HLS 16RS-1752 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 56
BY REPRESENTATIVE PIERRE
SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes Thursday, April 14, 2016, as Acadiana Day
at the state capitol
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To recognize Thursday, April 14, 2016, as Acadiana Day at the state capitol.
3 WHEREAS, Acadiana is the home of the Cajuns, the descendants of the Acadians,
4who settled along the bayous and prairies of southwest Louisiana after their expulsion from
5the colony of Acadie in present-day Nova Scotia in 1755; and
6 WHEREAS, Acadiana includes twenty-two parishes, and stretches from its western
7border of Lake Charles to its eastern border of Grand Isle, with its northern apex located
8around Pointe Coupee; and
9 WHEREAS, despite the frequent association of Cajuns with swamplands, Acadiana
10is geographically diverse, and consists of prairies, marshes, and wooded river or bayou
11lands; and
12 WHEREAS, Acadiana evinces a commitment to education and boasts the presence
13of three universities: the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University,
14and Nicholls State University; and
15 WHEREAS, Acadiana is characterized by a diverse population that is nonetheless
16united by the incredibly rich musical, cultural, and culinary traditions of the Cajuns and
17Creoles; and
18 WHEREAS, Acadiana is renowned for wide-ranging and spicy cuisine and is
19populated by a tantalizing selection of restaurants which offer such Cajun and Creole
20delicacies as seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and jambalaya; and
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HCR NO. 56
1 WHEREAS, Acadiana is famous for the Cajun and Zydeco music that is born out of
2the enduring spirit of Acadians and Creoles and is a place where fais do-dos invite listeners
3to two-step to the rhythms of accordions, fiddles, and 'tit fers; and
4 WHEREAS, in Acadiana, festivals are as much a part of daily life as good music and
5good food, with year-round festivals, including Mardi Gras, Festival International de
6Louisiane, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, the "Le Cajun" Music Awards and Festival,
7the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, Best of the Bayou
8Festival, Louisiana Cotton Festival, Duck Festival, Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival, and
9"A Cajun Christmas", a festival that extends throughout the holiday season; and
10 WHEREAS, in its cuisine, music, and culture, the people of Acadiana are
11characterized by a cheerful enjoyment of life, what the French call "joie de vivre", that is
12reflective of a unique heritage and culture that is hard to find anywhere this side of Europe;
13and
14 WHEREAS, Acadiana offers a multitude of attractions that mirror the pride Acadiana
15holds for its past, including majestic plantation homes, vibrant gardens, and exciting
16museums; and
17 WHEREAS, Cajun Country is a prime example of why Louisiana is called the
18"Sportsman's Paradise" and is a place where both freshwater and saltwater fishing, waterfowl
19hunting, and upland hunting areas are plentiful, from the vast swamp wilderness of the
20Atchafalaya Basin to the Gulf of Mexico; and
21 WHEREAS, in 1971, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana
22officially recognized Acadiana for its unique Cajun and Acadian heritage per House
23Concurrent Resolution No. 496.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
25Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Thursday, April 14, 2016, as Acadiana Day
26at the state capitol to celebrate the cuisine, Grammy Award winning music, and culture of
27Cajun Country.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
29to the Acadian Delegation.
30
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HCR NO. 56
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 56 Original 2016 Regular Session Pierre
Recognizes Thurs., April 14, 2016, as Acadiana Day at the state capitol.
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