Wreaking Havoc // Invasive Species
by Kaitlyn Biri, Special Contributor
Water Markers // Giving Directions
by Jenna Orgeron, Special Sections Editor Whether acting as an obstacle or navigation tool, the waterways of Louisiana’s bayou region affect the way residents travel and give directions. Daily commutes require a little more planning when bridges and boat traffic have to be figured in. Especially when a bridge is out, leaving travelers stranded. Currently, the Sunshine Bridge, a large bridge near Donaldsonville that crosses over the Mississippi River and services traffic between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, was closed for almost two months because the damage it sustained from a barge collision on Friday, Oct. 12. The closure has affected businesses, residents, and commuters who use the bridge for daily transportation. The bridge opened one lane each way Saturday, Dec. 1. According to Louisiana State Trooper Simon Besson, many residents in the towns surrounding the bridge, like Donaldsonville and Burnside, are being forced to either take the inconvenient 45-mile detour to get across the river or the Plaquemine Ferry, which has added extra hours because of the bridge closure. “My 10-minute commute to work is now an hour of driving, plus dealing with traffic,” says Natalie Millet, a Donaldsonville resident who works at Louisiana Treated Lumber Inc. Though at times the overwhelming presence of water makes travel more difficult, it also provides a source of directions to navigate around the bayou region. Some southern Louisianans, like Rick Cheramie, have developed unique terms to give directions based on the bayous, rivers, landmarks, and infrastructure in the surrounding area. “We can’t tell someone ‘walk south for 12 blocks’; we don’t really have that here,” says Cheramie, a tugboat captain who tows large boats through the bayous of South Louisiana. “We have the bayous and rivers, so that’s what we use.” According to Cheramie, an example of directions to the grocery store would be: “Go down the bayou for about 2 miles and cross the [bayou or river] at the first bridge you come to. Keep going down the [bayou or river] for about 7 more miles and the grocery store will be on the house-side of the road. Ya got that?” Though traveling and navigating in this part of Louisiana can be unusual, the residents who have built close-knit communities and an entire culture surrounding these waterways choose to stay, because as Millet says, “It’ll always be home.”
Celebrating Water // Bayou Festivals
by Jenna Orgeron, special sections editor Locals have not only formed careers and communities based on the numerous waterways of South Louisiana, but they have crafted entire festivals to celebrate the environment that supports their way of life. Festivals and celebrations like Paddle Bayou Lafourche, Tarpon Rodeo, Alligator Festival, Voice of the Wetlands and Thibodeauxville celebrate the southern waterways of Louisiana and help raise money to preserve and maintain the flowing foundation of the community. According to Mayor David Camardelle, an event like the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo brings around 12,000 tourists to the small town with a usual population of about 3,000. Camardelle says people travel from different states and countries to go out on the water, fish, relax, and enjoy “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Other festivals, like Voice of the Wetlands, encourage attendees to camp out in Louisiana’s wetlands to enjoy performances by local musicians while eating famous Cajun cuisine. Jana Anselmi, a yearly VOW attendee, says that the festival is one of her favorite events of the year. “It’s a free festival with great music and phenomenal food! The only catch is paying to eat, but I don’t mind giving my money to help my hometown,” she says. Another celebration, the Thibodeauxville Fall Festival, is held in the downtown streets of Thibodaux, a small city located along Bayou Lafourche. The day-long festival includes live music, a car show, and the beloved duck race in the bayou. “Thibodeauxville is a chance for local businesses and the community to join together and celebrate all of the things that make the city what it is, and that includes the bayou that runs through it,” says Derek Landry, owner of Last Call, one of the bars in Downtown Thibodaux. Previous Next
Talk Cajun to Me // “Water Speaking”
by Jenna Orgeron, special sections editor Some southern Louisiana natives still speak in their own language, which evolved from a combination of cultures influenced by their ancestors who first settled along the waterways in the bayou region. Edward Ledet, a fluent Cajun French speaker who was born and raised on Bayou Lafourche, says a large group of French immigrants, known as Acadians, traveled by water and boat from Northern Canada to the delta of the Mississippi River where they made a living from the water and wetlands of South Louisiana. Other nationalities populated the region as well, like Haitian, Vietnamese, and Native American. As a result of people from these different backgrounds migrating to this region to start a new life in the southern swamps and bayous, Cajun culture was born. These people who spoke different languages needed to work and communicate with one another on the water to make a living, so they named the waterways and created common water-related terms that helped them understand each other and the environment they were inhabiting. Linda Lafont, another bayou native and former French teacher of 33 years, recounts some of her earliest school memories of being forced to repeat sentences in English until she got them grammatically correct. “It would take me a few tries because I was literally translating every single word, from French to English,” Lafont says since she only spoke French with her relatives and neighbors and they never corrected her grammar. The dominant influence of French is because of the dominant influence of water. According to Lafont, “the French-speaking people who built business and homes along these waterways maintained their own little community in this region to keep their heritage alive.” Caitlin Orgeron, currently French teacher in the bayou region and Lafont’s former student, says “the combination of various languages and improper translation without grammatical correction” is what formed Cajun French. “But,” Orgeron continues, “the bayous, the communities that surround them and the deep appreciation for tradition is why it’s still spoken today.”
Let Me “Bayou” a Drink // Bar Hopping
by Jenna Orgeron, special sections editor Boat bar-hopping is just one of the unique activities that bayou region residents have discovered and mastered based on their surrounding environment. Seth Cheramie, a 24-year-old resident who was born and raised on the bayou said this is his favorite pastime on the weekends. “It’s something we’ve done since I was a kid and I’ve never seen it anywhere else,” he says. “There’s no place like the bayou.” Along some of the bayous near Gramercy, Louisiana, locals have established restaurants and bars, like Lagniappe’s and the Tiger Hut. These restaurants and bars provide a place to dock a watercraft while boaters can enjoy a bite to eat and a little something to drink. And of course, in Louisiana, that usually means an alcoholic drink. There may be questions as to how this is activity is even allowed, but partaking in the fun is completely legal according to Livingston Parish Officer Mark Erwin. “As long as participants have a designated sober driver for the watercraft and follow the laws enforced by the local water patrol, they’re good to go!” he says. According to the Livingston Parish Water Patrol, there are three main laws enforced by officers. All persons are wearing a properly fitting life jacket, with all belts buckled and zippers zipped (if any) Proper operation of watercraft For boats: a sober driver who is of age, has a certified Louisiana boating license For jet skis: a sober driver who is of age, has a certified Louisiana boating license, wearing operating lanyard securely on the wrist Up-to-date state-mandated motorboat registration sticker displayed on watercraft As for personal safety and responsibility of participants, boat bar-hopping is no different than its dry land equivalent. Any person who joins the party must be of age, drink responsibly and agree not operate a watercraft under the influence of alcohol. Whether on the road or on water, a DD is always a party essential, Erwin says. Boat bar-hopping is not a hobby that can be executed just anywhere. These Louisiana bayous serve as the foundation for numerous communities throughout the state. Cheramie, who boat bar-hops almost every weekend, says, “It’s amazing how something as simple as water connects everyone around here.”