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45-579: The Cajun French Music Association is a non-profit organization of Cajuns and non-Cajuns whose purpose is to promote and preserve, not only Cajun music , but also various aspects of the Acadian Heritage. The CFMA was founded in Basile, Louisiana , in November 1984 with Harry LaFleur of Eunice, Louisiana , as its founder. Since its beginning with less than 30 members, the association has grown to

90-508: A Louisiana French ethnicity mainly found in the US state of Louisiana and surrounding Gulf Coast states. While Cajuns are usually described as the descendants of the Acadian exiles who went to Louisiana over the course of Le Grand Dérangement , Louisianians frequently use Cajun as a broad cultural term (particularly when referencing Acadiana ) without necessitating race or descent from

135-459: A Catholic francophone identity, the Acadian descendants were indeed and often considered to be Creoles. Documents from the late eighteenth century, such as militia rolls, make a distinction between "Acadians" (those born before or during Le Grand Dérangement ) and "Creoles" (those born after Le Grand Dérangement ), often the children of the former group, with identical surnames and belonging to

180-419: A People , that: Cajun was used by Anglos to refer to all persons of French descent and low economic standing, regardless of their ethnic affiliation. Hence poor Creoles of the bayou and prairie regions came to be permanently identified as Cajun . The term Cajun thus became a socioeconomic classification for the multicultural amalgam of several culturally and linguistically distinct groups. Cajans inhabited

225-651: A humane and charitable race—simple-minded and full of queer, superstitious notions, but an orphan thrown upon their care never suffers." The Mouton family, an influential Acadian family of the period, provides an excellent case study in this regard, with secessionist Alexandre Mouton retaining the famous nickname of "the Creole Hotspur." His son, the Confederate General Alfred Mouton , is also noted in contemporary sources as "a brave and intrepid Creole". Today, by contrast, members of

270-685: A membership of approximately 2,000 families, serving seven chapters in Louisiana , three chapters in the Cajun region of Southeast Texas , and a chapter in Chicago, Illinois. The CFMA publishes a Hall of Fame. The CFMA makes LeCajun awards each year for Band of the Year, Best Accordionist, Best Fiddler, Best Male and Female Vocalist, Song of the Year and Best Recording of the Year. Cajun bands worldwide may receive awards. A Winners' Corner lists those who won

315-857: A region of Alabama called the Cajan Country , which was all of the bayou country surrounding Mobile. To the north, the Cajan Country reached the hills of Mount Vernon and Citronelle , and to the east, it reached through the bayous and forests around Daphne to the Perdido River . Cajans were of varying racial mixtures; during the segregation era , some Cajans under Alabama's new racial laws were considered black, others were considered white, and others yet designated as Indians. Cajans were discriminated against due to their racial ambiguity, and many did not have access to public schools. Cajans tended to stay among their own communities. After

360-413: A relatively isolated region until the early 20th century, Cajuns today are largely assimilated into the mainstream society and culture. Some Cajuns live in communities outside Louisiana. Also, some people identify themselves as Cajun culturally despite lacking Acadian ancestry. In the modern era it is common to see Cajuns and Creoles discussed as separate and distinct groups; historically speaking, this

405-689: A rule the French language, Creoles, and all using the English tongue, Americans." In his Refutation des érreurs de M. George W. Cable sur le sujet des Créoles , published in L' Athénée Louisianais , the francophone Creole John L. Peytavin accused the writer George Washington Cable of fundamentally misrepresenting Creoles to the American public. (Cable, who was not a Creole and did not speak French, had written that Cajuns of Acadian descent were not themselves Creoles.) Peytavin declared: "The Acadian Creoles have

450-449: Is alive and well. He is "up front" and "main stream." He is not asking for any special treatment. By affording coverage under the "national origin" clause of Title VII he is afforded no special privilege. He is given only the same protection as those with English , Spanish , French , Iranian , Czechoslovakian , Portuguese , Polish , Mexican , Italian , Irish , et al., ancestors. The British conquest of Acadia happened in 1710. Over

495-426: Is better viewed as geographic rather than ethnic. Residents of Acadiana —a historically isolated and rural region—do not typically make gumbo with tomatoes, regardless of ancestry or self-proclaimed identity, whereas urban New Orleanians do. Technically, "Cajun" cuisine should properly fit under the umbrella of "Creole" cuisine, much like "Cajuns" themselves traditionally fit under the "Creole" umbrella. In contrast to

