for action to stop the BP Deepwater Drilling Disaster, and has ongoingly taken direct action in support of human and ecological health of Gulf Coast citizens and communities. She has served as the State Director of Bold Louisiana, and as a Senior Fellow for the Center for Earth Ethics. She is also signatory to the Indigenous Women of the Americas – Defenders of Mother Earth Treaty.

Photo via L’eau Est La Vie Facebook Page, December 2017

Most recently, Cherri has emerged as a leader of the L’eau Est La Vie Camp, on the frontlines of the struggle against the Bayou Bridge Pipeline, an Energy Transfer Partners project which threatens communities, waterways and ecosystems of the Gulf region.

Cherri joined the training to share vital updates, in the middle of an intenseweek of action and changes on the ground in Louisiana, where a temporary injunction has been placed on the project, and then almost immediately violated by the company as it attempts to continue construction.

Cherri and the diverse coalition of communities and leaders engaged in the No Bayou Bridge pipeline movement have an immediate call for solidarity out for a Global Week Of Action, February 26th to March 4th – and asked training participants to take immediate action, by posting photo or video, or taking another direct action in support of social and ecological justice in the Bayou and Gulf Coast region.

Resources to learn more and support theL’eau Est La Vie Camp and Cherri’s work:

Eriel Tchekwie Deranger is a founding member of Indigenous Climate Action and spent two years