Shadows of The Past

“The background color of yellow represents the morning sun when our fishermen, in boats, would leave home for their day’s catch of seafood.

The background color of black represents the evening sky when our fishermen would return home from their day’s work on the water.

The line between the two represents the horizon as it is seen out on the water with reality above and its reflection below.

The white boat represents our Indian people’s boats and pirogues used for shrimping, hunting, and trapping.

The larger red boat behind the smaller boat represents the recreational fisherman and the oil industry boats that have taken over the waters that provided the living for our families.

The red diamond shape represents the riches of our lands taken since the oil companies invaded our waters.

The shape of the white oil derrick inside the diamond represents the oil rigs that have cut into our homeland bringing salt water intrusion and coastal erosion.”

Louise Billiot
United Houma Nation
2005