Acadiana:
Les Paroisses Acadiennes

 
The Flag of Acadiana  
CAJUN ('ka:-j@n), n. A person born or living along the bayous, marshes and prairies of south Louisiana; devoted to gumbo, boudin, sauce piquante, crawfish and jambalaya; dedicated to the fais-do-do, French music, hard work and letting the good times roll. (Inscription from a gift given to me by my aunt and uncle Faye and Herman Gesser of New Iberia, Louisiana)


"Work like hell to make your money, then spend it all having a good time!"
-- from Les Blank's film "Spend It All", Flower Films

Acadiana is the home of the Cajun people, the descendents of the Acadians, who settled along the bayous and prairies of southwest Louisiana after their expulsion from Acadie (Nova Scotia) in 1755. It is a place of the incredibly rich musical, cultural and culinary traditions of the Cajuns and Creoles, and is a place like no other. Warm and wonderfully hospitable people, many living simple but rich lives, great food, dancehalls ringing with rollicking music and trembling with the combined foot-stomping of hundreds of dancers, and the quiet, singular beauty of the bayous and swamps of the Atchafalaya Basin ...

Here's where to go hear music and dance, where to eat, what to see ... laissez les bons temps rouler!

[Photograph by Greg Guirard]

 

Cajun Culture, Literature, Etc.

Acadian House Publishing
home of "Acadiana Profile" magazine

Action Cadienne

An organization dedicated to the promotion of the Cajun French language. Étant donné qu'il est impossible de concevoir une culture sans parler la langue. (Because it is impossible to concieve of a culture without being able to speak its language.)

Asteur: La gazette du monde cadien.
A bilingual web publication for the Cajun and Acadian people the world over.

The Augusta Heritage Center's Cajun/Creole Week
Celebrating the French traditions of southwest Louisiana through music, dance, song, crafts, folklore, and food. The staff has featured both senior master artists (Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin, Preston Frank, Tracy Schwarz, the late Danny Poullard and more) and the young inheritors of Cajun and Creole traditions (Christine Balfa, Dirk Powell, Mitchell Reed); friendly, experienced teachers, members of illustrious musical families, and several complete bands, including Balfa Toujours and Lil' Pookie & the Heartbreakers. Augusta is a well-known center for folklife and traditional music, and is located in Elkins, W. Virginia. This will be a fantastic opportunity, so check it out!

Cajun Culture in Canada
Le voix des Cajuns Canadiens.

The Encyclopedia of Cajun Culture
by Shane and Kara Bernard

Folk Art in Acadiana

Evangeline: The Web Site.
The history and culture of the Cajun people, via text, pictures, drawings and maps, sound clips, and videos to explain more about our Cajun heritage. A five year labor of love by Gary Dauphin. (Aussi en français)

The Gumbo Pages' Bookshop
Recommended books on Cajun life, food, music and culture. Available for purchase online in association with Amazon.com Books

Home in Acadiana webzine
Edited by Michael Thompson at UL Lafayette. Volunteer writers needed, email them!

Lafayette-based artist Francis X. Pavy
Zydeco for your eyes.Wonderful stuff.

Cajun Music

"Cajun music is the glue that holds the culture together."
-- Marc Savoy

Cajun Food

Shopping

  • The Louisiana Catalog -- From the banks of Bayou Lafourche, the Louisiana Catalog is busy promoting Louisiana culture and heritage by offering the largest selection around of books and videos on Louisiana! They also carry musical instruments, crafts, foods and art work on Louisiana, too. The company was founded by Glen Pitre of Cut Off, Louisiana -- writer/director of the film "Belizaire the Cajun". The current owners have maintained and furthered the high standards of quality merchandise and service that's made the Louisiana Catalog one of my favorite sources of back-home culture for years.

Multimedia and Education

Touring Acadiana

Festivals

Other Relevant WWW Sites

 
"Do not replace family traditions with media-imposed conventions."
-- Marc Savoy

On va les embêter.
-- Cajun proverb

 
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Chuck Taggart   (e-mail chuck)

Updated February 7, 2002