Over the years, Isle de Jean Charles has been in and out of the news–but some people in Louisiana may not realize the struggle this community has been going through. Because of numerous environmental factors, including numerous storms, oil and gas excavations, and sea level rise, this community is slowly sinking into the sea. This is their story.

Isle de Jean Charles is found in Terrebonne Parish and for more than 170 years, it has been the homeland of the tribe of Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimatcha-Choctaw Indians.
isledejeancharles.com
There is only one road to access the area, and over the years, it has begun to flood more often.
The tribe made Isle de Jean Charles its home because of the Indian Removal Act of the 1830s.
Flickr.com / Karen Apricot
Their quiet way of life involved subsistence farming and fishing, and was built on close familial and community ties.
Coastal erosion, sea level rise, and the oil and gas industry have caused this area to sink.
isledejeancharles.com
These two photos show it all. In 1963, there were more than 20,000 acres of land on the isle.

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By 2008, 98% of the land was underwater.
isledejeancharles.com
In 2016, the island has been reduced to a quarter mile wide and two miles long, and the road is sometimes impassable.
Numerous storms have caused damage to this area, like this photo taken of the damage after Hurricane Gustav.
Wikicommons / Karen Apricot New Orleans
After years of struggling, the community was faced with the difficult decision of whether they should try and relocate their tribe to a new location or not.
Since the early 2000's, there has been an ongoing struggle with the US Army Corps of Engineers to arrange a resettlement or attempt coastal restoration.
Flickr.com / Karen Apricot
These struggles have continued as the community continued to lose land.
Finally, in January of this year, the residents here received a much welcomed announcement.
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development granted the community $52 million to facilitate their transition into a new community, giving new hope that this relocation can occur with the community needs in mind—and making Isle de Jean Charles one of the first community's in the United States forced to move because of serious environmental issues. Many say that there are a number of communities in Louisiana that could be next.

Watch the video below to get all the story from those who live here about their experiences in this community.

Can you believe the devastation this community is dealing with? What choice would you make? Are you part of a frontline community that is dealing with these issues? Let us know your stories. We love hearing from our readers!

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