Cressandra Thibodeaux, an enrolled tribal member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewas in Michigan, is an award-winning documentarist and photographer. She seeks to capture the stories of Native Americans in Louisiana through a new visual arts series titled "Native Climate Refugees." This project highlights the lives of Native Americans who once resided on Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana, through photography, interviews, and aerial shots of their tribal lands and new home base. The goal is to create a new body of work to be presented within their community at the Wetlands Museum in Thibodaux, as well as at their new Native Community Center in Schriever, LA. The collection will feature 20 color portraits, interviews with tribal members, and both aerial and documentary photography. These individuals are recognized by the federal government as the first American Indian community displaced due to climate change, with their tribal lands now 98% underwater. In 2016, they were granted $48 million to relocate to higher ground outside Thibodaux, in Schriever, Louisiana, about 40 miles to the north. Through this project, Thibodeaux aims to inspire social and environmental change in the U.S. by raising awareness about the challenges faced by this Native American community.

The project will also highlight the role of oil companies in contributing to the vulnerability of this land, as they laid pipes across the tribe’s territory, allowing saltwater to enter and degrade the soil, making the landscape even more susceptible to climate change. Through interviews, the project will showcase the tribe's resilience and their ongoing efforts to achieve environmental justice. Thibodeaux plans to showcase the photo series at the Wetlands Museum in Thibodaux, Louisiana, in June 2026, and at the tribe's community center in Schriever.

This project marks a significant milestone in Thibodeaux’s artistic and professional growth. It is her first project to combine her passions for Native American issues, environmental justice, and photography. Through this work, she aims to shed light on the pressing issues faced by Native American communities, particularly those affected by climate change and environmental racism. Additionally, by planning exhibitions at the Wetlands Museum and the Native Community Center, the project directly engages the communities it represents. This involvement not only empowers the Native community by sharing their stories in a museum setting but also fosters a sense of ownership and agency over their narratives.

photographic prints 24 x 36