NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

1/14/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Ten individuals who have played important roles in promoting Creole culture and heritage will receive Preservation and Recognition Awards as part of the 10th Annual Creole Heritage Day Celebration Jan. 24-25. The event is co-sponsored by the St. Augustine Historical Society and the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern State University.

The recipients will be recognized at the Opening Ceremony Banquet Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Inn on the Highway 1 Bypass in Natchitoches. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8.50 for children five through 12.

This year's honorees include Dr. Kathleen Byrd, head of the Department of Social Science at Northwestern, Dr. James A. Caillier of Lafayette, Sherman Cravins of Opelousas, Laura Gates, superintendent of the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Mary E. Gehman of New Orleans, Lair Laetter Lacour, Mickey G. Moran and Marie L. Roque of the Cane River community, Carolyn Lacour Llorens of Chicago and Houston and the late Ulysses S. Ricard Jr. of New Orleans.

Creole Heritage Day will open with a roundtable discussion of Louisiana Creole Music beginning at 2 p.m. in the Cane River Room of the Friedman Student Union. The roundtable is sponsored by the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center.

Musicians from throughout Louisiana who are familiar with the area's music will participate. The main topic will be the differences and similarities of Creole music in various regions of the state.

Saturday's Creole Heritage Day activities will be held on the grounds of St. Augustine Catholic Church on Hwy. 494 in the Cane River community. There will be music, food, craft booths, family history/genealogy exhibits and workshops throughout the day. Admission is $7 for adults and $2 for children age seven through 17. Children under six are admitted free.

For more information on Creole Heritage Day, call (318) 357-6685 or go to www.caneriver.net.

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