Who Lives in St. Bernard Parish?

Cajun People of Louisiana
The roots of Cajun culture began almost 400 years ago when French travelers settled in the area that is known today as Nova Scotia, Canada. Then they relocated to Louisiana, the Cajuns or also called Acadians found themselves again in a new environment. They began farming and raising cattle, establishing a homeland for themselves even as control of the area changed from Spanish to French to American hands. The Acadians were determined to keep their culture alive. One way they did this was by allowing in outside influences- by being inclusive, not exclusive. The culture gradually absorbed influences from indigenous peoples of the area, from French and Spanish settlers who were already here, from Africans who began to arrive in greater numbers, from English, Irish and Scottish settlers who made their way in from the surrounding areas, from Germans immigrants, etc., etc. As this cultural transformation took place, the French word "Acadiens" gradually changed to "Cadiens" The same change took place in English: "Acadians" became "Cajuns." The roots were still as strong as ever, but a new branch was flourishing.
Today the Cajun people still survive, speaking much the same language their antecedents did 400 years ago. This cultural integrity had not been easy to maintain. The surrounding American mass-culture and the powerful reach of television have been perhaps the greatest threat of all to Cajun culture. But the Cajun way of life has survived, and regional cuisine, architecture, folklore, etc. have been maintained. Perhaps the best known part of Cajun culture, however, is the music.