Migrating and Receiving Communities Research
Assignment Description
For this research paper, I had to research a land issue of my choosing within Louisiana.
Research Paper Summary
I wrote my research paper about receiving and migrating communities within Louisiana. For migrating communities, I focused on the town of Isle de Jean Charles, and for receiving communities I focused on the towns of Vinton and Jennings. For my migrating communities research, I referenced the film Beasts of the Southern Wild, research articles “Why Would I Live Anyplace Else?” by Jessica R. Z. Simms and “Managed Retreat as a Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation in Small Communities: Public Health Implications” by Andrew L. Dannenberg, and went on a site visit to Isle de Jean Charles. For my receiving communities research, I referenced the New Isle receiving community made for residents of Isle de Jean Charles, along with a previous site visit to Vinton and Jennings. My main findings for migrating communities include: sense of place, community strength, government distrust, and accessibility. My main findings for receiving communities include: governmental collaboration and opinions of existing residents.
Aerial Photo of Isle de Jean Charles
Still from Beasts of Southern Wild
Reference Map
Attachment to Land
The residents of Terrebonne Parish have a deep connection with the physical land here, making it hurt much worse when faced with environmental issues that are pushing them out. The people of Isle de Jean Charles desperately want to stay on the island, largely due to their familial ties to the land. On my site visit, I noticed multiple houses with signs stating “family home not for sale” showing the dedication and commitment residents have to stay on the island. Even if they were moving to the next town over with a culture almost exactly the same as theirs, it would never be the same as living in Isle de Jean Charles, the land on which their family has lived for generations.
Home Elevator in Isle de Jean Charles
Governmental Collaboration
The design for The New Isle implements the wants and needs of the community while also adding in features that will help with other important factors of the community, like the economy. This design improves social and cultural connectivity through a community center, provides access to water and nature through walking trails, and instills a sense of privacy and seclusion through their housing design, all while including other amenities, like retail spaces that boost the economy. Additionally, the resettlement plan also came with the agreement that the families would still be able to access their land on Isle de Jean Charles. The government/designers listened to the wants and needs of the community and implemented them thoughtfully into the design.
Accessibility & Resilience
During my site visit, I noticed some houses in Isle de Jean Charles had elevators. Accessibility is gaining more and more traction as an important issue, and it was interesting to see it at work in Isle de Jean Charles, an area already plagued with issues. Since flooding and coastal erosion pose such a threat in these areas, most of the houses are on stilts to avoid the water. When accessibility begins to be a pressing issue for residents who are older or newly disabled, they will need an accessible way to access their houses. Instead of moving away from Isle de Jean Charles and finding a house that is accessible and safe from flooding, they remain on the island and create a solution to accessibility. No matter how difficult it is to remain on Isle de Jean Charles, these residents are set on ensuring that they can.
Rendering of The New Isle
Our School Vans in Vinton, Louisiana
Conclusion
It is important to work towards maintaining/establishing a sense of community and place for both receiving and migrating communities. When tackling the problem of receiving communities, the main focus needs to be not only on the survival and betterment of the migrating communities, but also on the receiving communities themselves. In cases where the land is unable to be restored, community and sense of place must be maintained.
Photo of Vinton, Louisiana
Government Distrust & Community Strength
I found that migrating communities often fear outsiders, like the government, and place a lot of weight on strength within the community. For example, in the film Beasts of the Southern Wild, the characters say things like “The brave men stay and watch it happen, they don't run” in reference to a hurricane. These community members pass shame on those that leave, and think of them as weak and less-than. Also, migrating communities often have a strong distrust of the government, partly due to harmful infrastructure, like levees, that increase issues like flooding in their communities. When the government tells them to evacuate, some do not, partly due to government distrust, their pre-established ideas of strength in community, and their strong sense of place.
“Family Home Not For Sale” Sign in Isle de Jean Charles
Opinions of Receiving Communities
Current residents of receiving communities usually feel one of two ways: (1) they are not accepting of migrants and like their communities how they are now, and (2) they are accepting of migrants and wish to see their communities grow and evolve. In Vinton, my class and I spoke with the mayor, residents, business owners, and high school students. In our study, we found that most of the older residents were not as accepting of migrants or change, while younger residents were excited for the community to grow. Some older residents we encountered were standoffish and unaccepting of any new ideas. In fact, when we first arrived, some of the older residents called the police on our group. Anything slightly out of the ordinary will set off alarm bells for older residents. Conversely, the high school students we spoke to wanted to live in Vinton after college, so they wanted the community to grow and gain amenities that would make living there more enjoyable.
“Social Club” in Isle de Jean Charles