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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 13
BY REPRESENTATIVE PIERRE
A RESOLUTION
To recognize April 23, 2014, as Acadiana Day at the state capitol.
WHEREAS, Acadiana is the home of the Cajuns, the descendants of the Acadians,
who settled along the bayous and prairies of southwest Louisiana after their expulsion from
the colony of Acadie in present-day Nova Scotia in 1755; and
WHEREAS, Acadiana includes twenty-two parishes, and stretches from its western
border of Lake Charles to its eastern border of Grand Isle, with its northern apex located
around Pointe Coupee; and
WHEREAS, despite the frequent association of Cajuns with swamplands, Acadiana
is geographically diverse, and consists of prairies, marshes, and wooded river or bayou
lands; and
WHEREAS, Acadiana evinces a commitment to education, and boasts the presence
of three universities: the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University,
and Nicholls State University; and
WHEREAS, Acadiana is characterized by a diverse population that is nonetheless
united by the incredibly rich musical, cultural, and culinary traditions of the Cajuns and
Creoles; and
WHEREAS, Acadiana is renowned for wide-ranging and spicy cuisine and is
populated by a tantalizing selection of restaurants which offer such Cajun and Creole
delicacies as seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffe, and jambalaya; and
WHEREAS, Acadiana is famous for the Cajun and Zydeco music that is born out of
the enduring spirit of Acadians and Creoles and is a place where fais do-dos invite listeners
to two-step to the rhythms of accordians, fiddles, and 'tit fers; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 13
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WHEREAS, in Acadiana, festivals are as much a part of daily life as good music and
good food, with year-round festivals, including Mardi Gras, Festival International de
Louisiane, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, the "Le Cajun" Music Awards and Festival,
the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, Best of the Bayou
Festival, Louisiana Cotton Festival, Duck Festival, Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival, and
"A Cajun Christmas", a festival that extends throughout the holiday season; and
WHEREAS, in its cuisine, music, and culture, the people of Acadiana are
characterized by a cheerful enjoyment of life, what the French call "joie de vivre", that is
reflective of a unique heritage and culture that is hard to find anywhere this side of Europe;
and
WHEREAS, Acadiana offers a multitude of attractions that mirror the pride Acadiana
holds for its past, including majestic plantation homes, vibrant gardens, and exciting
museums; and
WHEREAS, Cajun Country is a prime example of why Louisiana is called the
"Sportsman's Paradise" and is a place where both freshwater and saltwater fishing, waterfowl
hunting, and upland hunting areas are plentiful, from the vast swamp wilderness of the
Atchafalaya Basin to the Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana
officially recognized Acadiana for its unique Cajun and Acadian heritage per House
Concurrent Resolution No. 496.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize April 23, 2014, as Acadiana Day at the state
capitol to celebrate the cuisine, Grammy Award winning music, and culture of Cajun
Country.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the Acadian Delegation.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES