Save The St. Tammany Chahta Tribe

Save The St. Tammany Chahta Tribe

Days after hurricane Katrina reeked its devastation on south Louisiana, Chief Elwin "Warhorse" Gillum of the Chahta Native Amrican Tribe in the Old Florida Parishes which was once called, Boufaca, realized the deveastation could have been less painful if people in isolated, low soci-econoic communities had a their very own emergency preparedness plans. Chief Warhorse then came up with a program to encourage families and communities to establish emergency preparedness plans that would be connected to the state's oveall plans. She called this program, the Community Preparedness Response Network (CPRN).

CPRN is designed to assist low-income communities with establishing their own community preparedness plan in the event of a natural disaster or pan flu outbreak. Chahta provides these hard-to-reach populations training in quarantine protocols as it relates to Coronavirus or Covid-19 and make available resources to assist them with relief and recovery efforts specific for their communities. 

The Chahta conduct trainings with tribal members and their families, local faith-based community and new partners from the New Orleans Ninth Ward and Oklahoma tribal nations starting January through June 2023. Current members of the Network and new participants will receive updated information on quarantine isolation protocols and PPE distribution related to Covid-19 from the Office of Public Health/Bureau of Community Preparedness.

Emergency preparedness trainings will cover the following topics:

1. How to execute emergency preparedness protocols when a natural disaster strikes
2. Each member of the Network will be trained on managing emergency preparedness kits and maintaining a checklist of items inside

   Community Preparedness Assessment data will be gathered, entered and analyzed to better organize the community and determine their immediate health care needs. Provide a list of items for emergency kits in the event of a hurricane or pandemic flu outbreak. Cost of medicine, latest physical exam, updates on shots, specialty care and those in need of transportation will be tagged for “high importance.”  A list of those with low literacy levels, a total household count for the elderly, students, children, pregnant and new mothers will be included in the database.

3. Special arrangements for members without transportation

4. Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities with Local COVID-19 Transmission
5. All-Hazards Training

Chahta will implement additional components below to the CPRN body of work that will keep residents in hard-to-reach populations informed when it comes to preparedness. Vulnerable populations will have access to:

1. A newly designed CPRN website that will give residents up-to-date information regarding emergency preparedness.
2. Weekly podcasts on emergency preparedness and training that will be available via the CPRN website.

Emergency preparedness training for youth will be added to the CPRN training schedules.

Recent Preparedness Training Meeting Topics

All-Hazards Training

a. During All-Hazards training, the Chahta Tribe has been teaching flooding preparation, by focusing on vulnerable communities that are flood prone and meeting with Parish officials for a workable plan, especially a drainage plan. 

b. Chahta is devising a plan to bring a water system in Historical Bonfouca which is outside of incorporated Slidell La. A chain of meetings for a plan to be called, Chahta Waters System that will sit right in the middle of Tribal land and serve surrounding communities of all races and colors.

c. Final stages of meetings with key city and state Government Leaders and local companies that will partner to help fund and build the Chahta water system. Recently met with Principal Engineering and Dis. 1 Fire Dept. Chief and the Parish Councilman Dis. 11 Rep.

d. A number of meetings with Parish leaders was held on March 14^th , which is leading to great changes on getting the water system in the works

2022 Emergency Preparedness Trainings

1. Chahta hosted in-person trainings via Zoom on cell phones and other devices which are vital to ongoing communication. Trained on proper use and maintenance of generators as newcomers will need assistance on making the choice of equipment that works best for their needs. Update check list for emergency containers, such as totes or back packs with all vital needs for shelter in place or evacuation if necessary.
2. Some tribal members are purchasing generators for the first time and being trained on proper usage, maintenance and storage safety.
3. Proper food storage and water are being emphasized at each training as newcomers attend meetings each week.
4. CPRN Mississippi Tribal member purchased land and a building with an independent deep well water system in northern Mississippi as a second high ground evacuation area for retreat.
5. Some people have medical needs and cannot travel too far. Transportation is a problem for some, other members have purchased vans, campers, or equipment in order to be self-sufficient at whatever location members evacuate to. Car maintenance, fuel cost must be considered if evacuation is necessary.
6. Senior CPRN members are responsible for monitoring weather conditions, food and supply shortages and passing information on to others. CPRN Youth members are participating, understanding and can discuss pandemic protocols in our “Stay or Go” plan.

New CPRN Communities

 CPRN is organizing two new communities: Theonette Haqq-Brownvillage Community and the Benny Harris - Honey Bee Community. Meetings are scheduled with parish leadership to discuss emergency preparedness, health and safety issues with District 11 Councilman, Kirk Drumm and District 14 Councilman, TJ Smith. Brownvillage community is large and will take a lot of work. Honey Bee Community is mid-size but will still need extra help.

 
Cooking With Chief Vidoes on Emergency Preparedness, Racial Equality, and Community Activism