help their people and improve the quality of life in tribal communities.

           
In an effort to assist tribal citizens starting their own business, the United Houma Nation is working with South Louisiana Economic Council to offer entrepreneur classes. Approximately 30 tribal citizens have recently completed the 10-week course. In order to expand the United Houma Nation's growth and development, training in the areas of grant writing and reporting would be highly beneficial.

Two additional projects in the early stages of planning are economic development options for the Tribe and members and a community-based radio station.  The Tribe is in the early stages of developing a Community Development Financial Institute (CDFI) to assist members with financial literacy and implement a revolving loan fund to assist the community with micro-enterprise.

All of these initiatives are considered to be the ground work of assisting UHN communities' recovery, both long term and short term. The intent is to develop stable programs that provide additional resources to tribal members, while maintaining the communities' unique culture and individual members' sense of independence and dignity.

Contact: Brenda Robichaux  Chief of the Houma Nation    phone: 985-537-8867
www.unitedhoumanation.org