"I Remember..."
CWPPRA Personal Reflections
Environmental Portraits and Oral Histories of Louisiana's Coastal Wetlands Stakeholders
Project Goal
The goal of CWPPRA’s Personal Reflections Project is to capture the lives and stories of Louisiana residents who have been stewards
of the wetlands and story tellers that open the door to the world of habitat protection and preservation. Each person has a
unique tale but the Louisiana wetlands have been a part of all of their lives. We invite you to learn more about these
coastal caretakers. We have tried to capture our Louisiana guardians in two ways; the first with an environmental portrait
and second with an oral history.
Special thanks go to nature photographer, Mr. Lane Lefort of Lane Lefort
Photography, and Ms. Marian Brister Martinez of Pleiades Fine Art, and Ms. Jennifer Abraham Cramer of the T. Harry Williams
Center for Oral History at the Louisiana State University.
Name: Marietta Smith-Greene
City: New Orleans, LA
Born: 1935
Hear landowner Marietta Greene explain how family and legislative acts such as CWPPRA are
making a difference in coastal restoration.
Videos
Listen to Marietta Smith-Greene talk about her experiences in coastal Louisiana with respect to coastal
restoration. See how she has benefitted from the efforts of CWPPRA.
View a Transcript
Name: Kerry St. Pe'
City: Raceland, LA
Born: 1950
Executive Director of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Kerry, examines the ongoing
connection between man and nature and the delicate balances of conservationism.
Videos
Listen to Kerry St. Pe' talk about his experiences in coastal Louisiana with respect to coastal
restoration. See how he has benefitted from the efforts of CWPPRA.
View a Transcript
Name: Susan "Sue" Lauderman
City: New Orleans, LA
Born: 1937
Education Curator of the Historic New Orleans Collection, Sue, discusses life as a girl in New
Orleans and her relationship with the wetlands that surround the urban area.
Videos
Listen to Sue Lauderman talk about her experiences in coastal Louisiana with respect to coastal
restoration. See how she has benefitted from the efforts of CWPPRA.
View a Transcript
Name: Sherrill Sagrera
City: Abbeville, LA
Born: 1941
Farmer, landowner, and CWPPRA activist, Sherrill describes his ongoing crusade to educate people
about the dangers of letting Louisiana’s vanishing wetlands slip away.
Videos
Farmer, landowner, and CWPPRA activist, Sherrill describes his ongoing crusade to educate people about
the dangers of letting Louisiana’s vanishing wetlands slip away.
View a Transcript
Name: Buddy Daisy & Earl Melancon
City: Dulac, LA & Thibodaux, LA
Born: 1944 & 1951
Buddy and Earl teamed up to weave the tale of being an oysterman in Louisiana. Buddy is the
business man and Earl is the college professor. This matchless interview gives the viewer an
exclusive view of the oyster business.
Name: Brenda Dardar Robichaux
City: United Houma Nations
Born: 1958
Listen to Brenda Robichaux discuss wetland loss from the eyes of the United Houma Nation.
Name: Yancy Welch
City: Grand Chenier, LA
Born: 1965
A crabber, alligator hunter, and family man of southwest Louisiana, Yancey describes his conflicts
with gators and hurricanes as he shows great respect for distinctive ecosystem that surrounds him.
Name: Davie Breaux
City: Galliano, LA
Born: 1959
Listen to operations manager Davie explain how Port Fourchon is tied to the need for coastal
restoration and how a lifetime of wetland use goes far beyond a job.
Name: Cindy Cutrera
City: Morgan City, LA
Born: 1956
Listen to Cindy, mother and port staff, discuss how she and her family use the wetlands of Lake End
Park near Morgan City for recreational purposes.
Name: Eddie Sapia, Jr.
City: Lafitte, LA
Born: 1934
As a retired shrimper from Lafitte, LA, Eddie gives a first-hand account of things have changed over his life.