My Dad wrote a letter to Revon Reed in 1983. My Dad wrote how he was upset with tours
given to kids in Evangeline Parish. The tour guides or “teachers” would tell
the kids they were Acadian people from Acadie.
Those young people were probably kids like me who grew up unable to speak
French, ignorant of our history and told by teachers, CODOFIL on LPB and
tourism/entertainment businesses that we were Cajuns from Acadie. Now Mom said we were Cajuns but as for
Acadie, what’s that?
Revon Reed in his column, Comme Ci, Comme Ca Avec Revon Reed,
wrote a response. I’ll share some quotes
but you can visit a library to request a copy.
Also, this “conversation” took place in the Mamou Acadian Press, a conversation
about Evangeline Parish being a non-Acadian area. This stuff is so crazy to me.
My Dad’s letter can be found: Mamou Acadian Press, Thursday, February 24,
1983
Revon Reed’s response to my Dad’s letter: Mamou Acadian Press, Thursday, March 3, 1983:
“…some genealogists of sorts are going around the parish of
Evangeline and telling our already – mixed up kids that they are the proud sons
and daughters of Acadia and rightfully Acadians. It made my Creole French blood boil…” (Reed)
“Louisiana’s been called the Creole state since way back,
but during the Edwards Administration, the names “Creole” and “Cajun” became an
issue on the House floor, and they (with the Governor’s signature) decided on “CAJUN”
rather than creole.” (Reed)