Price Senior from the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe has never left Pointe-au-Chien, even during the strongest hurricanes. He gave his shrimp factory to his two sons. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
This is Pointe-au-Chien, meaning “Point of the Dog”. It is also named Pointe-aux-Chênes (“Point of Oaks”).
The town is surrounded by wetlands and protected by levees on each side, thanks to the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection System. A gate closes the bayou during floods. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe is governed by a Tribal Council and their Chairman, Charles “Chucky” Verdin.
“I have been Chief for 24 years. I want to help our tribe. My two priorities are to keep our land and to help the tribe recover from disasters. After Ida, a family left Pointe-au-Chien. We need to be strong.”
— Charles “Chucky” Verdin Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
During the Tribe Council, the elected members make decisions and plans to rebuild, restore and protect the land from numerous environmental disasters. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Because of rising water, the tribe has had to move regularly and adapt.
“I grew up here when I was a child. Now look, it is only water.”
— Donald Dardar Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
As an active tribal member, Donald invests most of his time in various initiatives and in raising public awareness on the challenges faced in the area. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Sign stating "Pointe-au-Chien tribal land". Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
View of Pointe-au-Chien. Pointe-au-Chien United States
The tribe has lived in lower Pointe-au-Chien, along the Louisiana Gulf Coast, for centuries.
It is the traditional village of their ancestors - primarily Chitimacha, but also Choctaw, Acolopissa, Biloxi, and Atakapas - all farmers, fishermen, and hunters. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
This area of Louisiana is prone to the strongest storms in the United States.
Deadly and extremely destructive, Ida was a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 2021. It became the second-most damaging and intense hurricane to land in Louisiana on record, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"Most of the people used to stay during hurricanes. For Ida, everyone left. And when they came back, you could see defeat on their faces."
— Geneva Lebeouf Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Since the Hurricane Ida hit, this boat is stuck in the marsh. Its owner is waiting for help to move the boat back into the water.
Deadly and extremely destructive, Ida was a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 2021. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Jake, member of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, stands on the remains of his house after the destruction of a tornado in 2021. He lost almost everything, and has had no insurance since 2012 due to yearly increasing premiums for the region. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Despite his many health problems Jake plans to finance the reconstruction of his house by returning to shrimp fishing. He prepares everything before the season in May. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
As do many people in South Louisiana, Elton and his mother Theresa live in a trailer loaned by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).
Those unable to qualify for FEMA trailers have to rely on trailer donations from various non-profit agencies.
“We had insurance, but because of the trees in the backyard, it didn’t work.”
— Theresa Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Elton next to the FEMA trailer where he lives with his mother Theresa. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Elton's house was damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021 and lack of resources to fix the roof in time means the building has become completely uninhabitable due to toxic mold.
Several organizations are helping to repair and rebuild the homes of those impacted by disasters in the region including Restore Louisiana and Mennonite Disaster Service. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Elton and Jake are both members of the Indian Tribe. Their lifes have been highly impacted by hurricanes.
"We'll stay here until we die." Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The Pointe-au-Chien Fire Station has not been rebuilt since Hurricane Ida struck. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The Pointe-au-Chien Fire Station has not been rebuilt since Hurricane Ida struck. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Coastal wetland loss in Louisiana from 1985 to 2010 averaged approximately a football field an hour. Key contributors are climate change, sea level rise, subsidence, storms, flooding, oil and gas exploration and levees, which cut wetlands off from land-restoring river sediments.
With a peak of activity in the 1960s, around 27,000 canals have been dredged by oil companies. This is accelerating land erosion significantly. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
With local volunteers, the non-profit CRCL (Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana) is planting cypress trees near Pointe-au-Chien to help limit the damage of future hurricanes. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
In 10 to 20 years, the trees should be tall enough to provide protection from storms, to improve water absorption and soil stability, and to provide a new habitat for nesting birds. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Isle de Jean Charles, an island next to Pointe-au-Chien is rapidly disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico due to coastal erosion and sea level rise. The island once encompassed more than 22,000 acres, but today only 320 acres remain.
The Jean Charles Choctaw Nation, an Indian tribe very close to the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, used to live here. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
In 2022, the Isle de Jean Charles Choctaw Nation has been resettled to a new location by the Federal Government, in Schreiver, Louisiana. The new town was named “The New Isle” and is being built from scratch.
