Culture and Heritage

The Acadian and Cajun cultures span centuries reaching back from Louisiana and Canada into the western regions of France. Many individuals have contributed to the unique melange of our culture, by the way they live and carry our traditions forward.

The following individuals were recognized as Living Legends in the Culture and Heritage category.

*Asterisk after name indicates that the person is deceased.

Search returns 38 results.

Dr. Florent Hardy, Jr.

Historian, author, and former Louisiana State Archivist

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Ann* and Judy Riffel

Genealogy researchers and authors.

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Henry Peterson

Member and past president of the Lafayette Genealogical Society.

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Warren and Mary Perrin

Authors, historians, and promoters of Cajun culture, inducted by the Acadian Memorial into its Order of Living Legends

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Gayle Breaux Smith

Louisiane-Acadie board member and promoter of Cajun culture

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Elaine Larcade Bourque

Master spinner and weaver of Acadian brown cotton textiles

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Rogers and Charlotte Romero

Husband and wife, passionate about genealogy and attending French tables

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William Thibodeaux

A champion of French language, Cajun history, and culture.

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Mavis Fruge

Promoter and exemplar of intercultural exchange.

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Claude Boudreau

Organizer of tour groups in Canada and Louisiana.

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Richard Laurin

Founded his own Acadian cultural touring company.

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Gregory Wood

Documented the history of Acadians in Maryland.

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Richard Landry

Advancing our history and culture through performance and historic preservation.

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Jose Manuel de Molina Bautista

Helped create an awareness among Cajun with Spanish surnames that they indeed had Spanish roots.

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Dr. Barry Ancelet

Our best-known folklorist and poet, recipient of international awards.

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An asterisk (*) indicates the person is deceased.