United Houma Nation

Members of United Houma Nation Seek Federal Recognition with Online Petition

Adrea Korthase

From Houma Today article:

Members of the tribe have created a digital petition on the White House’s website, “We the People,” which promises to provide an official response from the Obama administration if the issue can gather enough signatures in a month.

“The goal is to get federally recognized,” said Adam Credelle, who started the petition. Credelle is a United Houma Nation member from Patterson who currently attends law school at Southern University.

The United Houma Nation’s petition must get 25,000 signatures before Dec. 1. As of Friday evening, the petition had garnered 1,972 signatures since Tuesday, when it was launched.

Here is a link directly to the petition to get a presidential response: Federally recognize the United Houma Nation.

Hurricane Ike Devastates Indian Communities

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Reznet:

HOUMA, La.—Weary evacuees filled rescue shelters, and local officials watched the costly damage mount from Hurricane Ike after its massive storm surge swamped Louisiana’s coastline and flooded the bayou communities where much of the state’s Native American population lives.

At least two people were reported dead and tens of thousands were forced from their homes as dangerous water levels submerged neighborhoods and closed off highways, forcing people — still reeling from Hurricane Gustav less than two weeks earlier — to flee their homes and businesses yet again.

“We’re very tired of these hurricanes. It’s just like a repeat of the mud, the water and rebuild and rebuild,” said Dena Foret, 41, of Dulac, La., who has spent the last three nights at Houma Junior High School along with nearly two dozen of her friends and family members in the school gymnasium.

Continue reading →