The Creole Studies Conference sponsored by the Creole Heritage Center located at Northwestern University in Natchitoches, La., in conjunction with Tulane University, held its annual conference in New Orleans, La. The conference consisted of over 39 guest speakers who studied various aspects of Creole Culture History. There were over 50 exhibits of Creole culture displays depicting the Creole people, their ancestors, their occupations, books, Mother Henriette Delille exhibit and many others.
Oct. 24 – The keynote speaker was Dr. Nicholas Spitzer, Professor of Folklore and Cultural Conservation in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of New Orleans. He spoke about cultural creolization, relating examples from Louisiana to the broader U.S. and worldwide contexts of cultural synthesis and globalization. Some of the speakers gave their speeches.
Oct. 25 – Another portion of the 39 speakers in various conference rooms. The day for the Exhibitors of display their exhibits.
6 pm. Creole Consortium and gathering of all Creoles in the Grande Ballroom which entailed a speech by the organizer, Terrell Delphin, entitled “The Creole Struggle”.
Special Creole Peoples Awards” Program. Awards given to U.S Senator Mary Landrieu and John Breaux; U.S representatives Jim McCrery, William Jefferson and David Vitter; Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, Mr. & Mrs. Moise Steeg, Mr. Dominic L. Ozanne, Mr. Louis Metoyer, editor of Bayou Talk Creole-Cajun newspaper, and former U.S. Senator Bennett Johnston.
Oct. 25 – Final portions of the guest speakers in various conference rooms. Exhibits still being displayed with vendors also selling craft items, books, t-shirts, etc. Yours truly, Mrs. Marion I. Ferreira, had an exhibit which represented the story of Mother Henriette Delille, the proposed Creole nun and founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family, had beautiful t-shirts for sale with a colorful picture of Mother Delille requesting that all Creoles support her proposed canonization as our First Native Born Creole American Saint
born in New Orleans, La. in 1812 and died in 1862. Also sold home made pecan praline candies and Creole books.
7:00 pm to 12:00 a.m. – Creole Heritage Soiree in Audubon Suites A-C which included zydeco music by Willis Prudhomme and his band; and later jazz music by Al “Lil Fats” Jackson who offered the sounds of Fats Domino.
Submitted by Mrs. Marion I. Ferreira, Founder of the Foundation for the Preservation of Creole Heritage and Identity – Los Angeles, LA
May 21-22, 05Sat-Sun Las Vegas NV EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT DETAILS LATER
Conference to Convene at
University of Nevada Las Vegas
May 18-20, 2005
Pre-Conference Events
International House of Blues (Tentative)
Creole Music Festival Internationale©
May 21-22, 2005
Sunset Park
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas presents the first “Pan-Creole” event in the United States, this festival aims to celebrate the Creole heritage and unite the folklores of every Creole all over the world.
The festival brings together dance, music, art and food from all the Creole regions to prove the diversity within the umbrella culture. The programme in 2005 includes a conference, storytelling, art, and other artistic events, traditional games, special events for children, a ‘second line’ and special culinary evenings.
Creole, as a language and a culture, extends from Louisiana, the Caribbean’s Islands and the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles, Reunion, Rodrigues, also Australia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Haiti, some European cities and mainland France. Originally a linguistic reference to the blend of local patois and French spoken by those native to the islands which fell under French colonial rule, the term has grown to encompass the rich traditions and folklore of all Creole-speakers.
The pre-Conference will see academics from the Creole World coming together and debate on current issues affecting the Creole Culture and develop a course structure for the studies of Creolism with an International perspective. Ideas will also be generated towards the creation of an International Creole Movement and a Secretariat.
The conference will then be open, for all Creoles, university students, activists, animateurs culturel, poets, writers and the public at large, over two days with International Guest Speakers.