“Knowing there’s only 17,000 of us in the world and there’s only one of me and the fact that I am one of 17,000 is so special to me.

“It’s not like you can go across the country and get an Houma Indian, so that is special to me.

“Some tribes get all these extra benefits, while we don’t get any benefits. We work hard for everything we have.”

“I feel blessed even with all of the prejudice growing up to be a part of my community

“Everything I’ve been through has made me who I am today, and now I am a strong Houma woman.”