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"Bayou Farewell" The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast
Mother Jones ^ | 2003 | Mike Tidwell

Posted on 10/06/2005 10:42:26 PM PDT by HoHoeHeaux

Quote from book

"In my estimation, the Cajun Bayou region of Louisiana, at least before Katrina, was the most distinctive and culturally rich region in America. You have three quarters of a million people throughout Cajun land, and they are utterly self-reliant people, especially the ones who live in the marshes. They build their own boats, build their own homes, live according to the rhythms of the natural world. Many of whom don't know how to read or write, yet they can spend hours discussing the intricate inner workings of wind, current, and tide, or build a wooden boat with no blueprints. And I don't know that I've ever met a Cajun who said that their goal is to be a millionaire. If you ask them what they want to be doing ten years from now, they'll say, "Shrimpin'! Preferably with my five year old son!" They are content with their lot for the most part to just keep doing what they're doing, celebrating their unique way of life."

"The Cajun Bayou culture, grew from the marshes, the swamps, and bayous, creating a people who have lived in isolation, and want mostly to be left alone to live off their land, practice their Catholic faith, drink their wine and beer, eat their great food, and speak their own language. These people are simply different spiritually, emotionally, linguistically, historically from all the rest of America.'

OK now me. (o:

This book, by Mike Tidwell, "Bayou Farewwll', tells us in great detail why every American should care what is happening in LA right now. We are about to lose the Cajun heritage and traditions, as well as the Houma Indians. Their land, which they live off of 100 %, no goverment help, because they don't expect nor ask for it, is disappeaering. At the astonishing rate of 50 acres per day. Every day! Post hurricanes, that will no doubt increase.

Please read the article, and the book, if you care about an entire culture that will be gone in a few years if something isn't done.

The sad thing is, it's fixable. And for very little money in this Katrina mindest. $14billion. It is hard to believe that the funds have been approved at every level, and yet nothing is being done to fix it. I want to be an advocate and feel helpless. Any suggestions as to how I can do something would be appreciated.

Thanks to anyone that can help. BTW, this is probably the best book I have ever read.


TOPICS: Books/Literature
KEYWORDS: cajun; katrina; louisiana; rita

1 posted on 10/06/2005 10:42:27 PM PDT by HoHoeHeaux
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To: HoHoeHeaux

Why is the land disappearing?


2 posted on 10/06/2005 11:32:42 PM PDT by kingsurfer
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To: kingsurfer

Hey, thanks for asking! (o:

The land it sinking because the Mississippi has been beaten into submission, pretty much. It naturally wants to go it's own way, which would allow it to deposit rich sediment into the wetlands of southern Louisiana, sediment from Canada and everywhere in between. That would create new land. The Army Corps has spent untold billions leveeing that river into submission, which has saved cities from flooding so that's a good thing. But in the meantime, the southern coast is dying.

This area is so important. Birds flying south for the winter, and flying back north after, all migrate here. If these wetlands keep sinking, and killing the plant life because salt water is poisoning their environment, I guess they will have to find another "meeting place." Also, 30% of the nation's seafood comes from the area, and if the land keeps sinking, the shrimpers, crappers, etc. will eventually have to move away. Their homes are literally going to float away.

One of the book's 'characters' makes the statement that in a few hunderd years, Baton Rouge will a coastal city.

Anyway, it's a very good read. I feel like I know these people now! The author immersed himself into the Cajun and Houma Indian cultures and it's truly an amazing life they live.


3 posted on 10/07/2005 6:51:25 AM PDT by HoHoeHeaux ("Bayou Farewell")
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To: HoHoeHeaux
Where can I get this nbook?

Can I find it in Waldons Bookstore. I live in Maryland and we have a simular problem on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia.

4 posted on 10/07/2005 7:08:56 AM PDT by Pippin
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To: Pippin

Oh then you will definately want this book. The author is on a board keep this from happening to the Chesapeake Bay.
You can get the book from Amazon. The paperback is out now and it's one of those nice larger sizes. If Waldonbooks does not have it, let them order it for you. It's a must read!


