Cajuns+–+Louisiana,+Texas+-+FA11

Cajuns Keely Gambler and Shannen Kerchner

Question 1 Language The Cajuns speak a language known as Cajun French. It is mainly a spoken language, and there is no formal written language. The Cajuns roots come from France. They came to Louisiana from Acadia (a colony in Canada) in 1755 when the British forced them from their homes after the Cajuns refused to pledge allegiance to Great Britain and change their religion. At first, they only spoke French, but there were many other cultures already living in the area they settled, such as the Spanish, the Germans, and the English. Thus, the language of the Cajuns has been influenced by the languages of these people. Speaking of the English language has become more common among the younger population. Many members of the older generations continue to only speak Cajun French. Some Cajuns worrying about the preservation of their language. After the civil war, Louisiana was punished for being sided with the Confederates by banning the use of French in "public activities." In 1915, the State Board of Education punished children for speaking French in school. In the Louisiana Constitution of 1921, speaking of French in public schools was banned. Today, many are working towards the preservation of the Cajun language. The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) is an organization that is working towards this goal. French is taught in schools, and students can go through French immersion.

Beliefs The major religion of the Cajuns is Roman Catholicism. However, this too has been impacted by the religions of the other cultures living in Louisiana at the time they settled. African American folklore has made its way into their own folktales. The Acadians brought their own folklore from Acadia and changed it to match the surrounding culture and new location. Old kings and princesses now lived on bayous. They ate gumbo and jambalaya. The Anglo culture brought humor to the tales, Spanish culture brought new themes, and African culture brought personification and humor. A Cajun musician, Marc Savoy, talks about what it means to be a Cajun. "It's not about one certain aspect of that culture. It isn't whether or not you play music, or eat spicy food, or speak a certain language. You can be a mute and still be an example of that culture."

Values Religion is very important to the Cajuns. In 1755, the Acadia was ceded to the British. Acadians were given the choice to either give up their religion and pledge allegiance to Britain, or move. The Cajuns chose not to give up their religion and were forced out of Acadia. Cajuns value Catholic traditions. They also value other things, like community, generosity, and unity. An example of these values is Mardi Gras, a tradition Catholic festival. During Mardi Gras, every family contributes food to a feast. The community members know that those who cannot contribute cannot afford to. All community members, regardless of whether or not they could contribute, are allowed to take part in the feast. This celebration is also a way to make sure that all of the community members have enough food to last the summer.

Behaviors. Two important behaviors of the Cajun people are their food and their music. These two behaviors have also gained popularity with people outside of the Cajun culture. Two main instruments involved in traditional Cajun music are the fiddle and the accordian. Modern day Cajun music has been influenced by rock and roll. R&B, blues, soul, and zydeco. Cajun food is also a very important part of culture. They farm and fish their own food. Many dishes include “crawfish” (crayfish), shrimp, and oysters that they Cajuns fished themselves. A popular dish is gumbo, a mix of food cooked in a pot. Jambalaya is another important dish made of rice and other foods. Cajun food is known for it's heavy spices.

Question 2 Cajun culture was most influenced by the surrounding groups and cultures in Louisiana. Commercialization has had a big impact on the Cajuns lifestyle. The increasing oil industry is damaging the bayous, killing the seafood the Cajuns depend on. Commercial fisherman have been coming to the bayous and fishing in their land. The Cajuns are very self sufficient people. They fish and farm their own food. Commercialization is making it harder for Cajuns to do things in their tradition manner. Technology and communication with other cultures has had a big impact on the Cajun people. A contemporary form of traditional Cajun music is influenced by rock, R&B, soul, blues, and zydeco. The government also played a role in cultural change for the Cajuns. Use of the Cajun French language was banned by the Board of Education and government officials.

Works Cited "Council for the Development of French in Louisiana - Louisiana's French History." //CODOFIL - Conseil pour le développement du français en Louisiane//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. . This website gives information about the use of the French language in Louisiana. This organization is working towards preserving the French language.

"Cajuns." //Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life//. Ed. Timothy L. Gall and Jeneen Hobby. 2nd ed. Vol. 2: Americas. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 109-112. //Gale Virtual Reference Library//. Web. 30 Aug. 2011. This encyclopedia article gives information on various aspects of the Cajun culture, such as food, music and religion. It is from a reliable printed encyclopedia and.

Savoy, Marc. "An interview with Myself." //Savoy Music Center: Cajun Handmade Acadian Accordions in Eunice, Louisiana//. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. . This is an interview a Cajun musician did with himself. He talks about Cajun music, what it means to be a Cajun, and the preservation of the Cajun culture.

Reneaux, J.J.. //Cajun Folktales//. Little Rock: August House Inc, 1992. Print. This is a book of many traditional Cajun folktales. It is written by a person who grew up in the Cajun culture. It also talks about how other cultures have influenced the Cajun culture.