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Re: Re: Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

This thread is really interesting. I've been reading here for quite a while, participating a time here and there and it amazes me how much people are drawn to this culture. Like Joey said, being surrounded by it, you take it for granted and it's one of the famous old "you don't know what you have until it's gone" Growing up, I had not even the slightest interest in "cajun", it wasn't until I was 12 that something "clicked" inside and all of the sudden I found myself with an imense hunger for this heritage that we are speaking of. One of the reasons that I never joined a band is because I can't speak french and I didn't feel it right that I try to sing something that I couldn't even trasnlate or understand. Some might say that's a load of crap but, it's something that I could never get passed. I worked as a paramedic for 7 years and have transported many elderly cajun people and started out by asking "comment ca va babe", and then got mowed over by a reply in french of all of the ailments and then had to turn around and ask all of the questions again in english. I can't tell you how bad I hate not being able to speak it, but it is what it is.

It's the same story, cajun wasn't cool when my father was growing up in the 60's and 70's so did he learn french, no... does he want to kick himself every chance he can, yes, so could I My last name is Sanner, anyone ever see that in the "Book Of Cajun", don't think so. But I've been here all of my life and consider myself to have a cajun heritage. My wife grew up in the small town of Maurice in Vermillion Parish and guess what, after about 3 songs, she's done. I always pick with her and how she does not know what she is passing on or should I say not passing on ! I might not be able to teach my kids how to speak french, but I can sure teach them how to play the accordion and if that is the only thing I can pass onto my children that is cajun, then guess what, that's what it will have to be !

Didn't mean to ramble...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

Yup, for some of us it is a subject that invites rambling on. Hey Rusty, it aint too late to learn Cajun, especially while there are still a lot of folks around who are fluent. I did it living in Texas a few hours from anyone to speak with except by phone. I'm not fluent, but can hold simple conversations, but I can understand it pretty well. My original driving force was wanting to understand the song lyrics, then I wanted to talk to my parents in French. Now, my kids speak more French than their cousins in Louisiana, and that aint their cousin's fault. It aint easy, in fact it was **** difficult for me, but kinda like learning the accordion, if you really want to it is possible. It takes a bit of the tete dur. If you want, I can make you a list of the resources I used, but the best ones are all around you.

Like we've talked about, many dont realize what they have, and many living there dont notice it fading. If there is anything I can be thankful for in moving away is it made me realize we grew up with something very unique and is worth preserving as well as we can.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

One thing I have'nt seen mentioned is that we are who we are by the blood that runs in our veins. We are the decendents of exiled Acadiens.
And now a little bit about our names:
Folks down here often attach alot to a last name. Case in point, My buddy Ben Foushee, whos father speaks fluent French, is assumed to be Cajun while I get the comment "I hear you singing in French but you don't have a Cajun name". (Zuelke doesn't pass off as a Cajun name very well while Foushee, which is not Cajun does.)
I take heart in reading Father Daigle's comment in his fine book; "We tend to forget that when a Cajun woman marries a non Cajun man, their children are just as Cajun as if a Cajun man marries a non Cajun woman. The only difference being in the name the children bear."
My son will carry the name of Zuelke, but I will teach him that he is a Cajun and teach him all about the Duhons and Cambres that he is decendent of. Like many, I discounted that when I was young, and now I don't speak French and regret it. I shoulda paid more attention to Mama and Papa.
There is an amusing little occurance involving the Duhon last name that happened when my son was born.
My north Louisiana mother in law was filling in one of those requisite baby books and came to the family tree page. She asked my maternal grandfathers last name and when I responded "Audrey Duhon" she replied, "No, your grandfather" at which point I explained that his name was a fairly common French mans name. She shook her head and asked for my Grandmothers name. I said "Joyce Duhon" and she replied, "No, her maiden name" to which I answered,"Joyce Duhon" again. I had to explain that it was fairly common for folks to marry third cousins in small Cajun communities. At this point she got flustered with the whole thing and skipped to Baby weight and length and all that.
I'm proud of the German heritage that comes along with the Zuelke name, but I must say, Sometimes I wish my name was Duhon, it would make things a whole lot easier in many situations.
Layne "Duhon" Zuelke

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

Oh man you touched on some deep subjects here that will bore the screen right off most folks here.

When you start talking about blood and heritage, and names, it can start something that cant be finished or agreed on. But you got me going so excuse me while I yak a little.

The whole Acadian/Cajun thing is very confusing and few even in Louisiana understand it, or even their own heritage. What I consider "cajun", is actually a huge blend of many different ethnicities, and a lot of the french ones arent cajun. Some think Cajun only refers to Acadian, but try to find someone who is only of Acadian descent.

In the area around Mamou, Ville Platte, and into the Eunice area, which is considered by most to be Acadian, but most of the common names there are not Acadian-Fontenot, Lafleur, Guillory, Fusilier, Deshotels(and others) are descendants of some of Napoleans army and other immigrants that came from France, but not Acadia (this also applies to the Avoyelles parish area). Then you throw in the Mcgees, McCauleys, Freys, Browns, and a whole phone book full of other non french names whose folks cam to speak french, and you got that blend that I'm talking about. And they all had a part in influencing our music, food, and culture (like the accordion). I had a great grandfather who was a Mcgee, once when someone mentioned to him his name wasnt french, he said "mais it must be french, every Mcgee I know speaks french".

What has always amazed me, is considering how isolated communities were from each other prior to WWI (leading to that 3rd cousin thing), is how much we are the same as far as accent, language, and food, though there are some definate differences, especially in language.

I could ramble more but I dont want any facial injuries from heads hitting the keyboard.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

Bryan,
My father in law was a McGee, but his mother was a Fontenot. He would be about 73 years old now. I remember him saying that when he would dream it was in French. You couldn't get more Cajun than he was.
Kirk Menier

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

Yup, we just cant get too crazy with all this label stuff, too many variations in the gumbo.

We asked dad a while back if he dreamed in French or English, he couldnt decide.

Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

It is interesting to note the effects of time and place. When my grandparents immigrated to this country at the turn of the last century, they were discouraged from learning English. By only speaking their native tongue, they could not move on to better jobs. Hence my grandfather remained in the coal mines while my grandmother to be remained in a cigar factory in Pennsylvania.

Eventually my grandfather learned enough English to move to the Midwest and US Steel. By the time the last of their seven children were born only the first four were fluent in the native language.

The culture did not die of course; it was simply converted to English. I am sure the Carols I learned in English did not sound right to my grandparents as they sang the words they knew. Still a good tune is a good tune and there are always enough people interested in the culture roots to keep the traditional version alive.

Preserving the Cajun culture and preserving Cajun music may not be the same. It is my humble belief that the power of Cajun music comes from the blending of the sound of the Cajun accordion, the meter of the music that evolved in the isolation of rural LA and the skills of the players who capture it.

If you spoke only Chinese, A cajun tune would probably sound the just as good in English or French.

What ever the reason, Cajun music is gooood stuff.

Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

If you really want to make something popular, ban it. It's been my observation that what gets "banned" from the public only makes it more appealing, newsworthy and lucrative. Prohibition sure did create a lot of alchoholics and entrepreneurs... and 2LiveCrew sure did sell a lot of CDs. I think I'll do my weekly zydeco radio show tonight with a Cuban accent.

~R!CK
(Proud American Louisiana-holic from Texas)

Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

Thanks for reminding me about the show. Now for a little zydeco flan.

Re: Re: Re: What Makes Us Cajun ?

mmmm... zydeco, flan and a big stinkin' Habana Cohiba! (Dominican cigars are just as good -- but they aren't banned). I'll send you a shout-out.

R!CK



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