5 posted on 10/07/2005 7:18:47 AM PDT by HoHoeHeaux ("Bayou Farewell")
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To: kingsurfer
Why is the land disappearing?

To elaborate on the poster's response a bit further, all of southern Louisiana is deltaic deposits thousands of feet thick. Historically, the Mississippi has drifted back and forth in a broad fan. These sediments are still consolidating and the underlying crust is slowly being depressed as well. So there is a steady sinking of the land.

However, before levees were built, that in turn was offset by the deposition of additional sediments. During floods, floodwaters spill out in a broad swath and drop their sediment loads over the land. Floods over the centuries gradually pushed the coastline out and kept the land above sea level, while also bringing in fresh nutrients.

Now, with the levees, the waters go straight out into the Gulf without a chance to drop sediments and compensate for the gradual settling. Plus, canals have been dredged which speeds up the inflow of salt water. So the swamps and marshes are gradualling sinking.

6 posted on 10/07/2005 7:24:44 AM PDT by dirtboy (Drool overflowed my buffer...)
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To: kingsurfer
Why is the land disappearing?

The land is disappearing partly because of the loss of alluvial buildup after many decades of having a massive levee system. It is also disappearing largely because of subsidence. Enormous quantities of oil, gas and minerals have been removed from the ground. This is complicated by the fact that the marshes are crisscrossed by manmade canals. To understand subsidence, stick a soda straw into a glass of liquid. Suck. What you have in your mouth comes from the bottom of the glass and the surface level sinks. That is exactly what is happening to the land in South Louisiana. Eventually, the Gulf of Mexico will cover much of South Louisiana.

The term joie de vivre -- joy in living -- could have been invented to describe the Acadian/Cajuns. They do more with less than almost any other people. Their culture is one of the most interesting and valuable aspects of Louisiana and is well worth preserving.

7 posted on 10/07/2005 2:07:07 PM PDT by caryatid
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To: caryatid; dirtboy

Thanks for the explanation. I was struggling!

joie de vivre -- joy in living

I love this phrase. And so admire these people.


8 posted on 10/07/2005 9:10:44 PM PDT by HoHoeHeaux ("Bayou Farewell")
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To: HoHoeHeaux
May Hey dare Ya’ll.. COOYON here.. Just a lil note for ya’ll to tink about..

Cajuns (coonasses, acadian people, french refugees and many others), are a unique bunch of people.. We are actually a minority, but.. We applied to become a recognized minority and we didn’t have enough people to qualify.. So, we just stay like we are..

Seriously, cajuns are a great bunch of people.. I am one, even though my ancestory is German/Danish (kind of like an orange danish, just better), we came down here from Canada with the french people when they were exiled from France.

My family had a plantation, slaves and all the things that went with that type of life back then.. The path to now for cajuns have been nothing less than an extraordinary story of survival, adaptation, strength and just plain old hard headedness to make it this long..

If you ever get around the “Real Cajuns”, you will find that “Talking Funny” can be a distinct advantage for cajuns.. Do not take that as a sign of stupidity or uneducated. I have the cajun accent(very nicely I may add and folks stop me in New Orleans and comment, talk to me and enjoy the whole adventure), and having this accent in a business world, helps me maintain a distinct advantage over those folks.. As Bush once said - Mis-underestimated.. and then they wonder how a dumb cajun could have gotten over them so easily.. LOL... Did this once in DC.. Those DOI lawyers still have not figured out what the hell happened to them, they just scratched their heads and could not believe they had been outsmarted and outwitted by a dumb idiot, can’t speak correct English, stupid cajun.. Now they know.. and I am sure they won’t make that mis-underestimated mistake again..

Come to Louisiana, come see the sights you have heard so much about, come experience the cajun hospitality that is world famous, the food here is only found here, the people are unique, the sounds are diverse and you will enjoy that down da bayou atmosphere..

I have been to alot of places in my 32 years in the oil and gas business..Very successful, still working in the business and now have a condo in the French Quarter, New Orleans.. I would never leave my home here to live anywhere else..

9 posted on 06/19/2007 7:16:24 AM PDT by COOYON (What Is A Real Cajun?)
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