POINTE-AU-CHIEN INDIAN TRIBE

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Picture by Nikki Freeman

Welcome to our website!

Welcome to our website!
The Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe is a small community of Indians that live along Bayou Pointe-au-Chien in South Louisiana. We created this website for tribal members in an effort to provide news and announcements and link those living outside of the community to the community via the world wide web. If you are a visitor here, welcome to our site and enjoy!
 
On our site you will find information on Tribal Council meetings, community activities, elections, and other items of interest. You may submit photos or information about any event you feel is important and wish to share with the community.

 
 
***NEWS ALERT***
HURRICANE IKE FLOODED POINTE-AU-CHIEN CAUSING 6-8 FOOT OF STORM SURGE, THE DEVESTATION FROM GUSTAV AND IKE IS THE WORSE SEEN IN POINTE-AU-CHIEN
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DONATE SUPPLIES AND GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
 
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HELP THE POINTE-AU-CHIEN INDIAN TRIBE REBUILD FROM HURRICANES AND PROTECT FUTURE LAND LOSS
 
1.  Immediate Needs for recovery and rebuilding efforts after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike
2.  Help our voice to convince leaders that we need to rebuild the barrier islands, and we need a levee!
3.  Help us to protect our burial grounds that are threatened from the loss of land.
4.  Help us to obtain federal acknowledgment from the federal government so that we can have a real voice in responsing to emergency disasters.  This is also important in maintaining our culture and livelihood. 
 
Donations for Culture Preservation and Rebuilding can be made to
Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe
PO Box 416
Montegut, LA 70377
 
**All donations are tax deductible under the Tribe's 501(c)(3) status. 
 
For more information about the impacts of the 2008 Hurricance, click Hurricane News

Donate to the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe's cultural preservation and relief efforts.   

Tribal Members, flooded and wind-damaged home
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Photo Courtesy of Joel Waltzer, copyright 2008

Tribal Member in front of flooded, damaged home
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Photo Courtesy of Joel Waltzer, Copyright 2008

Destroyed by Gustav
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Photo Courtesy of Joel Waltzer, copyright 2008

Former Tribal Chair Gary Verdin, Sept. 6, 2008
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Photo Courtesy of Joel Waltzer, copyright 2008

Tribal Home with Roof torn off by Gustav's winds
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Photo Courtesy of Joel Waltzer, Copyright 2008

GUSTAV 2008
EYE PASSES THROUGH POINTE-AU-CHIEN
 

 

 

 

Pointe-au-Chien Indian Community Damage Report

September 3, 2008

 

Second Chairman Donald Dardar and Chairman Charles "Chuckie" Verdin have traveled through the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Community documenting visible damage to each home.  The assessment is not good.  Tribal leaders report that the damage to the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Community by Hurricane Gustav is worse than the damage caused by Rita and Katrina in 2005.  Almost every house in lower Pointe-au-Chien has water (from flooding and/or wind damage) and/or wind damage.  Some houses are totally destroyed; some homes were moved or pushed off of their blocks by the wind/rain.  Our tribal building fell off of the blocks and many resources within the building were destroyed.  Thankfully, the two houses built by the Mennonite Disaster Service after the 2005 hurricane season withstood the storm. 

 

It appears that the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Community, not protected by a levee, received a huge onslaught of water and mud that rushed in and, perhaps rushed out, causing houses to be pushed, picked up, and moved.  There is still a significant amount of thick mud in the community and in tribal members' homes.  As of today, the pumps in lower Pointe-au-Chien were still pumping water out of the community.  Tribal leaders have been in contact with the neighboring Indian community, Isle a Jean Charles Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha.  Chief Naquin of Isle a Jean Charles has reported that the Island is still under water because the pumps failed. 

 

Tribal members would like to start cleaning up, but there is no water in the Community to allow for tribal members to begin the clean up process.  It is unknown when water or power might be available.  Lafourche Parish was working today to clear the mud off of Oak Pointe Road to make the road passable.  Tribal leaders expect most tribal members to return to asses the damage to their homes by Saturday. 

 

Further complicating the situation, Second Chairman Donald Dardar believes that the local fishermen, who rely on the shrimping season, will not have that source of income this season.  Price's Factor owned by tribal member, Price Billiot and other factories in Terrebonne Parish were impacted by Gustav. 

 

Other tribal members living in upper Pointe-aux-Chenes, Montegut, and Bourg also received wind damage from the storm. 

 

An initial assessment reveals that tribal members need water, rakes, shovels, gloves, baby wipes, first aid supplies, generators, fans, cleaning supplies, towels, tarps, building supplies, window units, hygiene products, diapers, formula, and nonperishable food items.  WE ALSO NEED A LEVEE! 

 

Donations to assist in the relief effort can be sent to the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, PO Box 416, Montegut, LA 70377. 

 

 
 
2005:  AFTER THE STORM
REBUILDING AFTER RITA AND KATRINA
 
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More Land Loss After The 2005 Hurricane Season
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Photo Courtesy of Patty Ferguson, © 2005

The Pointe-au-Chien Indian Community is located in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.  The tribal community was impacted by Hurricane Katrina but suffered a 9-foot storm surge from Hurricane Rita.  The Community inhabits its traditional land base. This land base has diminished significantly over the years because of salt water intrusion resulting from the channelization of the Mississippi and the loss of barrier islands.  This has been further enhanced by the intense cutting of the land by industries seeking natural resources.  The Tribe fears that the small remaining land base will soon be gobbled up to the elements and important sacred sites, including burial grounds, will be destroyed. 

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The Indians of Bayou Pointe-au-Chien and our relatives...

This website is dedicated to the people of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian community. We will work to address issues that concern our community and our relatives in neighboring communities, and make a difference through our website. Thank you for visiting and come back often!

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Photo Courtesy of Patty Ferguson, © 2001

Here is a picture of enrolled tribal members Patty Ferguson Bohnee (traditonal Pointe Au Chien One Shoulder Dress) and Georgie Ferguson (Jingle Dress) at the Grand Bois Park Powwow this past fall, with some very nice people they met who were visiting the powwow from Ireland -- Father PJ Madden and Sister Miriam. Patty served as head lady for the powwow in 2001.  Tribal member Melissa Billiot Viguerie was scheduled to serve as head lady for the 2007 powwow, but it was canceled.

 
 
 
 
POINTE-AU-CHIEN INDIAN TRIBE
 
The Tribe is currently involved in many projects to increase the self-sufficiency of the Tribe:  a book project, research and planning for federal recognition, and emergency planning for future natural disasters.  The Tribe would like to open a community center that can be used for tribal meetings, wakes, and other community events. 
 
DONATIONS MAY BE MAILED TO:
 
POINTE-AU-CHIEN INDIAN TRIBE
PO BOX 416
MONTEGUT, LA 70377 

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MESSAGEBOARD!!

JOIN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER TRIBAL MEMBERS IN OUR ONLINE FORUM, JUST CLICK ON THE BRAVENET LINK BELOW TO ENTER!


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