Cajuns in Louisiana

The Acadians of South Louisiana are descended from French settlers who were exiled from Nova Scotia in 1755.They are extremely visible, thanks to the recent popularity of Acadian cooking, music, and dance--three of their unique contributions to the cultural climate of Louisiana. While Acadians (known as Cajuns now to almost everybody) are best known for their vibrant music and hot cooking, French Louisiana is alive with a wide variety of folk art forms from boat building to storytelling. Please stay with us a moment and find out about our Cajun Folk Art.

Cajun Folk Artists:

Boats

Jessie Bourg - Miniature Boat Maker and Net Maker

Alex A. Giroir - Boat Maker

Raymond Sedotal - Boat Maker

Errol Verret - Cajun Musician, Accordion Maker, and Boat Maker

Carving

Willie Badeaux - Wildfowl Wood Carver

Paul A. Bourdier - Duck Decoy Carver

Jessie Bourg - Miniature Boat Maker and Net Maker

Alex A. Giroir - Boat Maker

C.J. Knobloch, Jr. - Wood Carver

Claude J. Lirette - Wood Carver

Dancing

Camille "Com" A. Blanchard - Cajun Dancer, Fisherman, Hunter, and Cajun Foodways

Lillian "Lil" L. Blanchard - Cajun Dancer, Quilter, and Cajun Foodways

Ollie Verret - Cajun Foodways, Quilter, and Dancer

Foodways

Rodney Babineaux, Sr. - Cajun Foodways

Camille "Com" A. Blanchard - Cajun Dancer, Fisherman, Hunter, and Cajun Foodways

Lillian "Lil" L. Blanchard - Cajun Dancer, Quilter, and Cajun Foodways

Mazie Giroir - Cajun Foodways

Denise Collette Harding - Braided Rugs and Cajun Foodways

Kernis James Huval - Crawfish Traps and Wild Game Foodways

Harry Lefleur - Musician and Cajun Foodways

Ollie Verret - Cajun Foodways, Quilter, and Dancer

Furniture

Gayle Begnaud - Chair Caning, Weaving, and Spinning

Huey Dupont - Furniture Maker

D. L. Menard - Chairmaker and Cajun Musician

Joseph Soileau - Cowhide Chair Maker

Horse Culture

William "Buddy" Leonard - Farrier

Household Crafts

Denise Collette Harding - Braided Rugs and Cajun Foodways

Ollie Verret - Cajun Foodways, Quilter, and Dancer

Mardi Gras Celebrations

David Bertrand - Cajun Mardi Gras Run

Gerald Frugé - Cajun Mardi Gras Capitaine

Suson Launey - Needle Point Mardi Gras Mask Maker

Allen Manuel - Cajun Mardi Gras Screen Mask and Costume Maker

Georgie Manuel - Cajun Mardi Gras Screen Mask Maker

Jackie Miller - Prairri Cajun Mardi Gras Screen Mask and Costume Maker

Russell "Potic" Rider - Cajun Mardi Gras Run

Music

Marie Herpin Adams - Cajun Ballads

Milton J. Adams - Cajun Musician

Johnnie Allan - Louisiana Swamp Pop Musician

Christine and Nelda Balfa - Cajun Musicians

Al Berard and the Basin Brothers - Cajun Band from Atchafalaya River Basin

Jamie Berzas - Accordion Musician

Hadley Castille - Fiddler

Harold Cavallero - Country Musician

Fred Charlie - Cajun Musician

Hubert "Anatoo" L. Clement - Cajun Humorist and Musician

Terry Clement - Cajun Musician

Murray Conque - Storyteller and Accordion Player

Lesa Cormier - Cajun Musician

Paul Daigle - Cajun Musician

Luderlin Darbone - Cajun and Country Musician

Michael Doucet - Fiddler

Ledel "Blackie" Forestier - Accordion Player and Cajun Musician

David Greely - Fiddler and Vocalist

Jules "Nonc Jules" Guidry - Cajun Band Leader and Musician

Terry Huval - Cajun Musician

Andrew Jagneaux - Accordion Maker and Player

Robert Jardell - Cajun Musician

John Johnson - Fiddler

J.C. Labbie - Cajun Band Leader and Musician

Harry Lafleur - Musician

D.L. Menard - Chairmaker and Cajun Musician

Larry Miller - Accordion and Triangle Maker

Floyd Soileau - Recording Pioneer

Gervis Stanford - Cajun French Fiddler

Waylon Thibodeaux - Cajun Fiddler

Errol Verret - Cajun Musician, Accordion Maker, and Boat Maker

Musical Instruments

Andrew Jagneaux - Accordion Maker and Player

Larry Miller - Accordion and Triangle Maker

Gregory W. Mouton - Accordion Maker

Abner Ortego - Fiddle Maker

John Roger - Accordion Maker

Errol Verret - Cajun Musician, Accordion Maker, and Boat Maker

Deborah Helen Viator - Fiddle and Violin Maker

Occuptaion

Mervin Barras - Alligator Skinner and Trapper

Jessie Bourg - Miniature Boat Maker and Net Maker

William "Buddy" Leonard - Farrier

Russell "Dale" Pierrottie - Bousillage

Floyd Soileau - Recording Pioneer

Ranching

Bill Anderson - Cajun Whip Maker and Bull Rope Braider

Camille "Com" A. Blanchard - Cajun Dancing, Fishing, Hunting, and Cajun Foodways

Jessie Bourg - Miniature Boat Maker

Kernis James Huval - Crawfish Traps and Wild Game Foodways

Ferril Verret - Trapper, Hunter, Fisherman, and Cock Fighting Traditions

Storytelling, Humor, and Oral History

Autrey "Chank" Baudoin - Storyteller

Hubert "Anatoo" L.Clement, Sr. - Cajun Humorist and Musician

Murray Conque - Storyteller and Accordion Player

Bill Cox - Storyteller and Oral Historian

Thelma Daigle - Cajun Humorist and Storyteller

Dave Petitjean - Storyteller and Humorist

Allen "A.J." Joseph Smith, Jr. - Storyteller and Humorist

Textiles

Gayle Begnaud - Chair Caning, Weaver and Spinner

Lillian "Lil" Blanchard - Cajun Dancer, Quilter, and Cajun Foodways

Elaine Bourque - Acadian Brown Cotton Spinner and Weaver

Denise Collette Harding - Braided Rugs and Cajun Foodways

Suson Launey - Needle Point Mardi Gras Mask Maker

Georgie Manuel - Cajun Mardi Gras Screen Masks

Jackie Miller - Prairri Cajun Mardi Gras Screen Mask and Costume Maker

Ollie Verret - Cajun Foodways, Quilter, and Dancer

Wildlife, Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping

Willie Badeaux - Wildfowl Wood Carver

Mervin Barras - Alligator Skinner and Trapper

Camille "Com" A. Blanchard - Cajun Dancer, Fisherman, Hunter, and Cajun Foodways

Paul A. Bourdier - Duck Decoy Carver

Kernis James Huval - Crawfish Traps and Wild Game Foodways

Ferril Verret - Cock Fighting Traditions, Swamp Traditions, Fisherman, and Hunter