Acadian Spirit – SOLD – Prints Available
Acadian Spirit
The Acadians, now known as the “Cajuns, are a spirited and traditionalist group. By the arrival of the 20th Century, the Acadians had already survived 300 years of struggle and persecution in the New World. The irony about the Cajuns in America today is that despite efforts over three centenaries to destroy their culture, they have indeed survived as a distinct group. The Acadians found a permanent homeland in the bayou country of south Louisiana.
While other ethnic groups dissolved into the proverbial melting pot, the Cajun way of life — spicy food, lively music, family traditions — is known and beloved the world over.
Louisiana Acadians / Cajuns remain true to their heritage, culture and persevere through the struggles in life. We can all learn from their fortitude and spirit.
My painting titled “Acadian Spirit” is just a small reflection of my gratitude for being able to experience this colorful group.
Title: Acadian Spirit
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 30” x 40”
Learn More about the Acadians / Cajuns read The Acadian Story below.
The Acadian story begins in France. The people who would become the Cajuns came primarily from the rural areas of the Vendee region of western France. In 1604, they began settling in Acadie, now Nova Scotia, Canada, where they prospered as farmers and fishers.
Over the next century, the ownership of the colony of Acadie changed hands several times. In 1713 Great Britain acquired permanent control of Acadie, but many Acadians did not become cooperative British subjects, preferring to maintain their independence and refusing to swear allegiance to the British crown and church.
In 1755 the British began the removal of the Acadians from their homeland. The “outlaws” were taken into custody by a British officer, then herded onto British ships setting sail for destinations unknown to the exiles. Le Grand Dérangement dispersed the Acadians to France, the Caribbean, Britain, and to British colonies along North America’s east coast.
Many of the exiles were unhappy in their new homes and moved on. Some of them found their way to south Louisiana and began settling in the rural areas west of New Orleans. By the early 1800s, nearly 4000 Acadians had arrived and settled in Louisiana.
Many lived in the bayou country where they hunted, fished, trapped, and lived off the bounty of the Mississippi River delta. Some moved beyond the Atchafalaya Basin onto southwest Louisiana’s prairies to raise cattle and rice. The new arrivals learned new skills and shared what they brought with them with the many peoples already in the area: American Indians, free people of color, enslaved Africans and their descendants, and immigrants from Europe, Asia, and North and South America.
The Acadians became Cajuns as they adapted to their new home and its people. Their French changed as did their architecture, music, and food. The Cajuns of Louisiana today are renowned for their music, their food, and their ability to hold on to tradition while making the most of the present.
Dare to Feel,
Red (Linda Harrison)
red@strokesbyred.com