Governor John Bel Edwards said: “This is the very first program of its kind in our nation's history, where we have basically had to move people because of climate change.” Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Dominique Dardar, 60 years old, is one of the last Isle de Jean Charles residents. Like him, two other families refused to be relocated to the New Isle. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Dominique Dardar, 60 years old, is one of the last Isle de Jean Charles residents. Like him, two other families refused to be relocated to the New Isle. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The non-profit CRCL (Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana) and various volunteers are releasing oyster shells on the banks of the bayou. The goal here is to protect a burial mound belonging to the Pointe-au-Chien Tribe. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The non-profit CRCL (Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana) and various volunteers are releasing oyster shells on the banks of the bayou. The goal here is to protect a burial mound belonging to the Pointe-au-Chien Tribe. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The non-profit CRCL (Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana) and various volunteers are releasing oyster shells on the banks of the bayou. The goal here is to protect a burial mound belonging to the Pointe-au-Chien Tribe. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Fishing is the main business in Pointe-au-Chien.
With the many environmental challenges they face, such as rising water, flooding, salinization, hurricanes, fishing is becoming more and more difficult. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
“My factory is the last in Pointe-au-Chien. There used to be four. The price of shrimp is
not what it was back then."
— Pierre Dardar Jr
The majority of the residents in Pointe-au-Chien are fishermen. While the wholesale price of the shrimp has slumped, the costs of gas and other expenses have climbed. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The majority of the residents in Pointe-au-Chien are fishermen. While the wholesale price of the shrimp has slumped, the costs of gas and other expenses have climbed. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The majority of the residents in Pointe-au-Chien are fishermen. While the wholesale price of the shrimp has slumped, the costs of gas and other expenses have climbed. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Alex Billiot, from the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, owns a crab factory along the bayou.
Because of land loss in the area, crabs have fewer estuaries to reproduce. This has impacted the industry substantially. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Anthony Dardar works on a tugboat, in oil industry. He doesn't need to shrimp to make a living, bu still takes his boat whenever he can.
“That’s what I have done my entire life with my father, it’s in me.
— Anthony Dardar Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Shrimping is done in an estuary at night, in the bayou Pointe-au-Chien.
They now have less estuaries to reproduce and become harder to catch. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Shrimping is done in the bayou Pointe-au-Chien. Wild horses like to come at dusk to have company. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
This is the grave of Alexander Billiot, a French sugarcane farmer in the 1850s and common ancestor of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe who fathered children with a Native American woman.
Billiot’s grave lies several miles down the bayou, distanced from Pointe-au-Chien because the constant land loss has forced the tribe to relocate north. It is now inaccessible to his descendants. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Louisiana and France have long-standing cultural ties. Several other French-speaking communities exist in Louisiana: Acadians, French, various Indian tribe. Thanks to the CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana), there are several French immersion schools.
On December 12th, 2022, President of France Emmanuel Macron came to visit New Orleans to reinforce cultural connection and to discuss climate change. Members of the Pointe-au-Chien tribe were invited and attended his speech at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Louisiana and France have long-standing cultural ties. Several other French-speaking communities exist in Louisiana: Acadians, French, various Indian tribe. Thanks to the CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana), there are several French immersion schools.
On December 12th, 2022, President of France Emmanuel Macron came to visit New Orleans to reinforce cultural connection and to discuss climate change. Members of the Pointe-au-Chien tribe were invited and attended his speech at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
These are the remains of Pointe-au-Chien Elementary School which closed a few years ago due to a lack of children and then was all but destroyed by Hurricane Ida in 2021. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Like her tribe’s ancestors, Christine Verdin speaks Louisiana French and is determined to revive the language and preserve the culture. She will reopen the place as a French immersion school thanks to the historic decision formalized by Governor John Bel Edwards in 2022. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Every year, the tribe has its culture camp where the members’ children learn about their ancestors, heritage and traditions. They are also taught Indian French, slightly different from what they call Parisian French. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
Smudging is an Indian ritual of cleaning the energy of a person and to expel evil spirits. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
The numerous environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by the communities of this region are growing and weighing more heavily by the day.
While they wait and hope for the support due to them from Federal and State governments, the members unite and do their best to survive. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
These horses survived the latest hurricanes by themselves. Nobody knows how. They belonged to a resident of Pointe-au-Chien a long time ago. Pointe-aux-Chenes United States
