brenda daldarabisho, the principaiedshetre. she wants the u.s.nment to formally recognize the houma is an indigenous tribe. this would let them regulate their land and water and help protect it. for over 30 years the houma have titioned t government for recognition, but the authorities neither granted recognition nor formally explained why. >> the oil and gas industry has played a major hole in our federal recognition efforts. they have lobbied against our petition for federal recognion d eye lomore powerful than we are. >> reporter: then in april, the oil spill disaster in the gulf ofexo. the water in which they fish became polluted. all fishing was banned for three months. john parfait fishes for shrimp. though he's allowed to fish agn,heri oshmpas fallen since the oil spill. coumers are reluctant to eat shrimp exposed to chemicals. >> i do worry because like i said before, if somebody would get sick from eating the seafood, well, naturally they're going to close the season. that would put a lot of fishermen out of business. >> reporter: as the