Petition seeks tribe recognition

Members of the United Houma Nation have secured a step they hope will bring them closer to federal recognition as an organized tribe after having been denied that designation for more than 30 years.

There are 565 Native American tribes that are officially recognized by the United States government that share in benefits that help not only those indigenous people but also the broader communities they populate.

“One of our biggest stumbling blocks [for educational, health and economic advancement] is the lack of federal recognition and the doors that can open,” United Houma Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program Director Lanor Curole said. “This is really important.”

Curole said the White House has agreed to respond to requests of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and has established a website on which anyone more than 13-years old may sign an online petition, regardless of race. The UHN, which comprises approximately 17,000 citizens, needs 25,000 signatures to get the attention of the U.S. Department of Interior.

The UHN has state recognition in Louisiana and most of its members live in 4,570 square miles that comprise Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Mary, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.

“We are trying to get as many people as we can and you don’t have to be Native American to participate,” UHN Principal Chief Thomas Dardar Jr. said. “If we get 25,000 signatures then the president will appoint someone to check out the petition.”

Dardar said that the advantage of having federal recognition is the benefit that extends beyond the UHN and would help each of the parishes that population covers.

“It would be an economic shot in the arm for six parishes because we have citizens that will see job creation in those areas,” Dardar said.

Curole supplied instructions for those wishing to sign the petition.

The first step is to log onto the White House website at http://wh.gov/b2P, then select “Create an Account” and register. After an account has been created, an email confirmation will be sent to the participant to open and click to confirm the account. Once the account has been established and confirmed, the participant is directed back to http// wh.gov/b2P where the petition can be electronically signed.

Each participant may only sign the petition once.

“That’s all it is,” Curole said as she expressed hope that participants will encourage as many people as possible to sign.

“We decided we are going to give it a try,” Dardar said. “We hope it works.”