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540-657: The Daughters of the American Revolution was formed in memory of those soldiers. The Spanish colonial government settled the earliest group of Acadian exiles west of New Orleans, in what is now south-central Louisiana—an area known at the time as Attakapas, and later the center of the Acadiana region. As Brasseaux wrote, "The oldest of the pioneer communities ... Fausse Point, was established near present-day Loreauville by late June 1765." The Acadians shared

585-647: The Great Upheaval or Le Grand Dérangement . The Acadians' migration from Canada was spurred by the 1763 Treaty of Paris which ended the war. The treaty terms provided 18 months for unrestrained emigration. Many Acadians moved to the region of the Atakapa in present-day Louisiana, often travelling via the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti ). Joseph Broussard led the first group of 200 Acadians to arrive in Louisiana on February 27, 1765, aboard

630-844: The Gulf of Mexico to Vincennes , now in Indiana . France ceded the region to Spain and Britain in 1763 after the French and Indian War , regained it by treaty in 1800, and sold it to the United States in 1803 through the Louisiana Purchase . Greater New Orleans and the twenty-two parish cultural region known as Acadiana compose present-day 'French Louisiana'. Although the Louisiana French ( Cajuns & Creoles ) dominate south Louisiana's cultural landscape,

675-456: The Sale of Louisiana , the term "Creole" distinguished people of Catholic, Latin backgrounds from newly arrived Americans and other Protestant anglophones. In general, Créolité in Louisiana was largely defined by whether that person was born in Louisiana, spoke a Latin-based language (often French, Spanish or Creole ) and practiced Catholicism. Having been born on Louisianian soil and maintaining

720-689: The Santo Domingo . On April 8, 1765, he was appointed militia captain and commander of the "Acadians of the Atakapas" region in St. Martinville . Some of the settlers wrote to their family scattered around the Atlantic to encourage them to join them at New Orleans. For example, Jean-Baptiste Semer wrote to his father in France: My dear father ... you can come here boldly with my dear mother and all

765-584: The Americanization of Acadiana between the 1950s and 1970s, the term "Cajun" became synonymous with "white French Louisianian", due in part to CODOFIL's decision to promote Louisiana's link to Acadia in the "Cajun Renaissance". It is common to see various demographic differences assigned to the Cajun/Creole binary. A typical example is cuisine: Many claim that "Cajun" gumbo does not include tomatoes whereas "Creole" gumbo does, but this distinction

810-476: The Black Cajun Frenchman." People of Acadiana have historically described what the Cajun nationality means to them; Brandon Moreau, a Cajun of Basile, Louisiana , described Cajun as an "inclusive term designating region, descent, or heritage – not race." Moreau also described an incident of where he used the term coonass with a good friend of his: "We were all talking in the hall, and I said I

855-638: The British sought to neutralize the Acadian military threat and to interrupt their vital supply lines to Louisbourg by deporting Acadians from Acadia. The territory of Acadia was afterward divided and apportioned to various British colonies, now Canadian provinces: Nova Scotia , New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island , the Gaspe Peninsula in the province of Quebec . The deportation of the Acadians from these areas beginning in 1755 has become known as

900-621: The Cajuns have become famous for their French dialect, Louisiana French , and have developed a rich culture including folkways , music , and cuisine . Acadiana is heavily associated with them. The term "Cajun" comes from a rural pronunciation of Acadien (Acadian). The first usage of the term "Cajun" came about during the American Civil War , during the Union 's invasion of French Louisiana . After conquering Vermilionville ,

945-559: The Cajuns in the first place. Non-Acadian French Creoles in rural areas were absorbed into Cajun communities. Some Cajun parishes, such as Evangeline and Avoyelles , possess relatively few inhabitants of actual Acadian origin. Their populations descend in many cases from settlers who migrated to the region from Quebec , Mobile , or directly from France ( French emigration ). Regardless, Acadian influences are generally acknowledged to have prevailed in most sections of south Louisiana. Many Cajuns have ancestors who were not French. Some of

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990-491: The Cajuns. A correspondent for the New York Herald reported: "Our forces captured some prisoners. Many deserters and refugees came within our lines. The rebel deserters are principally French Creoles , or Arcadians ..." War correspondent Theophilus Noel reported for his newspaper: "You must not use the word Cagin , implying thereby that there is any nigger blood in the party to whom you are talking." After

