Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana to Honor the State of Israel

By Lauren de Albuquerque
Managing Editor
The Times of Southwest Louisiana

 On Mon., Nov. 17, the Sovereign Nation of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will become the first Native American tribe to recognize, honor, and welcome official representatives of the State of Israel. 

“This unprecedented initiative will firmly establish the Coushatta Tribe’s role on both the national and international stages, while also opening the door to new business relationships and future economic development initiatives,” said Kevin Sickey, Chairman of the Tribal Council of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.

The Honorable Asher Yarden, Consul General of Israel to the Southwest, will represent the State of Israel at the event.  Yarden and other members of the Israeli delegation will tour the Coushatta Tribe installations on the Coushatta Reservation in Elton and join with Coushatta Tribal Council leaders for a press conference beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the Coushatta Administrative Building.  A special signing ceremony will follow at 10 a.m. in the same location, and lunch will be served. Various local and state leaders will be on hand for the event, which is open to the public.

During the ceremony, Coushatta leaders and Consul General Yarden will sign a proclamation in recognition of “common histories” and a “shared spirit of endurance.”

“The Coushatta of Louisiana are very proud that we will be able to welcome and honor representatives of the State of Israel,” said Kevin Sickey. “Though the circumstances and challenges that we have faced are different, the Coushatta of Louisiana and the people of Israel have many things in common. In much the same way that our forefathers overcame enormous difficulties to found and build the Sovereign Nation of Coushatta, the Israeli people have overcome tremendous hardship and heartbreak in order to forge a strong identity as a free and sovereign nation.”

 David Sickey explained that the proclamation is a way to honor the similarities and officially declare that the two nations will be tied together for years to come. In addition to the valuable cultural exchange, he said, the Coushatta Tribe hopes to build on the relationship by exploring possible business and investment opportunities as a way to expand on the Coushatta Tribe’s revenue base for the future.

 The agreement with the State of Israel is the latest and most important step in an ongoing effort by the Tribe to build relationships with other governments and explore new business opportunities. In June, 2008, the Coushatta entered into a cooperative agreement with the Jefferson Davis Parish Economic Development Commission – the first formal agreement addressing economic development efforts between the two neighboring governments.

Breakfast Honors Landrieu

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times of SWLA



About a dozen small business owners in Lake Charles met with
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, on Oct. 28, at a breakfast meeting
hosted by Mike Tremont and Bradley Breaux, at 508 Pujo Street.

Tremont said he has been a long-time supporter of the senator.
He noted that on Oct. 1, the National Federation of
Independent Business presented her with the Guardian of Small
Business Award.

Tremont said the purpose of the breakfast, also, was to honor
the senator and to facilitate a meeting with local business
owners.

“This breakfast gives small business owners an opportunity for
input – to discuss their needs and concerns, so Mary can take
these needs and concerns back to Washinton,” Tremont said.

Landrieu not only serves on the nation's Small Business
Committee; but after re-election, she could gain the
chairmanship.

As part of Landrieu’s successful bid for re-election to the
U.S. Senate, the senator gave an informal presentation and
visited with supporters.

When asked about the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, Landrieu
discussed her fight to get more money for Louisiana's
infrastructure projects.  Energy infrastructure is “at the top of the list” of her
priorities, according to Landrieu.  “Oil and gas revenue sharing provisions in a bill I co-
authored will free up state funds for these projects,” she
said.

Landrieu, a member of the Energy Committee, co-authored the
Domenici-Landrieu Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which
was signed into law in 2006. The bill expanded oil and gas
production in the Gulf of Mexico by more than 8 million acres
and shares revenues with Louisiana.

Officials report that Louisiana will receive $40 billion over
50 years as a result of her bill.  Also as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, Sen. Landrieu has a voice in approving more than
$300 billion in discretionary spending.

She told The Times that funding the federal transportation
bill will be a “priority.”

This comes as the U.S. Congress prepares to authorize another
6-year federal spending bill on transportation. The current
bill, which provided $286 billion in federal funds, expires
Sept. 30, 2009, and the new bill should start to take shape
early next year.

Officials in Southwest Louisiana see this as a window of
opportunity for the rebuilding of the I-10 bridge, which they
estimate will cost anywhere from $150 to $200 million.