In the early 1930's,   Miss Ella Hooper, a teacher at what is known today as
MacDonnell United Methodist Children's Services in Houma,   saw the need
to provide education for Native American children along the bayous of Dulac.
The   Indian   children were not   allowed to attend   public school at the time.
In 1932, her sister Miss Wilhelmina came to teach for 3 months, until trapping
season, and spent 43 years serving the children within the Dulac area.   After
the Native American children were allowed to attend their own public Indian
school through the eighth grade,   the Mission School adjusted its focus and
began meeting social needs of the community. Not until the 1960's were the
Native American children allowed to attend high school when integration was
federally ordered.   In the 1970's and beyond the Center has been challenged
"to provide social services to the people of Dulac - Grand Caillou community
for the enrichment of their lives through Christian principles, the development
of democratic leadership, the promotion of education, and for the strengthened
family and community life."

In 1985 Hurricane Juan destroyed the DCC buildings leaving it all a shell.
The gymnasium and one section was rebuilt, but the south section was left
untouched.   The   residence   house was used as the office for a few years.
Very few programs were administered.   In 1992, Hurricane Andrew came
along and destroyed everything all over again.   With the help of UMCOR
with Rock & Alice Rothrock, UMCOR voluntreers coming in and setting up
office, the project of rebuilding took place better than ever.   The buildings
set up are beautiful and all the hard work that went into making it look this
way is very much appreciated by the community.

The Center, today, as it was in the past, is challenged to find ways to meet
the physical, social, economic,   and emotional   needs area and to plan and
incorporate effective programs to meet these needs.   Some of the programs
at this   time are;   professional   computer classes,   Bayou   Eagles   Native
American Dance Group, Volunteers in Missions who travel from all over the
U.S.A. to work on homes of low income, handicapped or elderly, recreation
programs for youth and   families and emergency   food and clothing for the
needy.   "The Gym"   is a popular meeting   place in Dulac and numerous
parties, dinners, dances, and celebrations are held there.

DCC partners with other agencies in making use of the facility.   The Grand
Caillou Volunteer Firemen have their fishing rodeo, The U.S. Coast Guard
has functions, Children's Coalition and Options for Independence help with
the drug abuse prevention, Catholic Social Services provides the food bank,
and we connect with any organization that wants to bring services to the
lower bayou area.

The Hooper Memorial Building (the elevated building) was dedicated in 1991
to the memory of two fine Christian women,   Ella   and   Wilhemina   Hooper.
We remember their determination to meet human needs and this is a perpetual
challenge for us to fulfill their dreams for the community of Dulac.