Chauvin residents to gather Saturday to share memories and strengthen community bonds

The Chauvin community is gathering to swap stories and take photos to preserve its cultural bonds.

Helio Foundation founder Jonathan Foret is holding a gathering from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Ward 7 Citizens Club, 5006 LA 56 in Chauvin for all who attended and worked at the many schools that have been lost in Chauvin to time and disasters.

The event is open to all members of the Chauvin community who wish to celebrate the schools, Foret said, and no registration is required.

"I think this is a nice way to reconnect with each other, and share those memories and rebuild those relationships, because there are few places left in Chauvin where people can come together," Foret said. "Hopefully if this goes well and people enjoy it, maybe the other bayou communities may be able to organize something similar."

The Chauvin area, along with many of the southern bayou regions, have lost many of their community facilities: libraries, schools, recreational facilities, and more. Scientists say these facilities are important to the cultural identity of the area, and as each pillar is removed, it becomes more and more likely that the population also will move away. According to the U.S. Census Data, from April 2020 to July 2023, Lafourche Parish lost 2.6% of its population and Terrebonne was worse, losing 5.4% of its population.

The schools include Little Caillou Elementary, 1956-2007; Boudreaux Canal Elementary, 1938-2013; Upper Little Caillou Elementary School, opened in 1971, relocated in 2021 because of Ida, demolished in 2024 currently to rebuild in Chauvin; and Lacache Middle School, built in early 1900s, burned in 1909, rebuilt in 1910,  destroyed in 1923 hurricane, rebuilt but destroyed twice between 1924 and 1947. The current building was constructed in 1948 and closed in 2023. Lacache is merging with Montegut Middle and built near South Terrebonne.

The gathering will include food and community members sharing their stories of growing up in the area. There will be photos taken of all the people who have ever taught at each of the schools.

The Chauvin identity is more than just the buildings, former Lacache Middle School teacher Summer Skarke said. She taught at the school from 1999 to 2021.

“Growing up as a little girl along this bayou, the value of family, friends, and the strength that comes from spending time together was engraved deep within me," Skarke said. "We have already lost so much, our places of gatherings, our schools, the Chauvin swimming pool, Mae Mae’s Snowball Stand, have all vanished like our land with each hurricane. But what we still have is each other, our roots, and the time we take to come together and share a story or two."

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Chauvin residents to gather to share memories, strengthen community bonds