Keyja Washington

The lost bayou: Discovering South Louisiana’s Lost Communities

A community is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. It’s where people grow up, where they learn who they are.

But communities don’t always last. Sometimes they disappear. Sometimes they are ripped away. All across South Louisiana’s bayou region, people have been forced to leave their homes because of natural disasters or other environmental concerns.

To preserve the history, culture and traditions of these lost communities, Garde Voir Ci kicked off a series in spring 2020 capturing the stories of the people that lived in these distinct places in South Louisiana. Places like Grand Bayou, Isle de Jean Charles, Cheniere Caminada, Isle Dernière and the United Houma Nation.

We’ve stopped in Grand Bayou and Isle Dernière. Now follow along in the next few months to discover the next community along The Lost Bayou — The United Houma Nation.