Louisiana participates in once-every-5-years Acadian celebration
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Les Amis du Teche perform during the Congréa Mondiale Acadien's opening ceremony. Photo: Brandon Dugas
A group of Louisianans headed to Nova Scotia over the weekend to celebrate the Congrès Mondial Acadien, or Acadian World Congress.
Why it matters: The event takes place every five years to celebrate and welcomes the Acadian diaspora from all over the world.
Catch up quick: When in the 18th century, Acadians refused to pledge their allegiance to England, they were booted from Canada in what's now known as Le Grand Dérangement.
- Many of them ended up in Southwest Louisiana, where they created and nourished the region's Cajun culture and language.
Zoom in: Now, every five years, the Congrés Mondiale honors that heritage with hundreds of events over nine days, like family reunions, music and educational events.
- Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is in attendance, his office says, to promote tourism and re-sign a cultural, artistic and heritage accord between Louisiana and New Brunswick.
- Louisiana hosted the event in 1999.
Among the Louisianans present are Les Amis du Teche and the Lost Bayou Ramblers, organizers say.
- It's also a return trip for at least some of the musicians, like Lost Bayou Ramblers' Louis Michot, who once visited Nova Scotia's Université Sainte-Anne to better learn Louisiana French.
- The school is one of the few formal places offering Acadian immersion language classes.