No Matter The Water

Episode 5: Monique

Monique is a multidisciplinary artist from “down the road” Saint Bernard Parish. A citizen of the Houma Nation, she grew up spending as much time as she could with her grandmother, learning how her elders lived a life of abundance off the land. When Hurricane Katrina hit, she and her family were suddenly homeless, and the vulnerabilities of where they lived became all too clear. Inspired by the story of a Houma elder in the 1800's, Monique decided to buy land further inland that her community could retreat to when needed. To learn more about migrating communities and receiving communities, read our companion story, "Adapting through culture: How the arts can help Louisianans facing land loss" [https://bit.ly/4nIEw8M] From the episode: https://moniqueverdin.com [https://moniqueverdin.com] https://landmemorybank.org [https://landmemorybank.org] Okla Hina Ikhish Holo [https://ohih.net] To learn more: Bayou Culture Collaborative [http://bit.ly/4751sK7]

Episode 4: De Sha

De Sha, a nurse and resident of Duson, Louisiana, had been gardening the “big box” way for years with little success, until she met a fellow gardener in CPR class. It changed her life. De Sha now has a prolific garden that benefits from incorporating native plants. Her natural gardening methods use less water and save money. Plus, increasing biodiversity can help address the rising floods and heat. It’s how people like De Sha make a difference in their own backyards. Read our companion article, "Are you gardening for the future?" [https://bit.ly/47vwfjJ] about someone who is using gardens on a larger scale! From the episode: Fightingville Fresh http://bit.ly/42lB6B7 [http://bit.ly/42lB6B7] Acadiana Native Plant Project https://www.greauxnative.org [https://www.greauxnative.org] For more information on native plants on the gulf coast, visit http://bit.ly/48b4PAq [http://bit.ly/48b4PAq]

3: Buddy

Everyone loves Buddy. He’s the uncle you wish you had and a genius hiding behind a thick accent and modest way of life. After an early career of world travel, Buddy settled down in a camp community north of the Morganza Spillway that floods regularly. When the time came to replace his trailer home, he thought, what if I just built a house that can float? Buddy’s home has inspired dozens others in the area, and with some tweaks is a viable alternative to raising our homes on stilts. Read our companion article [https://bit.ly/4729q70] about the viaility of amphibious homes, which includes images of Buddy's home both floating and on ground. Learn more about amphibious architecture from Bouyant Foundation Project [http://bit.ly/4gQdCtR] Links: * Buoyant Foundation Project [https://www.buoyantfoundation.org/] — Learn more about the viability of amphibious homes in Louisiana.

2: Reverend Harris

Reverend Harris is... a hoot. Born and raised in DeQuincy, Louisiana, he has pastored Evergreen Baptist Church for over 20 years. His congregation is a beautiful example of the role churches can play in adapting to a changing climate in our everyday lives. After Laura, his mission work really began to focus on disaster preparedness, a vocation that comes natural to a veteran whose upbringing taught him that his service extends beyond the church’s walls. To learn more about how Churches can play a role in disaster preparation and recovery, read our companion story "Near Lake Charles, faith fills in for FEMA" [http://bit.ly/4qjSSiy] Resources: Pamphlets mentioned, including building a resilient roof [http://bit.ly/4o54Jz3] Disaster Justice Network [https://www.lowlandercenter.org/djn] Public Tool Libraries in Louisiana: Dequincy (Evergreen Baptist Church) [http://bit.ly/42mHbx4] Lafayette [https://www.lafayettetoollibrary.org]

1: Summer

Summer is a principal and lifelong resident of Chauvin, Louisiana. She’s the kind of person you can’t help but smile around, and everything she does is to make the world a better place. As a teacher she guided students to think about how they can have careers to stay in — and improve — their hometown deep in watery Terrebonne Parish, and used school lessons to help them process the complications of land loss and unprecedented storms. And through poetry she processes the changes in her town she can no longer deny. To learn more about environmental curriculum in Louisiana, read our companion story: https://bit.ly/EducationNMTW [https://bit.ly/EducationNMTW]