Talk:Acadiana/Archives/2015

Origin of the term

The word Acadiana does NOT come from a combination of Acadian, and Louisiana, as purported in the first paragraph of History. The suffix "-ana" or "-iana", as defined by Merriam Webster, describes collections and functions as a noun plural suffix. As "Americana" describes "a collection of things American", "Louisiana" describes the "land of Louis" "Acadiana" describes the "Land of the Acadians." RPellessier | Talk 17:17, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

• I was under the impression that the term "Acadiana" was invented by a TV station, or that it was the result of a typo. Is this true, and if so why is there no reference to it? Tulane97 20:18, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

The TV station typo is an interesting story. But is it relevant, or true? Given that the dictionary definitions of -ana or -iana perfectly describe the collection of things Acadian, is it likely that no one would have used the term before discovering it as a typo? What typo created the Feliciana parishes? I think this article should not emphasize this dubious typo claim, given that the name is otherwise grammatically perfect. RPellessier | Talk 19:46, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

To respond to the question whether it is true, I have added a footnote from the governmental agency LCVC (not that I believe everything that the government says), which at least makes it less dubious. I also agree that it is interesting. Most importantly, I agree with your first comment that the Louisiana and Acadian combo theory is not true, as you noted from Merriam Webster. I have deleted that commentary.

Now, relevant is certainly a matter of opinion. When I lived there for eight years, the KATC story (also noted in their Wiki article) seemed commonly accepted to many folks. And yes, legends have a way of becoming traditional facts over time, especially when propelled by those attracting tourists.

The hypothetical question of would the term happened without the typo lacks a definitive answer. I offer some alternate hypotheses. First, Acadia Parish is named for the Acadians. Based on the Acadia Parish example there could have been a corresponding variation, such as the Acadia region of Louisiana... in fact there is a congruent example in Canada where an Acadian is a native of Acadia, a region (not state or county/parish). Also, the Acadians (or Cajuns) of Louisiana could have called the region "New Acadia", similar to the New England region of the United States. This nomenclature precedent also exists in French Louisiana cities, such as New Orleans and New Iberia. Perhaps even, the region could have been spelled "Acadie", "Acadiane" or "Acadiena" with an "e", closer to its French origin. If someone knows the facts, I welcome them. For now, I think that the KATC story offers some explanation.

Out of curiousity, I looked up the origin of the parish name Feliciana and found its origin from "Marie Felice de Saint-Maxent Estrehan, the wife of Bernardo de Gálvez, the governor of Spanish Louisiana. (Spanish in origin, a mild contrast to our discussion of French derived geographic terms ending in "-ana").

Funny thing, I recall as a kid being told that the name was derived from King Louis and Queen Anna or Anne. I cannot find any such reference, though Louis' mother was Anne of Austria, who abdecated her reign as queen/regent when her son was of age. Sorry, too much digression. Thanks for the insights and inspirations. User:Aaron charles| Talk 23:22, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

I was taught that Louis + Anna story as well. So much for free textbooks. I'll look into some books on the name change of Louisiana itself. As you pointed out, the -ana suffix is probably Spanish. French 'Louisiane' became Spanish 'Louisiana' during the transfer, and probably has nothing to do with the English term '-ana.' I should change the opening statement on this talk page. Is it wiki-proper for me to change the definitive 'does NOT' on this talk page to less definitive term?

Very good work on Felice. Was she a d'Estrehan, or is that just the Spanish possessive for her plantation? RPellessier | Talk 15:01, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

Wow! Felice also could be the inspiration of the Destrehan name also. I had added a note to the Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez article about her namesake connection to the Feliciana parishes. If you can confirm the d'Estrehan link, please add it, too. Thanks. Aaron charles 16:43, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

Nova Scotia / Maritime Provinces

I changed a reference to Acadians who left Eastern Canada and came to Louisiana that used to just list Nova Scotia to only listing Maritime Provinces. Skb827 then sorta combined the two "Canada's Maritime Provinces, particularly Nova Scotia." I just wanted to check on this - do we know that the majority of Louisiana's immigrant Acadians came from Nova Scotia? If so, cool (might be true, I'm no expert). However, it's certainly the case that the current region inhabited by Acadians in Canada includes more territory in New Brunswick (to the point where all of the Government's business there is in both languages) than in Nova Scotia. This was my impetus for generalizing the term. Can someone provide a reference for the "particularly Nova Scotia" part of this (or at least assert it fiercely - I'm willing to believe verbal history from someone far closer to the topic than myself!) AshleyMorton 18:09, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

