Our very own Elisabeth Pierite Mora and Patricia Anderson will be participating in a virtual panel on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 2-3 p.m. (central) for the American Philosophical Society‘s conference “Relationships, Reciprocity, and Responsibilities: Indigenous Studies in Archives and Beyond.” The panel will cover Community-Based Language Revitalization.
To register for the panel, click here – https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_bxHUAPBKRgiEGyKYGHNwLg
LCRP is accepting applications for virtual language classes for all ages through Thursday, Oct. 29. Class time will be set based off of interest and availability. These classes are a fun way to learn the Tunica language!
If you are interested, we ask that you download and fill out a registration form below and return it to Jessica Barbry.
For questions, please contact Jessica Barbry for more information at 318-240-6469 or email jabarbry@tunica.org.
The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has access to federal funding through the Cares Act to provide tribal families with a computer device for Tunica-Biloxi students who will be doing virtual instruction online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As most school districts are providing devices, the Tribe will only provide a laptop if the family’s homeschool service provider or their school district has exhausted their inventory. Many school districts are requiring a device loan agreement. We will verify if there is device availability with the school district or homeschool service provider before issuing a computer. If you have not already done so, reach out to your child’s school or homeschool provider to inquire about receiving a computer.
To receive a computer through the Tribe, you may request an application from the following individuals.
John Barbry
Director of Development & Programming
jdbarbry@tunica.org
Jessica Barbry
Administrative Coordinator
jabarbry@tunica.org
NOTE:
Approval notification will be made within 5-10 business days. Shipment and delivery information is currently being finalized. If you have any questions, please contact the individuals listed above.
Tribal citizens,
Over the weekend, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council released a survey in order to gain insight in how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our citizens. The purpose of the survey is to help the Tribe to develop future programming to assist our citizens in the best possible way. Due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic, we have authorized a COVID-19 relief assistance payment to each adult citizen by June 30, 2020.
Rest assured that by submitting your information through this survey, it will remain completely confidential. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana has hired a third-party, HIPAA-certified consulting firm, Yona Consulting Services, as a way to safeguard our citizen’s personal information. Yona will confidentially review the data that you provide through this survey and send the Tribal Council and Tribal Administrator a comprehensive report. We will then review this report and determine how we can best assist our tribal citizens with their respective needs.
Additionally, The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will not share your data with any entity other than a government agency that requests the use of this data for reporting and demographic purposes. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana respects the privacy of its citizens and strictly adheres to HIPAA, and all other federal data privacy laws.
This COVID-19 relief payment with be made through the Tribe’s Health and Housing Assistance Program (“HHA”) which provides Tunica-Biloxi citizens with financial support to meet their basic living needs, such as safe and habitable housing, assistance with meals and home care, and assistance with medical expenses and non-prescription medications.
We care deeply for the health and well-being of our citizens and encourage each and every one of you to respond to this survey so we can better support you during this difficult time. We hope that by utilizing the information that you provide that we can continue to offer and expand meaningful support for Tribal citizens.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to myself and the rest of your Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council. To access and fill out the survey, please click here.
Sincerely,
Chairman Marshall Pierite
As a way to ensure that their Tribal citizens and members of the Marksville community have proper testing resources, the Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana is partnering with the Louisiana National Guard and The Louisiana Department of Health (LADH) to host a free, public COVID-19 testing site.
“We’re so grateful to the National Guard and Department of Health for making this testing site possible,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “Early detection and treatment of this virus is so important which is why we’re doing everything we can to make these resources more accessible to our local community.”
The site will run on Monday, June 29 – Thursday, July 2 from 8 – 11 a.m. It will be located on Earl J. Barbry Sr. Blvd in Marksville between Highway 1 and Slim Lemoine Rd. There will be signage around the testing area to direct visitors on where to go.
The site will provide free testing to the general public, Tribal Government employees, Paragon employees, Tribal citizens and their children.
This is just one of several ways that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and their partners have worked to protect Tribal citizens throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Native Americans, like other minority groups and those in lower-income communities, are among those most impacted by this virus. For this reason, Native American tribes have a responsibility to protect the health and wellbeing of their citizens. For more information on Tunica-Biloxi’s COVID-19 response, click here.
T
he Tunica-Biloxi Tribe’s Seventh Generation Youth Council is pleased to present Virtual Youth Camp! The camp will take place on July 27-31 and will immerse Tunica-Biloxi children, ages 5-17, in all aspects of our culture through a series of virtual workshops. Workshops will cover topics such as traditional Tunica-Biloxi dress, language revitalization, traditional song and dance, tribal history, pow wow importance and more!
