From Acadian to Cajun A Unique Culture Defines This Louisiana Destination Raceland, Louisiana (August 12, 2020) – This Saturday, August 15, is National Acadian Day as observed in parts of Canada. It celebrates Acadian culture and coincides with the Catholic feast of the Assumption of Mary, the patron saint of the Acadians. But who are the Acadians and why are we telling you about them? We work with Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, affectionately nicknamed “Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.” In Louisiana, the Acadians are better known as “Cajuns,” and their unique culture is a big part of what makes the state – especially this region about 45 minutes from New Orleans -- so incredibly diverse and fascinating. The Acadians came from western France to settle in eastern Canada in the early 1600s, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. They were considered British subjects, and during the French and Indian War in the mid-1700s, the British military suspected that the Acadians were supporters of France despite the fact that most Acadians had adopted a neutral stance. As punishment for this presumed treason, British troops imprisoned and deported nearly 11,500 Acadians between 1755 and 1764. It’s estimated that a third of them died during this mass deportation, called the “Great Expulsion.” Some Acadians were sent to the American colonies, which at that time were also under British rule, to become indentured servants; others were sent to the Caribbean or England. Still others ended up back in France, and a good many of that group returned to North America when the Spanish government recruited French citizens to populate Louisiana, which at that time was a Spanish colony. Louisiana was a far cry from the lush green landscapes of France or Canada, and the Acadians had to figure out how to adapt to an environment that was the antithesis of everything they’d previously known. Ultimately, though, in Louisiana this displaced and transplanted group didn’t just survive ... they figured out how to thrive. They brought with them their French language, their Catholic morals, and a temperament that equipped them to be incredibly adaptable and resilient. It was in Louisiana that the “Acadians” became “Cajuns,” and they now lay claim to one of the most unique cultures anywhere in the United States. They’re an indelible part of Louisiana’s story. When you hear the word “Cajun,” you probably think of people who possess a certain joie de vivre (translated from French, “joy of living”), a passion for music and dancing, and a collection of the best recipes any chef has ever tried. All that positivity and freedom of expression exists despite the circumstances that brought the Cajuns to Louisiana, and it’s important to preserve and celebrate their culture. In honor of National Acadian Day, we wanted to share a few places in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou where visitors can pass some time learning more about what it means to be Cajun. This region prides itself in delivering authentic Cajun experiences at every turn, including these: • Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Visitors Center: A great place to start a tour of Lafourche Parish is at the visitor center in Raceland. This isn’t a hum-drum place with a brochure rack and rows of rest rooms; it’s an interactive museum through which visitors learn of the history and traditions that bring this entire region alive. • Cajun Bayou Food Trail: Many would argue that the best part of Cajun culture is the food, and the 17 restaurants on this trail hold tight to Cajun traditions. Chefs often use recipes that have been passed down for generations and everyone has his or her own take on how to transform local ingredients into memorable dining experiences. But each of those chefs will tell you that there are just two simple ingredients required for every Cajun meal: make it with love and serve it to guests you welcome like your own family. • Swamp Tours: If you want to get a true feel for the subtropical environment that became the new home to the Cajuns in the late 1700s, get out on a swamp tour. Led by genuine Cajun captains, these boat tours take participants deep into the swamps of Lafourche Parish. Besides introducing guests to countless birds and alligators, the tours also offer unique insights into the people who call this place home. • Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building: Located along Bayou Lafourche in the town of Lockport, this facility houses a collection of wooden boats and artifacts that unlock the mysteries of the boat-building traditions of the Cajuns and other Louisiana residents. Among the displays are pirogues, “Cajun kayaks” that are how some families continue to traverse the bayou today. The center holds classes in traditional wooden boat building throughout the year. • Chine’s Cajun Net Shop: Even if you’re keeping your eyes peeled as you drive into the town of Golden Meadow, you could motor right past this shop. It’s nondescript from the outside, but walk through the door and you’ll be transported into a fascinating new world. You’ll find a small group of men holding huge needles and sewing gigantic nets ... the kind used to pull oysters and shrimp from the waters all around this region. You can ask questions, take pictures and – if you play your cards right – walk away with the gift of a tiny net. It’ll be perfect for your next crawfish boil! Due to enhanced safety measures because of COVID-19, two of the best places to interpret the story of the Cajuns are currently closed to the public. If you’re keeping a list of what to visit in the future, we encourage stops at these two stellar museums: • Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center: A part of Jean Lafitte National Park, National Park Service facilities that encompass six different locales across the state of Louisiana, this site focuses on Cajun cuisine, religion, music, crafts and home life. The center offers daily programming aimed at preserving Cajun traditions, from Monday-night music jams to French language circles on Tuesdays, to guided boat tours along the bayou on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. • Bayou Country Children’s Museum: Described as a children’s museum with a “Cajun twist,” this interactive facility takes daily scenes from life along the bayou and transforms them into learning opportunities for the youngest members of your family. From working on a shrimp boat to tossing beads from a Mardi Gras float and from navigating across a pretend gator- filled swamp to playing a washboard, little ones get a big dose of the Cajun life here. This year has been a tough one, as evidenced by the fact that some of the attractions that would ordinarily help share the unique stories of the Cajuns can’t even open right now. But the Cajuns will be the first to tell you that they’ve seen rough times before and have always found their way back. Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism encourages you to learn more about the Cajuns and meet the residents of Lafourche Parish when the time is right. Meanwhile, here’s a message from them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj8zQfVzTdQ # # # Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is located just 45 minutes from New Orleans, in the coastal destination of Lafourche Parish. Visitors seeking authentic Cajun experiences are embraced by true Southern hospitality as they sample the outdoor adventures, culture, food, music, and festivals that make any journey up and down Bayou Lafourche truly personal, memorable and distinctive. MEDIA CONTACT Mindy Bianca [email protected] 919-200-6060 .