Ashley, most of the Acadian exiles came from Nova Scotia proper, because most pre-dispersal Acadians resided in the region stretching from Port Royal (present-day Annapolis Royal) along the Bay of Fundy to Grand Pré, Pisiquid, Cobequid, and then over to Beaubassin -- all in Nova Scotia proper, except arguably for Beaubassin, which is on the Chignecto Isthmus that connects Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and the rest of present-day mainland Canada. In fact, those who escaped the Expulsion often did so by fleeing the Nova Scotian peninsula to take refuge in what is today New Brunswick -- a practice the British tried in advance to prevent by capturing Fort Beausejour on the isthmus prior to the start of the Explusion. Those who nonetheless made it to New Brunswick were again harrassed by the British, but many remained, which is why there are so many persons of Acadian heritage in present-day New Brunswick, and relatively few in Nova Scotia (because Acadians in pre-dispersal Nova Scotia either escaped to New Brunswick or were expelled by the British). See Brasseaux, Founding of New Acadia, 23-29.

I think leaving "Maritime Provinces" but stating "particularly Nova Scotia" is a good compromise. --Skb8721 18:26, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

Law, or Concurrent Resolution, Defines Acadiana?

The article currently reads:

"Acadiana by Louisiana law refers to the area that stretches from just west of New Orleans to the Texas border along the Gulf of Mexico coast"

I'm unsure this is correct; I seem to recall that it was a concurrent resolution of the Louisiana state legislature that established the boundaries of the Acadiana region. If so, a concurrent resolution is not actually a law, as I understand it. --Skb8721 18:58, 14 April 2007 (UTC)

You are correct. I have revised that wording to match the earlier section which explains the concurrent resolution. Thanks. Aaron charles 20:13, 14 April 2007 (UTC)

What's interesting is that if you read the text of the resolution, the state actually said "Acadiana will consist of the following 22 parishes [list of parishes] . . . and any other parishes sharing a similar culture" (or words to this effect).

In other words, Acadiana officially consists of 22 named parishes and an unspecified number of unnamed parishes.

I suspect the inclusion of unlisted parishes was a bone thrown to some of those unnamed parishes . . . who were promptly ignored onced the resolution was passed. --Skb8721 03:32, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Enclaves of Black Creoles? Or Creoles of Color?

The article currently refers to "enclaves of black Creoles."

There are black Creoles all over Acadiana; I refer to blacks of Francophone heritage. I.e., they don't live in enclaves, but are dispersed throughout the general population.

I think what the phrase in question should read is "enclaves of Creoles of Color" -- who unlike black Creoles are overtly mixed-race (e.g., they have light skin), and who have indeed traditionally held themselves apart from both the larger black and white communities, and who have traditionally lived in enclaves, like Grand Marais in Iberia Parish and Bellevue in St. Landry Parish. See the map of these enclaves in Carl A. Brasseaux et al., Creoles of Color in the Bayou Country (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1994), p. 96; see also list of Creole of Color communities on p. 98. --Skb8721 05:29, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

Concurrent Resolution 496 (1971) not 81 (1968)

I noticed that this entry stated that the Louisiana state legislature passed the resolution recogizing the 22-parish "Acadiana" region in 1968 per House Concurrent Resolution 81.

This is wrong, however: House Concurrent Resolution 81 (1968) merely called for closer relations between Louisiana, Quebec, and New Brunswick. It did not mention anything about "Acadiana."

It was actually House Concurrent Resolution 496, passed 6 June 1971, that recognized "Acadiana."

The source cited for the 1968 claim was simply incorrect, it having drawn in turn on an incorrect source.

I corrected the error and added a correct source.

--Skb8721 16:00, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

Likewise, the resolution number and year for recognition of the Acadian Flag was incorrect, and I have now corrected it. --Skb8721 16:14, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

Requested move of article name back to "Acadiana"

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.

