These stories and traditions belong to the people in this region, and the organizational role is to help them document and interpret what they feel should be shared. Apr 27, 2020 the cane river region is home to a unique culture. The museum in which this occurred is in natchitoches, louisiana along cane river. Probing deeper for her familys roots, tademy soon found herself swept up in an obsessive twoyear odysseyand leaving her corporate career for the little louisiana farming community of cane river. See more ideas about river i, creole people and louisiana creole. Before the plantation bell sounded she had startled awake, tuned her ears to the careless breathing of mamzelle above her in the fourposter bed.
A story of three generations of strong women, slaves and the complexity of their lives, and the importance of family. Cane river national heritage trail natchitoches 2020. Generations of the same families of owners and workers, enslaved and tenant, lived on these lands for over 200 years. Built from an exploration of her own ancestors, tademys cane river is an impressive melding of historical documents and fiction, pulling together multiple generations of a single family and offering a novel which offers the best of what historical fiction can be. Established in 1994, the cane river creole national historical park serves to preserve the resources and cultural landscapes of the cane river region in natchitoches parish, louisiana. History of the cane river regioncane river national.
Both plantations are complete in their historic settings, including. Cane river heritage trail louisiana scenic drives on. Cane river 2001 is a fictionalized version of the lives of author lalita tademys female ancestors over the course of four generations. Lalita tademys second historical novel, red river is set during reconstructionera louisiana a time period and subject matter often summarily skimmed in our history books. Cane river creole national historical park video tour 1 of 2 duration. Cane river national heritage area in northwestern louisiana is a largely rural, agricultural landscape known for its historic plantations, its distinctive creole architecture, and its multicultural legacy. French louisianas commercial activities centered around the indian trade. Look at my other auctions this week for more cook books. Cane river national heritage area exploring cane river. The lalita tademy left the corporate world to immerse herself in tracing her familys history and writing her first historical novel, cane river. Though it meanders like a river, cane river is actually an oxbow lake. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
The park tells their stories and preserves the cultural landscape of oakland and magnolia plantations, two of the most intact creole cotton plantations in the. Cane river riviere aux cannes is a 30milelong 48 km river formed from a portion of the red river that is located in natchitoches parish, louisiana. According to the legend, the cane river colony owes its beginnings to a woman known as marie thereze, or coincoin. Cane river tademy family chronicles, book 1 by lalita tademy. Set among the plantations in deepest louisiana, cane river follows the lives of five generations of women from the time of slavery in the early 1800s into the. Dead until dark by charlaine harris, a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole, the awakening by kate chopin, zeitoun by. Oakland plantation, built in 1821 and owned by the same family until 1960, is the most complete creole plantation in the south. While admiring a handwrought door hinge or a cleverlyworked wooden gate, we might reflect on the social and agricultural practices that built these tenant houses, pigeonniers, carpenter and blacksmith shops. I was a guest of natchitoches cvb, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cane river creole national historical park, natchez. If you enjoy our travel video, we would appreciate a thumbsup. Cane river colony was a colony founded by marie theresa coincoin, a former african slave and the children of her relationship with claude thomas pierre metoyer, a frenchman, on isle brevelle just south of natchitoches in central louisiana. The cane river creole colony began in natchitoches, louisiana in 1768 with the birth of twins nicolas augustin metoyer and his sister marie suzanne metoyer. These groups seem to have been concentrated around natchitoches, mansfield, monroe, and rebeline, louisiana. Lalita tademys book, cane river, tells in fictional form the stories of four. Natchitoches louisiana cane river cuisine cook book cajun. The women of cane river cane river begins with elisabeth tademys greatgreatgreatgreatgrandmother and focuses on three women marked by her strength, her pride, and her instinct for survival. A new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of africanamerican women whose journey from slavery to freedom begins on a creole plantation in louisiana. Jan 01, 2001 lalita tademys second historical novel, red river is set during reconstructionera louisiana a time period and subject matter often summarily skimmed in our history books. Louisiana s finest recipes service league of natchitoches inc, guillet, john c. The story stretches all the way back to 1834, beginning with tademys greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a woman who was born into slavery, living on a plantation off the cane river in louisiana. There are seven cane river families represented as well as clifton choctaw chronology, clifton cemetery listings, st.
Feb 03, 2014 cane river creole national historical park video tour 1 of 2 duration. Suzette elisabeths youngest daughter, and the first to. Settlement of the cane river area of louisiana legends. The louisiana caddoanspeaking groups were the adaes, doustioni, natchitoches, ouachita, and yatasi. He has been lauded for his pungent, salty, unforgettable characters who spread joyous creole magic over the american cultural landscape. Cane river creole national historical park legends of america. Cane river lake is the heart of this region and many plantations were built on its fertile banks, creating a thoroughfare and trading hub which ultimately led to the diverse culture and heritage we see today. Cane river by lalita tademy set in rural louisiana, this book is a fictionalized version of tademys own ancestors, telling the story of four generations of african american women. Natchitoches and louisianas timeless cane river lsu press.
