Update on the tribes in Katrina's path

 Update on the tribes in Katrina's path
NCAI speaks with some, awaits word from others


9/2/2005

Officials with the National Congress of American Indians say they have
tried contacting some tribes in the path of Hurricane Katrina, and
have had only mixed success.

The NCAI reports that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana sustained
some wind and rain damage but the tribe's members that live in
Slidell, La. felt the brunt of the storm, according to the tribal
chairman's office. Tribal members living in that area lost
everything-homes were completely destroyed, but there has been no loss
of life reported among tribal members.

Most appear to have made it into shelters. The tribe has become a
refuge for some trying to escape the aftermath of the storm as its
Mari Center, which houses the tribe's Paragon Casino, has become a Red
Cross shelter which now houses nearly 600 refugees.

Reached via phone, the Poarch Creek Indians of southern Alabama say
they only sustained minor wind damage with no major damage on the
reservation and the community does have power. The storm's effect on
tribal membership in other areas is the main concern, according to
Poarch Creek Management Director April Sells.

"No United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) were directly hit by
Katrina but tribal members living elsewhere were hit hard," said
Sells. "We are currently loading up clothing, food, water and food for
those with diabetes to take to the Chitamacha Band of Poarch Creek
Indians in Louisiana where a shelter has been set up."

According to Sells, a future concern is the number of tribal members
who are expected to return to the reservation as refugees.

"We're setting up a shelter for our members who are coming back to the
reservation because they now have no home and no place to go," she
said. "We've recently purchased a church that will become a temporary
shelter and we will need food, shower systems and portable toilets."

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians are still unreachable by
phone, however news reports indicate power outages on the reservation
with evacuees seeking shelter at the tribe's hotels and reports.

"Out thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Indian Nations
located in the region effected by Hurricane Katrina," said NCAI
President Tex G. Hall. "It is times like this when it is important for
Native people to come together to help one another out."

The NCAI encourages tribes who wish to aid those affected by Hurricane
Katrina to send donations to:

NCAI
1301 Connecticut Ave, NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036
*Please put Hurricane Relief in subject line of check.

All donations will go directly to tribes in the affected region of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

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