The result of the proposal was move. JPG-GR (talk) 23:43, 16 April 2008 (UTC)

Cajun country → Acadiana — Request to move reinstate original page name. The move to "Cajun country" was not discussed and is inaccurate. —Aaron charles (talk) 03:46, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Survey

Feel free to state your position on the renaming proposal by beginning a new line in this section with *'''Support''' or *'''Oppose''', then sign your comment with ~~~~. Since polling is not a substitute for discussion, please explain your reasons, taking into account Wikipedia's naming conventions.

Discussion

Any additional comments:

• From the New York Times: "Cajun Country -- more properly Acadiana -- is a triangle of 22 parishes that extends from the Texas border east to New Orleans." "The Cajun Kingdom Of the Bayou" NYT January 27, 1991 Aaron charles (talk) 04:36, 11 April 2008 (UTC)
• I oppose [the previous] changing "Acadiana" to "Cajun Country." As a lifelong resident of the region, "Cajun Country" to me seems rather informal or slangish; "Acadiana," on the other hand, is the official name of the region according to a concurrent resolution of the Louisiana state legislature; and, futhermore, the Louisiana Acadian flag that we see flown throughout the region is recognized by the legislature as the official flag of "Acadiana." I think a good compromise is to say "Acadiana (or Cajun Country)" as we do at present in the introductory paragraph. Sincerely, --Skb8721 (talk) 19:42, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Heart of Acadiana?

This page was renamed without discussion to Heart of Acadiana on 4/17/09. I am posting the resolution that was pasted into the article for review and discussion here. Aaron charles (talk) 03:47, 18 April 2009 (UTC)

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 496-- By Messrs. Brinkhaus, Baur, Breaux, Broussard, DeJean, Laborde and R. G. Jones and Senators Mouton, Jumonville and Knowles:

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION To establish officially the cultural region of Louisiana known as "The Heart of Acadiana."

WHEREAS, the region known as Acadiana in the state of Louisiana is a unique area of our state and a unique region of our United States primarily because of the strong French Acadian cultural aspects of said region; and

WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana has long recognized this cultural area and has constantly attempted to maintain and strengthen the French Acadian culture and language in the state of Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, all Acadiana, whether by birth or by choice, constantly and with pride, diligently work to preserve and enrich the image of Acadiana as well as the image of the state of Louisiana for the benefit of Louisianians and tourists who visit Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, it would be to the best interest of Acadiana and would serve greatly to enhance the tourist attraction and image of Louisiana to further develop and identify this unique cultural aspect of Louisiana thereby publicizing on a national and international level the beauty of Acadiana and of Louisiana and the attraction of our state and this area in our state; and

WHEREAS, an official deliniation of The Heart of Acadiana would best serve the state of Louisiana and the region involved to be so designated by the U.S. Travel Service and by other maps and publications for international distribution which would help promote Louisiana as a tourist attraction and Acadiana as part of that attraction.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana, the Senate thereof concurring that the Legislature of Louisiana designate the cultural region known as The Heart of Acadiana within the state of Louisiana consisting of, but not exclusively, the following parishes: Acadia, Avoyelles, Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, West Baton Rouge, and other parishes of similar cultural environment.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the United States Travel Service, to United States international airlines, to foreign airlines servicing the United States, and to major organizations, such as the National Geographic Society, which are involved in the production of maps.

HOUSE June 2-- Read in full, R.S., adopted, ordered to the Senate.

SENATE June-- Received in the Senate. June 3-- Read in full, concurred in, by the vote of 34 yeas, 0 nays, ordered to the House.

HOUSE June 3-- Received from the Senate without amendments. June 6-- Enrolled, signed in open session and without delay by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, and sent to the Governor for executive approval.

SENATE June 6-- Read, signed by the Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate in open session and without delay.