There will be approximately 3-4 workshops per day, each 20 minutes, which will run from 12-4 p.m. Registration closes on June 29. For more information on the camp and to register, visit the Facebook Event Page.
To Register right now please fill out this form.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Language & Culture Youth Camp, originally scheduled for June 8-12, 2020, has been cancelled. The decision was made out of an abundance of caution for our campers and counselors. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to when we can gather again safely in the future.
Dear Citizens of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana,
The global pandemic of Novel Coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has hit our home state of Louisiana hard with an infection rate that is exceeding the rest of the country. We now must take urgent additional steps to protect our Community.
After careful deliberation, and in consultation with healthcare authorities and our local, state and federal partners, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council advises all Tribal Members to self-isolate by remaining at home for a period of at least two weeks. Please only leave your home for emergencies, such as seeking necessary medical attention or to purchase essential goods and services. Also, please refrain from any unnecessary gatherings. Tribal members are allowed to vote on April 5th for the Tribal Council elections, however.
We recognize this stay-at-home request, along with prior orders closing schools, canceling Tribal events and enacting other restrictions, impacts each of our daily lives. Everyone has seen the devastation in communities where COVID-19 has become prevalent. We must do everything we can to stop the spread of this illness to protect our elders, children and fellow Citizens. Lives are at stake.
The good news is we as individuals can do our part to help break the chain of virus transmission by doing something simple: staying at home. This will help prevent Tribal and regional healthcare facilities from becoming overwhelmed with patients requiring attention.
This is a time for smart action, not fear or panic. Measures already enacted have closed or canceled non-essential Tribal offices and events and eliminated non-essential travel by Tribal employees. Please check Tribal and State websites for the latest on services and programs.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 is a monumental task, but this is something we can – and must – do together. Thank you to the incredible doctors, nurses and other members of the medical community who are fighting at all hours to contain the spread of COVID-19 and treat those who have tested positive. Thank you, also, to the first responders, essential personnel and employees who are joining in this effort to protect our community. The small sacrifice we make together will help ensure our community emerges from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever.
Sincerely,
Chairman Marshall Pierite
In an effort to meet the needs of the large Native American population in the Houston area and their respective Tribal members, The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana based out of Marksville, LA and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas based out of Livingston, TX are opening the American Indian Center of Houston. The grand opening of this center, which will be located at 2000 S. Dairy Ashford, Suite 550, Houston, TX 77077, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 29 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12 p.m.
To oversee its operations, Sam Houston State University graduate and Tunica-Biloxi Tribal member, Nikki Barbre-McDonald has been hired as the Director of the American Indian Center of Houston.
“I am honored to be a part of the opening of the American Indian Center of Houston. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe saw a need in the greater Houston area for not only our members, but for all Native Americans,” said Nikki McDonald, Director of the American Indian Center.
Through the Center, both tribes will provide a variety of services for Native Americans in the area including Alabama-Coushatta’s Employment and Training Program, which provides employment and training services to Native Americans/American Indians, Native Hawaiians and Native Alaskans that reside within the 121 county of the State of Texas.
“I am confident that the Center will be impactful for not only our Tribal members but for all Native Americans in the Houston area,” said Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Marshall Pierite. “We’re grateful that Alabama-Coushatta is joining us in this endeavor. Together, we can achieve our shared mission of improving the lives of Native Americans throughout the country on enhanced capacity.”
Due to the growing population of Native Americans in Harris and surrounding counties, the two Tribes are striving to become more accessible to families in these areas. According to Jeremy Zahn, Tunica-Biloxi Council Member, there are an estimated 70,000 Native Americans residing in the southeast Texas region today.
“We are exploring options for a variety of federal grants, partnerships with other tribes, and working with local non-profits to assist in meeting the needs of our underserved communities,” said McDonald.
The center hopes to obtain federal grants to promote easier access to federal services that are often unavailable to Native American families living away from the 326 Indian reservations scattered throughout the United States. Until then, the center will offer educational workshops and health fairs to promote the well-being of the Native American community.”
In the future, Tunica-Biloxi elder, Anna Farris, believes the center will become a breakthrough for the Houston community. “We are helping our youth move forward for our future, while our past is still being taught and not forgotten.”
For more information on the American Indian Center of Houston, contact Nikki McDonald at (346)374-8516 or NMcDonald@tunica.org.