Cane river creole national historical park natchez 2020. The architecture and landscapes of the cane river region are enchantingly creole wander thoughtfully through the grounds of oakland and magnolia plantations. Feb 06, 2020 the modesty is partly a matter of circumstances cane river was a lowbudget, independent production shot on two locations in louisiana, natchitoches parish and new orleans and partly. The park tells their stories and preserves the cultural landscape of. Lalita tademy has imbued life and blood into her family history, capturing you with her first sentence and only releasing you with her final word. In cane river bohemia, patricia austin becker provides a vivid biography of this fascinating figure. The result of her twoyear search is cane river, a novel which quickly became both a new york times bestseller and an oprahs book club selection. Hotels near cane river creole national historical park.
Located along the cane river lake, the park is approximately 63 acres and includes two french creole cotton plantations, oakland and magnolia. See more ideas about louisiana, clementine hunter and melrose plantation. Freed slaves of colonial natchitoches produced a fabled community along cane river. Oakland plantation cane river national heritage trail. Cane river is an isolated community that lies on a small river in central louisiana. Books titled, cane river genealogy are part of the collection at the watson library of northwestern state university in natchitoches, louisiana. Nestled on the banks of the cane river, natchitoches pronounced nakitush is perhaps the most beautiful inland town in louisiana. Settlement of the cane river area of louisiana legends of. Cane river cuisine 1974, paperback for sale online ebay. Cane river creole national historical park legends of. The price for spanish participation was the cession to spain of louisiana lands on the west bank of the mississippi river, including natchitoches and those lands on the east bank below bayou manchac. Apr 04, 2016 oakland plantation, built in 1821 and owned by the same family until 1960, is the most complete creole plantation in the south. Although about 32 miles in length, the lake averages only 250 feet in width, giving it a surface of less than 1,000 acres.
The cane river creole community in the northern part of the state, along the red river and cane river, is made up of multiracial descendants of french, spanish, africans, native americans, similar mixed creole migrants from new orleans and various other ethnic groups who inhabited this region in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This agreement was formalized by the treaty of fontainebleau in 1762. Feb 21, 2019 cane river by lalita tademy set in rural louisiana, this book is a fictionalized version of tademys own ancestors, telling the story of four generations of african american women. Shipped media mail in bubble mailer unless otherwise requested. Uncover 300 years of history in natchitoches, louisiana, explore creole culture along the cane river national heritage trail, and experience outdoor adventure in the kisatchie national forest. The nearly 300year relationship between the cane river creoles and their homeland was shaped by the river. Louisianas finest recipes service league of natchitoches inc, guillet, john c. Founded in 1714 as a french colonial settlement, it boasts brick streets, venerable architecture, and a charming ambiance that draw visitors from around the world.
It was here, on a mediumsized creole plantation owned by a family named derbanne, that author lalita tademy found her familys rootsand the stories of four astonishing women who battled vast injustices to create a legacy of hope and achievement. Emilys great grandmother elisabeth came from virginia, not louisiana, according to records i found, and she appeared in cane river some time before 1820, when she was still in her teens. These stories and traditions belong to the people in this region, and the organizational role is to help them document and interpret what they. The natchitoches residents hospitable lifestyle is rich in spanish and french influences. Cane river, the novel, is an attempt to capture the stories of these remarkable women. Natchitoches and louisianas timeless cane river philip gould, robert harling. Today, cane river lake is a beautiful, meandering body of water, a lake, but one having the characteristics of a stream. The civil war reached the cane river region in 1864, when union general nathaniel banks was ordered to move his army out of unionheld new orleans and capture the confederate capital of louisiana at shreveport in what is known as the red river campaign. Because a giant logjam called the great raft blocked red river navigation above the settlement, natchitoches was the northern terminus for traffic to and from downriver ports. Augustine society, whose families had lived as free from the late spanish period of louisiana history. The story is set on rosedew plantation on the cane river in louisiana. Born on a sugar plantation in south louisiana in 1871, cammie henry moved with her husband to melrose in 1899 and immediately set to work restoring the property. Cane river national historical park and heritage area.
Around natchitoches, louisiana downtown, cane river, riverfront, second street duration. Beginning with her greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a slave owned by a creole family, lalita tademy chronicles four generations of strong, determined black women as they. This was a partnership project with the louisiana state museums old courthouse museum, cane river national heritage area, the university of houston archaeology camp, and other community partners. Because of the proximity to spanish texas and the indian nations, natchitoches was ideally suited to a frontier market economy. Just wait for the final invoice i will send you at the end of the auctions. Their total aboriginal territory stretched from the ouachita river west to the sabine river and south to the mouth of cane river. Cane river creole national historical park natchez. This relationship was tested by flood, drought, war, and numerous other obstacles. Cane river creole national historical park wikipedia.
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