美国国家公共电台 NPR--Lousiana Jean Charles Choctaw Nation members reflect on their vanishing homeland

Lousiana Jean Charles Choctaw Nation members reflect on their vanishing homeland

Transcript¹

For StoryCorps, members of a tribal² community in Louisiana reflect on strong storms and a vanishing coastline that is costing them the land where they've lived and farmed for generations.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Hey. It's Friday, which is when we hear from StoryCorps. In Louisiana, members of the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation are losing their homes to a vanishing coastline. They're leaving the land where they lived and farmed for generations because of stronger and more frequent storms. Albert Naquin, the tribe's chief, came to StoryCorps with his nephew, Deme Naquin Jr., To talk about growing up on Isle³ de Jean Charles in the '50s and '60s.

ALBERT NAQUIN: We could go in anybody's house and get a drink of water or grab something to eat and then go out and play. It was like a big ol' happy family. People took care of each other.

DEME NAQUIN JR: And it was peaceful, quiet.

A NAQUIN: It was beautiful, yeah. We had some palmettos and grapefruit trees. Life was easy. Life was simple. Life was great. But I didn't want to admit that the island was disappearing.

D NAQUIN: So when did you start to notice the island was changing?

A NAQUIN: I could see that when we'd have a hurricane, the tidal wave would uproot⁴ the marsh⁵. And then it was all open water. I remember Audrey in 1957, and then Hilda in '64, Betsy in '65 and Carmen in '74. But Ida - Ida, a year ago, that's the worst hurricane that I've seen. We realized that we was washing away. And now where we used to walk at, now we use boat to travel in. And where we used to trap and raise cattle, now we shrimp⁶. So what concerns you most right now?

D NAQUIN: My kids and grandkids won't have a chance to live on the island. I didn't have everything. I didn't have name brand shoes. But I was dressed. I went to school. I had food on the table because my dad worked hard. And I learned to survive. So what gives you hope?

A NAQUIN: After hurricanes, we all come together in support of each other. And I think we still believe in each other.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: Albert and Deme Naquin Jr. Their tribe is working to move the entire community to higher ground. This interview will be archived at the Library of Congress.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 isle   

n.小岛，岛

参考例句：

• He is from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea.他来自爱尔兰海的马恩岛。
• The boat left for the paradise isle of Bali.小船驶向天堂一般的巴厘岛。

4 uproot   

v.连根拔起，拔除；根除，灭绝；赶出家园，被迫移开

参考例句：

• The family decided to uproot themselves and emigrate to Australia.他们全家决定离开故土，移居澳大利亚。
• The trunk of an elephant is powerful enough to uproot trees.大象的长鼻强壮得足以将树木连根拔起。

5 marsh   

n.沼泽，湿地

参考例句：

• There are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。
• I made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。

6 shrimp   

n.虾，小虾；矮小的人

参考例句：

• When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。
• When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。