ENDING: Feb 28th
WHY: The Houma need to replace equipment lost to a hurricane in 2021, and resume sewing their sacred clothing.This news video describes what they are facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE5nqJfsKhI.
WHAT: Donate Sewing Machines & Materials to the Houma People, an indigenous tribe in Louisiana. They lost most of their equipment during Hurricane Ida in 2021. See the Wishlist below.
WHERE: Please see our Drop-Off Partners below.
HOW TO HELP:If your business would like to offer a drop-off location, please contact [email protected].Please include your business name, address, special instructions, business hours and phone number. You must have a safe place to store donations, and make a commitment to ensure that the donations are handed on before March 1st, when Betty will be starting her delivery the next day.
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DONATION PROGRESS! Updated 2/9/22
WISHLIST:
Drop-Off Supplies Sewing machines (this is the top priority) Fabrics ( cotton)(variety of solid colors) Fabric prints (variety of patterns) Charmeuse satin (variety of colors) Sewing Thread (variety of colors) Bias Tape (variety of colors) Sewing Ribbon (variety of colors) Sewing scissors Do not donate funds by dropping off. Donate Funds If you want to donate funds, please use the Donate Now button on the right to make a donation. Be sure to note that this is for the Houma. UPG will combine these funds to fill gaps and defray delivery.
DROP-OFF SITES (updated 2/9)
SW Miami Dade
Buffalo Tiger Air Boats 29701 SW 8th St Miami, FL 33194 (Miccosukee Lands in the Glades) (786) 795-3487 http://www.buffalotigerboats.com/ Business Hours Weather dependent. Call first.
The Vanity Mode 7222 Red Road / South Miami, FL 33143 (305)834-7274 Business Hours (call first) Tuesday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Wednesday 10:00 am - 6:30 pm Thursday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Friday 10:00 am - 6:30 pm Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
NE Miami Dade
Needed (site pending)
SE Miami Dade
NW Miami Dade
Needed
Florida Outside Miami
Broward County
Collier County
Orlando
Gainesville
Background: Why is UPG doing this?
The Houma Nation of Louisiana lives on land being slowly stolen by Sea-Level Rise… and then they got hammered in 2021 by Hurricane Ida.
Kevin Young (UPG Community Organizer) describes the situation:
Less than 6 Months ago, Hurricane Ida devastated the Louisiana coast. The Houma Nation, a tribe of indigenous people located within the region, was among the hardest hit.
“The United Houma Nation (UHN) is a state recognized tribe of approximately 17,000 tribal members residing within a six-parish (county) service area encompassing 4,570 square miles. The six parishes, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Mary, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes are located along the southeastern coast of Louisiana. “– Houma Nation Website
Many lost everything. This includes materials, garments & regalia used in sacred traditional ceremonies. As their community focuses on rebuilding, a Miccosukee elder asked UPG for supporting the Houma. Betty Osceola (see below) provided the wish-list of items that can help them recover in this specific cultural aspect.
UPG (Urbanparadiseguild.org) is launching a resource drive during the month of February, for the Houma nation; to provide Sewing Machines and other materials.
**Do you, or does someone you know; have a spare sewing machine you’d be willing to donate?
**Do you own a business that would be willing to be a drop-off point for a Sewing machine, for a UPG member to pick up later? (see areas that need coverage).
**Would You or your business like to contribute materials or funds? [Contributions to UPG are tax deductible].
We here at UPG, like all Floridians, know firsthand how devastating hurricanes can be, as well as how long it can take to bounce back. We all understand the desire & benefits for some semblance of normalcy & celebration. Who among us can lend a hand in their recovery & the preservation of their culture?
We have 2 sewing machines already, I’m hoping to get at least 10 more. For more information and other ways to help, along with the complete wish list & updates; please check out our link below:
https://urbanparadiseguild.org/houma/ for more information on the tribe & the storm, see these links: https://unitedhoumanation.org/ http://www.bigorrin.org/houma_kids.htmhttps://www.youtube.com /watch?v=BE5nqJfsKhI
This NPR story describes their predicaments. https://www.npr.org/2021/10/02/1040259898/hurricane-ida-louisiana-houma-tribe
HoumaNation #Charity #SewingDrive #Sewing #ClimateActive #WaterProtectors #WaterIsLife #UPG #MutualAid
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Betty Osceola, a Miccosukkee elder and environmental leader, has been working to help them in their time of need. She’s done collections of resources and delivered them twice, from food and bedding to Christmas toys. Now she is trying to fill another gap. She understands their needs. She has many skills, and making traditional Miccosukkee clothing is among them. We are adding our resources in support of her work.
UPG was founded to fight the causes and effects of Climate Crisis, and has provided significant humanitarian aid to Haiti, Puerto Rico and Florida following hurricane impacts. Betty Osceola is a trusted Partner: UPG has been supporting and collaborating with her for years, with notable success in fighting Fracking and ROGG (River of Grass Greenway).
Sacred Clothing for Ceremonies
The Houma need to replace the sacred clothing that they lost during the hurricane, and normally this wouldn’t be a problem. Sadly, they lost their sewing machines, as well as their supplies of cloth.
They are recognized as a tribe by the State of LA, but not (yet) by the US Government. This cuts them off from the kind of aid that other First Nations can depend on. If Betty supports them, that’s good enough for us.
