[The following was posted at CyrilNeville.net Saturday, the day before he played Gulf Aid with the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, who were joined for the occasion my Marcia Ball]

I’m writing this on behalf of the forgotten People of places like Bob’s Town, Bayou Blue, Bayou Black, Island Jean Charles and and Shrimpers Row. I will be performing with the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars at the Gulf Coast concert in New Orleans Sunday, and in all the media surrounding this big event I have read very little about what will be done out of all this for the poor people who live in the areas I mentioned. In fact, these same people have never really recovered from the effects of storms going all the way back to Hurricane Andrew. These are our fishermen,our shrimpers,whose means of making a living and providing for their families that will be affected by this man-made disaster now lurking in the Gulf. I hope this letter will prompt others to find out more about the People who actually live in the Wetlands and their ongoing agony.

Most of what will be affected along the Gulf Coast from Florida around to Texas is owned by people who are more well off than those who live where the land is already disappearing hourly. Oil companies, rig owners and builders and refineries will be directly affected, but they all have huge insurance contracts to fall back on. It is not so for the shrimpers and fishermen of South Louisiana. What I would like to see come out of this concert is funding for the people of Bob’s Town, Island Jean Charles, Bayou Blue, Bayou Black, and Shrimpers Row to help rebuild and sustain their communities. [Note: Our understanding is that Gulf Aid was raising money to help those affected by the oil disaster. – ED.] If hearts and minds are in the right place, this will be the outcome. If not, it will be business as usual,and that’s something none of us should stand for.

I found out much of what I know about this subject from someone who has been directly involved with the People of each of these areas’ recovery efforts and serves as a true Voice of the Peoples of the Wetlands: Queen/Chief Elwin Warhorse Gillum.You can Google her name and be enlightened about many things that have yet to make it to press. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Ambassador Cyril Neville
Chhta Tribe