1035-577: The Civil War, urban Creoles began referring to the peasant class ( petits habitants ) as "Cajuns". Cajuns inhabited the "Cajun Countries" of Alabama , Mississippi , and Louisiana . At the same time, "Creole" increasingly referred to Creoles of the middle class ( bourgeoisie ) or aristocratic class ( grands habitants ), and served as a designation for inhabitants of the "Creole Cities": Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana . Carl Brasseaux notes in Acadian to Cajun, Transformation of

1080-460: The Louisiana militia made up of 600 Acadian volunteers and captured the British strongholds of Fort Bute at Bayou Manchac , across from the Acadian settlement at St. Gabriel. On September 7, 1779, Galvez attacked Fort Bute and then on September 21, 1779, attacked and captured Baton Rouge . A review of participating soldiers shows many common Acadian names among those who fought in the battles of Baton Rouge and West Florida. The Galvez Chapter of

1125-528: The Mouton family are referred to as "Acadians" or "Cajuns" more often than as "Creoles". In 1885, the New Iberia Enterprise (taken from a section of advice for American editors) wrote: "Although all men born here, of whatever color and using whatever language, are Americans, it is the custom to designate the descendants of the old French, Spanish, and Acadian settlers of the country and using as

1170-530: The US government as a national ethnic group in 1980 per a discrimination lawsuit filed in federal district court. Presided over by Judge Edwin Hunter, the case, known as Roach v. Dresser Industries Valve and Instrument Division (494 F.Supp. 215, D.C. La., 1980), hinged on the issue of the Cajuns' ethnicity: We conclude that plaintiff is protected by Title VII's ban on national origin discrimination. The Louisiana Acadian

1215-820: The annual cross- Pacific Galleon or Manila Galleon trade with neighboring Acapulco, Mexico ; descendants of African slaves; and some Cuban Americans have also settled along the Gulf Coast , and in some cases, intermarried into Cajun families. One obvious result of this cultural mixture is the variety of surnames common among the Cajun population. Surnames of the original Acadian settlers (which are documented) have been augmented by French and non-French family names that have become part of Cajun communities. The spelling of many family names has changed over time. (See, for example, Eaux ) . Cajuns as an ethnic group historically included Indians and Blacks. Black Louisiana Frenchmen have historically self-identified as Cajun, using

1260-467: The capital of Nouvelle Acadie (New Acadia) in 1863, Lieutenant George C. Harding of the 21st Indiana Infantry used the term "Cajun" to describe the region's inhabitants: I will try and tell what a Cajun is. He is a half-savage creature, of mixed French and Indian blood, lives in swamps and subsists by cultivating small patches of corn and sweet potatoes. The wants of the Cajun are few, and his habits are simple... I can not say that we were abused by

1305-408: The colony to Spain in 1762 , prior to their defeat by Britain and two years before the first Acadians began settling in Louisiana. The interim French officials provided land and supplies to the new settlers. The Spanish governor , Bernardo de Gálvez , later proved to be hospitable, permitting the Acadians to continue to speak their language, practice their native religion ( Roman Catholicism – which

1350-482: The deported Acadians. Although the terms Cajun and Creole today are often portrayed as separate identities, Louisianians of Acadian descent have historically been known as, and are, a subset of Creoles (synonymous for "Louisianais", which is a demonym for French Louisianians ). Cajuns make up a significant portion of south Louisiana's population and have had an enormous impact on the state's culture. While Lower Louisiana had been settled by French colonists since

1395-509: The largest French-speaking group in the state is thought to be the United Houma Nation Native American tribe. Other important ethnic groups in the region include African-Americans , Isleños , German Coast settlers, Filipinos and various immigrant groups, including Vietnamese , Laotians , and a growing number of Hispanics . In addition, French Louisiana influences can be found in cities adjacent to

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1440-541: The late 17th century, many Cajuns trace their roots to the influx of Acadian settlers after the Great Expulsion from their homeland during the French and British hostilities prior to the French and Indian War (1756 to 1763). The Acadia region to which many modern Cajuns trace their origin consisted largely of what are now Nova Scotia , New Brunswick , Prince Edward Island plus parts of eastern Quebec and northern Maine . Since their establishment in Louisiana,

1485-454: The most awards by category. 2009 " 3 Daigles & a Huval, Paul Daigle Jacob Daigle Braylin Daigle & Calen Huval McCauley, Reed, Vidrine This award was initiated in 1989 by Chairman Pete Bergeron to encourage bands to play and record the traditional style of Cajun Music This Award is discontinued This award was given a plaque prior to 1996. In years 1996, 1997, 1998 & 1999

