The Cajuns

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acadiana

• The Cajuns

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Who are Cajuns and Acadians? How did this group
end up in Louisiana? Where did their story begin?
Lets learn a little about this unique group.
Photo by Theresa Hardy
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The group of people named Acadians began their
journey in France. Around 1604, some French
Acadians began settling in Acadie, (now Nova
Scotia, Canada). Canada is in North America
and sits above the United States.
France
Vendee (France Map) Wikipedia
Canada
Acadie (Now Nova Scotia)
United States
Nova Scotia Map (Wikipedia
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Route traveled from France to Canada.
Vendee Region of France
Acadie (Nova Scotia)
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About sixty French families were established in
this Acadie during the seventeenth century. The
group learned about hunting and fishing
techniques from the Mi'kmaq Indians. For the
most part, the Acadians lived mainly in the
coastal regions where water would help them with
their farming crops and fishing. Acadians often
found themselves between the French and English
powers. The two countries fought for this area.
England
France
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Each county wanted control of the area. The
land changed hands 8 times until Great Britain
had permanent control of Acadie. After that,
some of the French Acadians were exiled or
deported to other areas.
Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum
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When problems began, the French Acadian people
were expelled from the area. This was called the
Great Upheaval or The Expulsion. That means
they were deported or shipped off to another area
against their will. It was a sad time for the
Acadians. One famous poet named Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow wrote a make believe love story
about an Acadian exile called Evangeline. It
is a famous fictional story. There is a statue
of Evangelines story character in St.
Martinville, Louisiana where many Acadians
settled.
Wikipedia (Evangeline Statue)
Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum
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When the Acadians were deported, many families
were split. Some men and boys were separated
from women and children. Many Acadians under
twenty-one years old were made servants to
farmers in Massachusetts, New York and
Pennsylvania. Others were shipped to South
Carolina, Georgia, the French West Indies, and
some to France.
Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum
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• Acadian families were separated and shipped to
  various destinations including seven British
  American colonies
• Connecticut
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Some were sent to French Caribbean while
  others to France.

Map from Wikipedia
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Immediately after the expulsion, more began
straggling in, mostly from the French West Indies
and Maryland. The first increase of Acadians in
Louisiana was during the 1760's.
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Some Acadian exiled groups were unhappy in their
new areas and decide to move. Of those, some
found their way to south Louisiana and began
settling in the rural areas west of New Orleans.

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Some moved beyond the Atchafalaya Basin onto
southwest Louisianas prairies to raise cattle,
grow rice and other crops. Many lived in the
bayou country where they farmed hunted, fished,
trapped, and lived off the Mississippi River.
Sometimes two or three generations lived together
in one house. They worked together to have food
to eat and to live.
Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum
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During 1785 through 1790, 4,000 Acadians arrived
in Louisiana from France. By 1785, three
Catholic parishes and churches had been
established for Cajuns.
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In 1843, Alexander Mouton was elected the first
Acadian governor of Louisiana. He was
Louisianas 12th Governor.
Alexander Mouton Wikipedia Photo
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Rice, shrimping, cattle, seafood and other crops
and other industries helped Cajuns live long ago
and are all still alive in Louisiana.
Photo by Theresa Hardy
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The Acadian people have made a mark on
Louisiana with their unique culture and
heritage.Louisiana Cajuns today are known for
their music, food, and traditions. Cajun
Country" or Acadiana is the place where many
Acadian descendents call home.
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Acadiana Maps and Geography

• Now in the next few slides, you will see where
  some of the Acadians settled in Louisiana.
• You will also see what is now Acadiana or Cajun
  Country. Lets look at Louisiana territory maps
  that show the Acadiana or Cajun Country areas.
• The next slide shows the Louisiana regions.

Acadiana
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Louisiana is divided into different regions.
North Louisiana Sportsmans Paradise

• 1. North Louisiana
• Sportsmans Paradise (yellow)
• 2. Central Louisiana
• Crossroads (green)
• 3. Florida Parishes (gold)
• 4. Acadiana (red)
• 5. New Orleans Area (blue)

Central Louisiana Crossroads
Florida Parishes
Acadiana
Greater New Orleans Area
Click on the name of the area and see more about
that area.
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Early Acadian Settlement in Louisiana
Vidalia (Concordia Parish)
NatchitochesRelocated to Opelousas
OpelousasSt. Landry Parish
St. John Parish
St. Gabriel
St. Martin Parish (Attakapas Region)
St. James Parish
Bayou Lafourche
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This map represents the area of Louisiana with
the largest areas of Acadian settlements.. The
area is often referred to as the Acadian
Triangle.
Acadian Triangle
Alexandria
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Cameron
Bayou Lafourche
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On the map, you can see the darker region called
Acadiana.This southern area in Louisiana is
also called Cajun Country.Acadiana has 22
parishes. Lets see those parishes and
identify those. Lets see if you live in
Acadiana! Go to the next slide and find your
parish. See if it is in the Acadiana region!
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W
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Acadiana
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1. Calcasieu
2. Cameron
3. Jefferson Davis
4. Evangeline
5. Acadia
6. Vermilion
7. Avoyelles
8. St. Landry
9. Lafayette
10. Pointe Coupée
11. St. Martin
12. Iberia
13. St. Mary
14. W. Baton Rouge
15. Iberville
16. Assumption
17. Ascension
18. St. James
19. Lafourche

Acadiana
Cajun Country
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14
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15
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21
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16
22
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6
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20
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Quiz the Kids Section

• Lets see how much information you remember about
  Acadians. This is the Quiz the Kids Section.
  Your teacher will read the question. Raise your
  hand if you know the answers!
• Are you ready? Click here or on the hand photos
  below to continue!

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Quiz the Kids Section

• There were a group of French people who moved
  from France to Canada in 1604. Can you name this
  group?
• Hit enter to see the answer.
• Answer The Acadians

Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum
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Quiz the Kids Section

• The group was expelled, exiled or deported from
  Acadie (Canada). What does that mean?
• Hit enter to see the answer.

Answer The had to leave the land against their
will. They were sent somewhere else.
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Quiz the Kids Section

• What two countries fought over the Acadie land
  (in Canada)?
• Hit enter to see the answer.

Answer England and France
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Quiz the Kids Section

• What do we call Acadian descendents now?
• Hit enter to see the answer.

Answer Cajuns
Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum
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Quiz the Kids Section

• How many parishes are in Acadiana or Cajun
  Country?
• Hit enter to see the answer.

Answer 22 parishes
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Quiz the Kids Section

• Imagine having to pack up your things and leave
  your home against your will. How to you think
  the Acadians felt? Why?
• Hit enter to see the answer.

Answer Some answers might include Angry, hurt,
mad, discouraged, frustrated Why? Because you
normally feel that your home is a safe place that
is yours.
Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum
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Quiz the Kids Section

• If the Acadians had not gone through the The
  Expulsion or Great Upheaval in 1604, what would
  Louisiana be like now? Explain your answer.
• Hit enter to see the answer.

Answer There would be no Acadiana region in
Louisiana or Cajun people. The Expulsion of
Acadians in 1604 was the ground floor for the
birth of Acadiana as we know it today.
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Acadiana Region in Louisiana (Wikipedia Map)
The End