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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 51
BY SENATOR LAFLEUR AND REPRESENTATIVE LEBAS
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Evangeline Parish on its one hundredth anniversary and
recognizes the cultural and historic occasion.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend the people of Evangeline Parish and the Evangeline Centennial Project, to2
recognize the One Hundredth Anniversary of Evangeline Parish, and to celebrate3
those efforts made to encourage historic preservation of the rich cultural heritage of4
Acadiana.5
WHEREAS, Evangeline Parish abounds with a quaint charm and vitality all its own,6
a bastion of Cajun customs and traditions that date back to Colonial Louisiana; and7
WHEREAS, the topographic make-up of the parish is that of alluvial plains or8
prairies with soil ideal for farm crops of all kinds, livestock, and timber, plus an abundance9
of vital water resources with ample wildlife for hunting and fishing; and10
WHEREAS, the founding families of Evangeline Parish include the names of 11
Fontenot, Clark, Ortego, LaFleur, Guillory, Pucheu, Vidrine, Dossman, Fruge, Gaty,12
Campbell, Young, Currie, and DeRouen; and13
WHEREAS, this gumbo of settlers who came from far points on the globe sought14
their fortunes in the rich heartland of Louisiana; and15
WHEREAS, the present population of thirty-four thousand consists of all manner of16
ethnicities and many are descendants of early colonists and immigrants who can trace their17
roots back to France, Spain, Africa, Canada, and Germany, as well as indigenous American18 SCR NO. 51
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Indians, such as the Attakapas and the Opelousas; and1
WHEREAS, from its early history, the region was established as a portion of French2
Colonial America, except for a brief period of Spanish rule from 1762 until 1802; and3
WHEREAS, it was during this period that the first Acadians, four families, arrived4
in the Louisiana Territory in 1764 and others continued to immigrate to this "New Acadia"5
until 1785; and6
WHEREAS, Acadians settled the frontier, cleared large tracts of land for farms and7
ranches, and reared their families; and their way of life, language, religion, and traditions8
became the prevailing influence of that era and remains a French-based societal force today;9
and10
WHEREAS, in 1807, by act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Orleans,11
the lands under its jurisdiction were subdivided into nineteen civil subdivisions or parishes,12
including the establishment of Imperial Saint Landry Parish, formerly the County of13
Opelousas; and14
WHEREAS, a century later, State Representative P. L. Fontenot, with the support15
of Senator Ladislas Lazaro, authored legislation that went into effect on January 1, 1911, to16
establish the parish of Evangeline, a region carved from the western corner of Imperial Saint17
Landry Parish, in one of the oldest areas of continuous habitation in the state; and18
WHEREAS, the parish seat of Ville Platte, translated from the French language as19
"flat town", was a prosperous settlement situated on "El Camino Real" or the Spanish Royal20
Road, a vital commercial artery for trade that connected New Orleans to Natchitoches, and21
currently U.S. Highway 167; and22
WHEREAS, the new parish derived its name from the heroine of the classic poem,23
Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847- the epic24
journey of a young Acadian woman who came to Louisiana when exiled from Canada; and25
WHEREAS, a similar fate befell the ancestry of a significant portion of South26
Louisiana's Acadians or Cajuns, who were expelled from Nova Scotia in 1755 by the British27
Crown; and28
WHEREAS, it is perhaps an innate persistence of the people of Evangeline Parish29
to resist outside influences and to continue to make significant contributions to the historic30 SCR NO. 51
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preservation of their culture through music, language, art, cuisine, and dance; a plethora of1
customs unique to anywhere else, that is passed down from one generation to the next; and2
WHEREAS, the communities that dot the landscape possess their own cultural3
variances and are the sites of numerous fairs and festivals, such as the Boggy Bayou Festival4
in Pine Prairie, the Crawfish Etoufee Cook-off in Belaire Cove, the Swine Festival in Basile,5
the Christmas Parade in Chataignier, and Louisiana Folk Roots Cajun and Creole Heritage6
Week that is held at Chicot State Park; and7
WHEREAS, Ville Platte is home to the Swamp Pop Music Hall of Fame Museum,8
the Le Festivale de la Viande Boucanee (Smoked Meat Festival), the Mardi Gras Gumbo9
