Avoyelles panelists discuss importance of French language, culture at conference

   Two panels representing Avoyelles Parish participated in the “Unité et Diversité  (Unity and Diversity):  A Conference on Louisiana French,” held in Natchitoches on Sept. 23-24.

   Day one featured panel discussions and presentations on various aspects of the state’s French culture.

   “La Table Française” was held the next day at the Fort St. Jean State Historic Site.

   Members of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe gave a presentation on French words incorporated into the tribe’s native language and the relationship the tribe had with the French colonists in the 1700s and 1800s.

   Another Avoyelles panel focused on the traditional French music and the tourism potential related to maintaining the state’s French culture and language. 

  “The goal of this conference is to discuss the diversity and commonalities of the Louisiana French language,” project coordinator Loletta Wynder said. 

“Louisiana French is interesting to people because it’s their heritage. It touches so many people,” said Deborah Clifton, a conference facilitator and curator of the Lafayette Science Museum.

   The full slate of  presentations on Sept. 23 included topics on  American Indians and French in Louisiana;  Creole French (Bayou Teche); Red River Colonial and Creole French in Avoyelles, Natchitoches and Rapides parishes; lower Mississippi River/Atchafalaya French; CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana) programs and Creole French; French connections in   Haiti, Martinique and Guadelupe;  Creole as an endangered language; maintaining Louisiana French; Louisiana French and tourism; and traditional music and teaching Creole, Cajun La La and Zydeco.

La Table Française Aux Natchitoches (LTFAN) -- The French Table of Natchitoches -- was established in January 2013 as a means for local people to advance their use of the Louisiana French language.  

It included activities and conversations focused on the French language and culture. 

 

   Wilbert Carmouche, director of the Avoyelles Commission of Tourism, told the audience that this area’s original inhabitants were heavily influenced by the French and Spanish colonists who arrived in large numbers in the 1700s.

   The panel also discussed the original homes in France of several common names in Avoyelles.

   John Barbry, director of the Tunica-Biloxi Language & Culture Revitalization Program,  led that panel’s discussion on the relationship between the French and the tribe.

  The Tunica were loyal allies of the French throughout the colonial wars with England and Spain.

  Tribal member Donna Pierite pointed out that the Tunica incorporated many French “loan words” into their language after French Jesuits established a mission in the tribe’s settlement on the Yazoo River in 1699.

   The tribe quickly adapted to the French language to form a close trade relationship with the French. The tribe is currently involved in revitalizing its native language.

  “Our native language has largely gone to slumber,” Barbry said. “French was a unifier, but as we bring the Tunica language back, it helps us unlock things in our culture, things we would probably lose without an understanding of our language."

   Speakers at the event also emphasized the importance of passing the  French language on   to future generations through such programs as “immersion” programs in the schools. 

   In those programs, French would be spoken and incorporated in the way children are taught in all languages, and not just in a designated foreign language class. It was noted that French conversation groups have been formed throughout the state. 

   One such program started a few weeks ago in Avoyelles, with a Saturday morning class in “conversational Avoyelles French” being held at the parish library in Marksville.

In that program, retired French teacher Gail Descant Lemoine conducts the session entirely in French, using gestures and “clue words” to help non-French speakers understand what is being said even if they do not know the words being spoken.

    She said that is the way infants learn their native language and it is the best and most effective way to learn a new language.