French 24: Louisiana Cajuns are keen to preserve their identity

 

[VIDEO] I found this video about the French heritage of Louisiana. Most of us know from history about the Louisana Purchase when the United States under POTUS Thomas Jefferson purchased what is now Lousiana and other territory west of the Mississippi River from the French Empire under Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

The French Empire in America was said to have extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. Also just think the French Canadian Province of Quebec was also at one point part of the French Empire. However as happens in history territory gets ceded due to military conflict or other considerations.

The Cajuns - perhaps you heard the term before say as far as cuisine/food - are a group of people who are originally from Canada actually. They migrated to the territory we know as Louisiana and there are Cajuns who still speak French today. A lot of places in Louisiana owe their names to the French.

Of course as happens, America is an English nation. We take for granted that English is our language and there are proposals that exist to make English our official language. Louisiana it seemed wanted to encourage their citizens to speak English and be more Americanized. One could say Cajun cultural heritage is endangered though as you see in the above video from France 24 network there are those who are trying to keep it alive.