Festival, and a week long Cotton Festival that culminates with Le Tournoi, a contest based10
on the ancient sport of jousting, where horseback riders dressed as knights attempt to spear11
seven brass rings with a hefty lance while riding at full gallop; and.12
WHEREAS, the town of Mamou is the setting for Courir de Mardi Gras, a rural13
country version of the Mardi Gras Festival, the Cajun Music Festival, the Veteran's Day14
Celebration, and the birthplace of Cajun cultural renaissance in the 1950s Famous Fred's15
Lounge; and16
WHEREAS, Fred's, a popular watering hole, was the meeting place of the pioneers17
of the Cajun revival who were concerned with the decline of Cajun culture, spoken language,18
and music; and19
WHEREAS, preservation efforts were set in motion to retain treasured links to the20
past and to foster a greater appreciation by future generations of their colloquial French21
heritage that promoted development of several enrichment programs, such as CODOFIL, the22
Council for the Development of French in Louisiana; and23
WHEREAS, now on Saturday mornings, Fred's becomes the epicenter of the Cajun24
music universe as talented musicians gather for a live radio broadcast (KVPI 1050 AM)25
called the Cajun Music Radio Hall of Fame and where music afficionados, both local and26
international, come to listen, to dance, and to 'pass a good time'; and27
WHEREAS, Cajun music, known as Zydeco, and dance go hand-in-hand as band28
members sing in French dialects and feature guitars, accordions, fiddles or violins, and the29
iron triangle, a te fer, all of which stirs the feet of those assembled to move in rhythm to the30 SCR NO. 51
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Contradance, a French square dance, and the traditional Fais-Do-Do; and1
WHEREAS, internationally renowned Cajun music or "Swamp Pop" has beau coup2
Grammy Award-winning artists to its credit with fans and followers around the world; and3
WHEREAS, Evangeline Parish is embraced by nature's bounty that can be found in4
the Louisiana State Arboretum, a conservatory of native plants and trees, Chicot State Park,5
the state's largest park with 6400 acres of lakes and woodlands, and the Crooked Creek6
Recreational Area, and each site serves as a glimpse of verdant paradise; and7
WHEREAS, each month of the year holds a special observance, whether "paqueing"8
eggs (egg knocking) on Easter Sunday, or attending the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole9
Heritage Week in April, or dancing at the Cajun Music Festival in May, or hunting squirrel10
in October, when the season's opening date is an undeclared holiday, or cheering for the11
youthful participants at the T-Cotton Bowl in the fall; these events are precious to people12
who revel in their fundamental sense of joie de vivre, the enjoyment of life; and13
WHEREAS, Evangeline Parish is blessed with warm, friendly people with strong ties14
to family, community, and country, steadfast loyal patriots of their locale and its traditions,15
who extend an exuberant welcome to all visitors and who put forth a special invitation for16
all who once called the parish their home, to again,"Come Home To Evangeline Parish" and17
Laissez les bon temps rouler; and18
WHEREAS, on October 29, 2011, the Centennial celebration culminates with a19
festival on the courthouse grounds in Ville Platte and includes a dedication of the new20
bronze statue of "Our Evangeline", cast in the likeness of a youthful Emilie Breaux Frazer,21
a former Miss Evangeline, and rendered by Louisiana sculptor, Jerry Gorum, along with22
selected readings from the Evangeline poem by Dr. Layne Longfellow, a collateral23
descendent of the poet; and24
WHEREAS, the people of Evangeline Parish strive to preserve and celebrate a way25
of life that has survived since its inception, and together contemplate a future filled with26
hope and prosperity for generations yet to come.27
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby28
commend the people of Evangeline Parish for their efforts to preserve their truly unique29
traditions and diverse heritage, and does hereby recognize October 29, 2011, as the30 SCR NO. 51
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celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of Evangeline Parish.1
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby2
recognize with pride the distinctive cultural elements that this region contributes to the3
richness of life in Louisiana.4
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to5
Mary Alice Fontenot, president of the Evangeline Parish Tourist Commission.6
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
LaFleur SCR No. 51
Commends the 100
th
anniversary of the establishment of Evangeline Parish.