The Bayou Culture Collaborative will host Culture and Climate Conversations, a series of community discussions intended to raise awareness about the cultural impact of the state’s environmental changes. At six events across south Louisiana, community members will explore how climate shifts and rapid land loss are affecting arts, heritage, and traditions.

Culture and Climate Conversations offers local artists an important platform to present their crafts, rituals, traditional practices, and other local knowledge now at risk. “As our land is changing,” said by Jonathan Foret, one of the founding members of the BCC, “we need to be intentional about preserving our culture.” This is one of many BCC projects intended to create networks of concerned Louisianians to develop action steps for endangered communities and traditions. The public is invited to participate in the BCC. For more information, see the Louisiana Folklore Society’s website.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public. Culture and Climate Conversations is funded through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Louisiana Folklore Society. For more information, contact Teresa Parker at tcparker@tulane.edu.

Schedule of Events:

Healing Landscapes, Preserving Communities

Monday, September 18th, 3 p.m.

Georges Auditorium at Dillard University

2601 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans

Panelists: Pamela Arnette Broom, Urban Agriculturalist, Project Manager, 7th Ward Revitalization Project; Diane Honoré, Creole Healer, Black Masking Big Queen of the Yellow Pocahontas, Historical Interpreter

Moderator: Mona Lisa Saloy, Dillard University Professor of English and former Louisiana Poet Laureate

Stories of Cameron Parish

Tuesday, October 10th, 3 p.m.

Calcasieu Parish Library, Central Branch-DeBakey Community Room

301 W. Claude St, Lake Charles

Tradition bearers: Second-generation Cameron resident Judge H. Ward Fontenot; Creole, LA native and longtime Lake Charles community leader Dinah B. Landry

Moderator: Keagan LeJeune, Folklorist/Writer, Department of English and Foreign Languages, McNeese State University

Rougarou Fest Narrative Stage

Saturday, October 21st, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday, October 22nd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rougarou Fest

86 Valhi Blvd, Houma

Tradition Bearers: The Narrative Stage will feature several tradition bearers discussing and demonstrating basket weaving, creating moss dolls, preserving the Cajun healing tradition of traiteurs, uses of Louisiana medicinal plants, preserving the Louisiana French language, and sustainability in Louisiana’s fishing industry.

Moderator: Lanor Curole, Tribal Administrator, United Houma Nation

The Sportsman’s Paradise in a Changing Environment

Thursday, November 16th, 6 p.m.

Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Roy House, 1204 Johnston St, Lafayette

Tradition bearers: Dale Bordelon, Rapides Parish duck-call maker and conservationist;

Keith Dupuy, Denham Springs cypress pirogue restorer and antique boat expert

Moderator: Jacob Gautreaux, Adjunct Instructor of History, ULL

United Houma Nation Tribal Celebration (open to tribal members only)

Saturday, December 2nd, Time TBA

Bayou Black Recreation Center

3688 Southdown Mandalay Rd, Houma

Tradition Bearers: Grayhawk Perkins, Native American storyteller, stomp dancer, & oral historian; Raymond Clark, UHN palmetto ­hut builder, stickball expert, drummer & singer

Moderator: Lanor Curole, UHN Tribal Administrator

Landmarks & Land Loss in Terrebonne Parish

Sunday, April 14, 2024, 2:00 pm

Chauvin Sculpture Garden Picnic and Blessing of the Fleet Celebration

5337 Bayouside Dr, Chauvin

Tradition bearers: Cecil Lapeyrouse, 3rd-generation Cocodrie grocer and Cajun-French storyteller; Deborah Cunningham, Chauvin native and multi-generational shrimping family descendant

Moderator: Dr. Gary LaFleur, Jr., Professor of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University