When Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana, became the nation’s first federally funded climate relocation site, it was meant to serve as a model for how to move entire communities out of harm’s way. Instead, the project exposed how bureaucracy, miscommunication, and systemic inequities can fracture trust and leave vulnerable communities — especially Indigenous tribes — without the justice or reunification they hoped for. The story underscores the urgent need for relocation strategies that are community-driven, culturally sensitive, and adequately resourced as climate disasters escalate. At Aspen CSG, we believe these lessons highlight why centering community leadership and equity in rural and Indigenous development is essential to building lasting resilience.
RURAL VOICE IN CLIMATE RELOCATION: ISLE DE JEAN CHARLES
