United Houma Nation

[Guest guest]

Dear Ones,

 

I've received a few questions about these native people. Please see

their website at http://www.unitedhoumanation.org

 

Their area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, what to say now

about Hurricane Rita. At the website you can see ways to donate,

ways to volunteer, aerial shots of their land including one which

shows that all the homes on both sides of one of their roads were

completely destroyed. Three to four thousand Houma have been

evacuated. A number of them only speak their own language which

appears to be very similar to Choctaw language which I was studying

(?!). The two words ont he website--"Halito" hello and "Aiokpanchi"

welcome" are Choctaw words. "Homa" or alternatively spelled "Houma"

is also Choctaw for red.

 

The Chief is a woman. Her home is being used as a shelter. I

imagine its like some of the homes of people who hosted Amma in the

beginning days--packed with people.

 

These people are subsistence farmers and fisherpeople. There is a

wonderful photo of an elders celebration on the website. Look for

it if you visit the site. See how happy the elders are.

 

Br. Dayamrita emailed me some time back that we as an organization

may help the Houma. They were investigating further.

 

Right now the Houma land is underwater and no Army Corps of

Engineers is pumping the water out as they are in New Orleans. The

water is topped with oil and gasoline as well. Untill the water

subsides, there may not be much that can be done.

 

The Houma are not federally recognized so they receive no federal

funds. They do not have a casino so they have no casino funds

either.

 

The chief is trying to locate the people presently. Whether they

will be allowed to return home right now with Rita close by is

doubtful but she is trying to find them and bring them home as soon

as possible.

 

If you are volunteering in a shelter and there are people there who

speak a language nobody understands, try saying "Halito" and "Chim

achukma?" The latter means "Are you well?" A common, nearly

automatic answer is "Achukma hoke" for "it is well" or "I am fine."

The word "Hoke" is pronounced "ho-kay." If the people understand

you, they may be Houma (pronounced more like "homa"--like the East

Indian fire ceremony. You may not be able to have a long

conversation, but maybe you can let shelter staff know that these

folks are Houma Indians from Louisiana and share the website.

 

A local store here in Berkeley, Gathering Tribes, has started a fund

for hte Houma. Folks are giving $25 for six months to provide an

ongoign source of funds for Houma people. In February, when they

think the water will have receded, they will bring a truckload of

furniture to Louisiana.

 

Jai Ma!

Aikya

 

Aikya