They’re still hopeful.
Despite immense challenges from the government and the climate, for the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe which calls the Terrebonne Basin home, the battles continue.
The tribe’s members are fighting to save their homes, their culture, their language and their very way of life, and Louisiana Public Broadcasting is sharing their story.
Fisherman Donald Dardar sorts his crab catch in a scene from ‘The Precipice.’
“The Precipice” premieres at 7 p.m. Thursday on WLPB, Channel 27. It’s the first film under the statewide network’s new “Louisiana Spotlight” umbrella, the format exploring complex issues in a deeper, more personal way.
“Developing the ‘Louisiana Spotlight’ brand, to include film, short form and digital is very exciting,” says LPB Executive Producer Linda Midgett. “The story of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe is a uniquely Louisiana story, but their challenge also has global impact. It is a story that needs to be told.”
The film’s creative team and production crew have been immersed in the Pointe-au-Chien community for the past two years.
Coastal erosion is threatening the very land the Pointe-aux-Chien Indian Tribe calls home.
The 90-minute film will examine:
- Uphill efforts to become a federally recognized tribe
- The battle for educational equality
- Approaching extinction due to climate change
“The land is tied to their identity, and that part of that identity is literally washing away,” LPB Senior Producer and filmmaker Ben Johnson says. “Climate change is here, and the towns and cities impacted will only grow larger. This film offers viewers the stark reality of what happens to Pointe-aux-Chênes (the unincorporated area where the tribe lives), could happen to communities throughout the world. It’s in our best interest to make sure they succeed.”
Already victims of the eroding coastline, in 2021, category 4 Hurricane Ida almost wiped away their community. Out of the 80-plus homes in lower Pointe-aux-Chênes, only seven were left habitable. Many remain in ruins today.
On the flip side, the battles the tribe has won also will be explored.
As part of the project, LPB is also developing standards-based academic content to accompany the documentary. Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning composer Michael Esneault provides an original score for the film.
“The Precipice” will be available exclusively on LPB Passport, an LPB member benefit, after the broadcast premiere.
For a sneak peek at the film, along with biographies of key players and behind-the-scenes content, visit theprecipice.lpb.org.
The documentary is funded in part by the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program and CODOFIL.
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