Shooting victim arrested on drug charges
April 26, 2016
Red Snapper season remains tight
April 27, 2016
Flavors from a familiar South Louisiana tribe and sounds of those fighting for the coast were on full display last weekend at one of the state’s most popular festivals.
The United Houma Nation was back at its usual stand all weekend in the Native American Village. Now in its 19th year at Jazz Fest, the UHN served the masses their always-popular fry bread. Also available at the stand were Indian tacos and corn macque choux with either shrimp or sausage.
According to UHN Director Lenar Curole, the tacos were the bestseller on Friday and Saturday, while the fry bread took the lead on Sunday. Saturday proved particularly successful, as the stand sold out of everything except its sausage macque choux.
Curole said the tribe went through about 100 pounds of canola oil, 2.5 pounds of honey, 100 pounds of corn, 150 pounds of shrimp, 70 pounds of sausage and 600 pounds of flour during the first weekend. While usually relying on 125 pounds of tomatoes used in the tacos’ salsa for both weekends, the UHN may have to get reinforcements due to the dish’s popularity this past weekend.
The Native American Village is located near the Fais Do-Do Stage, where some of the smaller, and generally local, acts play throughout Jazz Fest. Elsie LeBlanc, in her fourth year working at the stand, said the good shows keeping foot traffic, and thus eyes and noses, passing the stand plays a key role in their success.
“We get most busy when they’re playing over at the Fais Do-Do stage. So, when there’s a really good performance going on and keeping people around, we do well,” LeBlanc said.
Noreen Dardar is the head fry bread mixer at the stand, working with Eunice Dardar, Ola Thibodaux and Bonnie Use to make sure her husband and UHN Chief Thomas Dardar, Mike Dardar and Curtis Hindon have materials ready to go when it’s time to fry. Noreen said each day of the festival, she drives in from Houma and begins mixing on festival grounds at 8 a.m. As the adults handle the production, several young teens provide auxiliary support where needed. According to Noreen, fostering that connection with the next generation is part of keeping the tribe’s identity alive.
“It’s important to have the children involved. We have to keep the culture going with them,” Noreen said.
As the UHN tended to the stomachs of festival attendees, coastal advocate Tab Benoit looked after their ears. Benoit, who hosts the Voice of the Wetlands Festival in Houma each year, pulled double duty this past weekend with his own set on Saturday followed by a set with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars on Sunday.
The All-Stars, a collection of musical talent from across Louisiana united in raising awareness of the state’s diminishing coastline, put on an energetic, joyous performance at the Acura Stage with fuzzy, blues guitar riffs and help from some frequent collaborators. Though not official members, recording members Anders Osborne and George Porter Jr. played on guitar and bass, respectively. Benoit and Osborne traded licks on their guitars to the delight of the Jazz Fest crowd, with Benoit also taking time out to remind those from near and far of the culture at risk with each acre lost to erosion.
Jazz Fest returns tomorrow through Sunday. In addition to local United Houma Nation tribe members cooking, there will be several representatives selling their artistic wares in the Native American Village. Also look for Lafourche artists David Bergeron in the Contemporary Art section and Chris Spears in Congo Square throughout the weekend. •
