Events

2nd Annual Forum -   Foundations of Community Series : Pointe Coupée et environs

Saturday October 6, 2007  9 am to 4 pm  at the Julien Poydras Center   500 West Main Street     New Roads, LA 

Join us for an engaging day in a conversation of history about French colonial Pointe Coupée Parish, Louisiana. Inspired by our elders and their front porch stories about the past, we liberate our history by stitching together their stories with meticulous research and bringing it before a public audience. This second forum will focus on the Foundations of French Colonial  Pointe Coupée: 1738-1769 . 

Experts, who are also descendants of the founding families, will take you back in time to early life at Pointe Coupée  through a glimpse at the geography, trinity of peoples - Natives, Colonists & Africans, early church, built environment, economy and Creole dialect.  Experts on the people, built environment, and the Creole language will enhance the dialogue.  Lagniappe includes a Creole lunch and a comprehensive printed program. In addition, special recognition will be extended to an extraordinary friend and family of Pointe Coupée history. Audience interaction is encouraged throughout the day. We welcome all generations - scholars , students, teachers and community alike! 

Our first forum brought over 150 participants from the community, throughout Louisiana, as well as California, Texas, Mexico, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey!  We look forward to returning participants and many new ones.

Make a weekend of it and enjoy all the parish has to offer.  Visit the PC Tourism site for tourism information and to request a copy of the Visitor's Guide. 

AGENDA: 

9:00 am      Registration

9: 30 am      Opening Ceremony & Introductions followed by  conversations of history by experts Brian J. Costello, George DeCoux, Randy DeCuir, Julie Eshelman-Lee, Glenn C. Morgan & Paul Roy on the early church, built environment, people and economy. The dialogue will be enhanced by special guests with expertise on the early people, families, built environment and archaeological discoveries.

12:30 pm     Creole Lunch

1:45 pm       Special Recognition

2:00 pm       Dr. Thomas Klingler, Tulane University will present an overview of Pointe Coupée's Creole Dialect Foundations followed by sharing of Creole traditions and translated Creole conversations between native speakers  Brian J. Costello, Christophe Landry & members of Les Creoles de Pointe Coupée together with other native speakers from the community. Experience this remarkable opportunity of this gathering of native speakers and learn Creole phrases and greetings!

3:45 pm  Epilogue:  Pointe Coupée's Oath of Allegiance to Spain

RESERVATIONS:  online: Pointe Coupée Parish History    or call: 970.988.1890

ADMISSION:   Free, donations appreciated  (includes all sessions, publication and Creole lunch)

Sponsored by Creole West Productions  on behalf of the Foundations of Community Series Board:  Julie Eshelman-Lee, Chair; Members at Large: Brian J. Costello, George DeCoux, Randy DeCuir, Glenn C. Morgan, Paul Roy, with co-sponsors : Les Creoles de Pointe Coupée &  Le Cercle Historique

VENDORS/EXHIBITORS: If you are interested in a display or selling your books, maps or other related items please Contact Us. Space is limited, so suggest to reserve by 9/15.

Follow updates and full details as well as the special invitation to community students and their teachers at the Pointe Coupée Parish History website.

Accessibility:  The Julien Poydras Center is accessible to all, including restroom facilities.  For a level entrance, please use the side entrance (across from St. Mary's Church).  For any questions or other needs, please Contact Us.

Creole Conversations

With the loss of language a culture loses its common bond and unique foundation. The Creole dialect of Pointe Coupée became the common language for a trinity of peoples--colonists, native people & Africans, and, their descendants.

The panel for Creole Conversations is replete with native speakers who have learned from their elders and have a passion to keep the language alive - complimenting Dr. Thomas Klingler's linguistic expertise and his extensive field study in the parish.  They come together to share with you a remarkable legacy of the Pointe Coupée Creole culture. 

In addition to information and background, the panel will conduct conversations en Creole, translated in English, and teach the audience greetings and phrases. The words of your Louisiana Creole elders will ring fondly again in your ears!

Suggested reading and resources before the Oct 6th event:

Costello. Cést ça yé dit ("That's what they say") (Author, 2004)

Costello. Creole Pointe Coupée: A Sociological Analysis (Author, 2002)

Klingler. If I Could Turn My Tongue Like That: The Creole Language of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana (LSU Press, 2003)

Valdman, Klingler, Marshall, Rottett. Dictionary of Louisiana Creole. (Indiana University Press, 1998) 

 Les Creoles de Pointe Coupée committed to the preservation of our distinctive language, culture and history.

 Learn Louisiana Creole Online  by Christophe Landry