Symbiosis: Revitalizing Houma tribal identity through community cultural spaces

Abstract

Earth’s climate has altered over time. There have been seven glacial advance and retreat cycles in the last 650,000 years, with the abrupt conclusion of the last ice age marking the start of the con temporary climate era – and human civilization. The current warming trend has been the product of human activities since the mid-twentieth century, and it is occurring at an unprecedented rate span ning millennia. Notably, countries in low-lying areas and small islands are concerned that their land areas would be decreased due to inundation and coastal erosion, and, at worst, a large proportion of their population may be forced to leave their land and migrate. Although climate change impacts all communities, Indigenous peoples are among the first and most severely affected. Indigenous peoples are frequently connected to the land; many tribes depend on fishing and hunting for sustenance and spend time outside for spiritual or cultural reasons. Indigenous peoples have long recognized the close ties between their land, water, and animal and plant life. Traditional practices and lifestyles may be adversely impacted by climate change-related harm to the land, the water, and living things, resulting in great distress. Additionally, displacement brought on by climate change may compel individuals to abandon their ancestral homes, leaving them vulnerable on the social, economic, and cultural levels. In an attempt to restore the cultural identity of one such tribe, This Thesis project would study the tribes of Houma based in south Louisiana and attempt to provide them with a unique tribal center that would provide them a sense of pride and ownership in their lost land and help revive and share their culture and practices with the world around them.