‘End of Road’ shoot canceled

A war of words arising due to existing tensions between two local Native American tribes has resulted in the cancellation of an event scheduled by New Orleans artists to draw attention to Louisiana’s diminishing coast.

But organizers say the aborted “End of the Road” event, which was to have been held Saturday on Island Road, between the Pointe-aux-Chenes mainland and a vulnerable, climate-doomed Isle de Jean Charles, will be scheduled for another time. The artist who conceptualized the idea of500 people standing on the spit of highway between the mainland and the island spelling out the word “HOME,” to be photographed by a drone, said she will still appear on the highway as scheduled, bearing a sign.

“The official reason for the cancellation is public safety,” said the artist, Dawn DeDeaux. “But folks are welcome to come to the road where I will be holding my little sign, which says HOME Saturday, June 25, from 1 p.m. In the week of post-Orlando we cannot risk public safety.”

Plans were well in the works for as many as 500 tourists and art devotees, from the New Orleans area as well as communi-

ties in and around Terrebonne Parish, to travel by private auto and also in donated busses to Pointe-aux-Chenes, trekking to the spot where the human signage would be formed. After the event, they were to go onto the island and lunch at the Isle de Jean Charles Marina, owned by Theo Chaisson of the United Houma Nation.

Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Traditional Chief Albert Naquin, whose tribal members make up the majority of the island’s residents, objected to the event.

“I would like them to stay home,” said Chief Naquin in an interview. “First off, there is no benefit for the island people, all of it is for the artists. I do not think having a party on the Island Road is going to heal the cancer of land loss.”

Naquin saw the photo event as an exploitation of the island peoples’ plight.

A permit for the event was issued by the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government. It was applied for by a sponsor of the event, Prospect New Orleans, a non-profit that showcases artistry in “both historic and culturally exceptional” settings. In particular, such projects are intended to “contribute to the cultural economy of New Orleans and the Louisiana gulf region,” according to the organization’s website. Members of the tribe and their supporters had planned to address the Terrebonne Parish Council this week, seeking, they said, to have the permit pulled.

Not all members of Chief Naquin’s tribe were in favor of rolling up the welcome mat, however.

Levis Dardar, a long-time island resident, says if strangers come from many places to take part in Saturday’s event, it could be good for the island.

“Let the people come,” he said. “They will spend money, maybe they’ll come back.”

The concerns over public safety arose from written communications between Chief Naquin and DeDeaux, which included an e-mail from the chief expressing his objections.

“I have not been contacted about this event and I don’t approve of it and neither does the tribal council,” Naquin’s e-mail states.

“Unless you want all hell to break loose, you need to cancel this event. I am the traditional chief of Isle de Jean Charles and I am not in favor of outsiders to make plans about my community without me being contacted first. I don’t know who’s (sic) idea this was, but we the people of Isle de Jean Charles are fed up with this kind of exploitation. Call it off or it will get ugly.”

A supporter of the tribe, Mark Fortson, whose wife is a member, had also expressed his displeasure, and solidarity with the chief, in an e-mail to organizers.

“At the island road, you may find a substantial number of tribal members insisting that you stay off. Take your publicity elsewhere,” Fortner’s email states. “The inhabitants have become tiresome of the exploitation. Where do you think the hundreds of families that have been forced from the Island over the last several decades and numerous storms have gone? They live nearby, mostly in Pointe-aux-Chenes, Chauvin, Houma and Montegut. You’ll pass their houses on the way to the Island Road. They are the dislocated.

They are also those tired of empty and hollow causes on their behalf, and they may easily find themselves blocking your event.”

Multiple interviews give strong indications that no individual or company will financially benefit from the images that will result from the staged event. Prospect New Orleans had a lot of support from backers that include the Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, Whitney Bank, Ralph and Susan Brennan, the Joan Mitchell Foundation, the RosaMary Foundation, the Keller Family Foundation, the Arts Council of New Orleans, Regions Bank and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana.

Fortson criticized in particular involvement of the United Houma Nation. The UHN’s past involvement with events or undertakings for donations, Fortson alleges, have done little good for the island’s residents. The UHN’s involvement is limited at this point to being part of the group of people donating use of vans for transport of participants, and perhaps food.

DeDeaux said she tried to contact Chief Naquin but that he did not return her calls; she then made contact with Theo Chaisson at his marina, and he as well as other members of the UHN, both on and off the island, appeared warm to the event.

Chief Naquin maintains that if outsiders want to exploit the island’s plight they do so in ways that can result in direct financial aid to its residents. He cites a woman on the island whose roof was damaged by heavy rains and cannot afford to repair it.

DeDeaux and Chief Naquin met for several hours last Monday in Montegut to discuss her plans and his concerns. The discussion did not go well, however. The United Houma

New Orleans artist Dawn DeDeaux released this photo as part of her statement after announcing that her End of the Road was being canceled.

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A photo by Artist Dawn DeDeaux (recently taken) called “Shadow On The Road” while seeking a site for her “End of the Road” project.

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