1530-565: The next 45 years, the Acadians refused to sign an unconditional oath of allegiance to the Crown . During this period, Acadians participated in various military operations against the British and maintained vital supply lines to the French fortress of Louisbourg and Fort Beausejour . During the French and Indian War (part of the Seven Years' War and known by that name in Canada and Europe),

1575-511: The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, today's Cajuns and Creoles are often presented as distinct groups, and some Cajuns disavow a Creole identity whereas others embrace it. Surnames and geographic location are not necessarily markers of either identity. The Cajuns retain a unique dialect of the French language called Louisiana French (or more commonly known as Cajun French), and hold numerous other cultural traits that distinguish them as an ethnic group. Cajuns were officially recognized by

1620-642: The original settlers in Louisiana were Spanish Basques and Spanish Canary Islanders . A later migration included Irish and German immigrants who began to settle in Louisiana before and after the Louisiana Purchase , particularly on the German Coast along the Mississippi River north of New Orleans . People of Latin American origin; a number of early Filipino settlers (notably in Saint Malo, Louisiana ) who were known as " Manilamen " from

1665-538: The other Acadian families. They will always be better off than in France. There are neither duties nor taxes to pay and the more one works, the more one earns without doing harm to anyone. The Acadians were scattered throughout the eastern seaboard. Families were split and boarded ships with different destinations. Many ended up west of the Mississippi River in what was then French-colonized Louisiana, including territory as far north as Dakota territory . France had ceded

1710-454: The same families. Today, members of these families—including, among many others, those with surnames such as Broussard, Hébert, and Thibodeaux—usually consider these names Cajun rather than Creole. Sources from the 19th century sometimes make specific references to "Acadian Creoles" in particular—a term entirely absent from contemporary Louisiana. One article in vol. 56 of The Youth's Companion notes that, "The Acadian Creoles of Louisiana are

1755-478: The same right to be called Creoles as others of foreign descent." Not all Cajuns descend solely from Acadian exiles who settled in south Louisiana in the 18th century. Cajuns include people with Irish and Spanish ancestry, and to a lesser extent of Germans and Italians; Many also have Native American , African and Afro-Latin Creole admixture. Historian Carl A. Brasseaux asserted that this process of mixing created

1800-693: The swamps, bayous, and prairies with the Attakapa and Chitimacha Native American tribes. After the end of the American Revolutionary War , about 1,500 more Acadians arrived in New Orleans. About 3,000 Acadians had been deported to France during the Great Upheaval. In 1785, about 1,500 were authorized to emigrate to Louisiana, often to be reunited with their families, or because they could not settle in France. Living in

1845-467: The term in regards to the ethnicity of Acadiana and the language they speak: Amédé Ardoin for example spoke only Cajun French and at his height was known as the first Black Cajun recording artist; Clifton Chenier the King of Zydeco , routinely self-identified as a Black Cajun: "Bonjour, comment ça va monsieur?" Clifton Chenier greeted his cheering crowd at the 1975 Montreux Jazz Festival. "They call me

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1890-433: The winner band was awarded one "Le Cajun". Beginning in 2000, each band member of the winner band is awarded a "Le Cajun". Cajuns Asia Middle East Europe North America South America Oceania The Cajuns ( / ˈ k eɪ dʒ ən z / ; French : les Cadjins [le kadʒɛ̃] or les Cadiens [le kadjɛ̃] ), also known as Louisiana Acadians (French: les Acadiens ), are

1935-536: Was a coonass. She said she was Cajun, but that she would never be a coonass. She's black and it offended her." French Louisiana The term French Louisiana ( French : Louisiane française , Louisiana Creole : Lwizyàn françé ) refers to two distinct regions: Each term has been in use for many years. French Louisiana was one of the districts of New France . Beginning in 1682 this region, known in French as la Louisiane française , functioned as an administrative district of New France. It extended from

1980-527: Was also the official religion of Spain), and otherwise pursue their livelihoods with minimal interference. Some families and individuals did travel north through the Louisiana territory to set up homes as far north as Wisconsin . Acadians fought in the American Revolution . Although they fought for Spanish General Galvez, their contribution to the winning of the war has been recognized. Galvez left New Orleans with an army of Spanish regulars and

2025-547: Was not necessarily the case. Many historical accounts exist wherein persons with Acadian surnames (and of various races) either self-identify or are described by others as Creoles. In Louisiana, the French word Créole (itself borrowed from Spanish and Portuguese) meant "born in the New World" (compare with Spanish Criollo ). This label was meant to distinguish the native-born population from newly arrived European immigrants and from slaves imported from Africa. Likewise, after

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