Comments

• Oppose. This article's name should remain "Acadiana." It is how it is known. Per Wikipedia:Naming_conventions, article names should "use the most easily recognized name." I have no issue with adding notes about "Heart of Acadiana" and, in fact, welcome an improvement of reference sources. Thanks. Aaron charles (talk) 03:58, 18 April 2009 (UTC)
  • I concur with Aaron Charles. Even though the legislation refers to the "Heart of Acadiana," I know of no one who calls the region by any other name except "Acadiana". To add the "Heart of" to the term is misleading and confusing, I believe. --Skb8721 (talk) 16:44, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

West Baton Rouge Parish Population?

I have no idea if this statement is true:

"The largest metropolitan area in Acadiana is Lafayette, followed by Houma-Thibodaux, Lake Charles, and the western parishes of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area, particularly East Baton Rouge Parish."

I may have made this passage worse a few weeks ago when tinkering with it, although I didn't originate the passage. Regardless, my problem is with the claim about the "western parishes of the BR metropolitan area" -- precisely what would these "western parishes" be. I can imagine one of them to be West Baton Rouge Parish, but are there any other western parishes considered to be in the BR area and that are populous? Also, "particularly East Baton Rouge Parish" makes no sense in the context of a reference to "western parishes of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area". Is this supposed to read "particularly West Baton Rouge Parish".

I suggest we confirm this entire passage about western Baton Rouge Parish, delete the reference to East Baton Rouge Parish, and, if need be, delete the entire passage if it appears to be untrue. (Is Port Allen and area all that populous? It doesn't seem to me, based on experience, but I could be wrong.) --Skb8721 (talk) 21:14, 18 June 2009 (UTC)

I LOVE BEING A CAJUN , LIFE IS GOOD HERE IN LOUISIANA AND WE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE...NO MATTER WHAT THE ECONOMIC FLOW MAY BE , WE HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE SIMPLE LIVES THAT GET US THROUGH ANY SITUATION...A THANKFUL PEOPLE THAT HAS THE REVELATION YOU LIVE ONLY ONE TIME , ENJOY —Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.187.141.205 (talk) 15:15, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

BORN AND RAISED IN THE SWAMPLANDS OF LOUISIANA

I LOVE BEING A CAJUN , LIFE IS GOOD HERE IN LOUISIANA AND WE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE...NO MATTER WHAT THE ECONOMIC FLOW MAY BE , WE HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE SIMPLE LIVES THAT GET US THROUGH ANY SITUATION...A THANKFUL PEOPLE THAT HAS THE REVELATION YOU LIVE ONLY ONE TIME , ENJOY.

MANY LOOK AT US AS UNEDUCATED AND TO SOME DEGREE MANY OF US HAVE HAD POOR EDUCATION , BUT I FIND IN CAJUN PEOPLE IF IT CAN BE DONE IT WILL BE DONE...THE ENGINEERING OF THE OLD SOUTH AND HOW THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO REFINE AND MAKE THINGS TO ME IS MOST AMAZING...THE WILL TO SURVIVE IN THE HARDEST OF TIMES...THE MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN TAKES IMAGINATION NOT JUST EDUCATION.

TO LISTEN TO THE STORIES OF THE OLD TIMERS HAVE ALWAYS KEPT ME IN AWE OF HOW OUR HERITAGE HAS MOVED FORWARD IN A SIMPLE FASHION , ENJOYING THE FEELINGS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH THE SIMPLEST TECHNIQUES...

I ONCE SAW A MAN LOOKING AT THE GROUND..AS I WATCHED HIM I WONDERED WHAT IS HE LOOKING AT...SO I APPROACHED HIM TO FIND , TWO PAPER CUPS SITUATED WITH TWO STRAIGHT PINS AND A DIP OF HONEY IN THE MIDDLE CUP...I WAS AMAZED TO FIND HE WAS CATCHING RED ANTS WITH HIS GADGET...AS THE ANTS REACHED THE TIP OF THE PINS IT WAS JUST ENOUGH DISTANCE THAT THEY COULD NOT REACH THE OTHER SIDE AND FELL INTO THE CUP OF HONEY THAT ATTRACTED THEM...SIMPLE AMAZEMENT IS WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE AND ITS MOST OF WHAT I LOVE ...SOME THING MANY HAVE LOST A CHILDLIKE APPROACH TO LIFE .. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.187.141.205 (talk) 15:25, 23 January 2011 (UTC)