“Creole Origins: Cane River Diasporas, 1770-1830” exhibit opening reception

The Cane River National Heritage Area and University College London (UCL) is proud to announce the upcoming opening of the highly anticipated exhibition "Creole Origins: Cane River Diasporas, 1770–1830" presented for the first time at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. The exhibition offers an in-depth exploration of the Cane River Creole culture, chronicling key decades of migration, cultural development, and the lasting legacy of this vibrant community. Through this exceptional partnership, artifacts and historical records never before assembled together will help uncover the origins and evolution of Creole identity in Louisiana while delving into the broader cultural interactions between French, Spanish, African, and Native American groups, including the Caddo people, who inhabited the region long before European colonization. By examining the experiences of enslaved Africans and their descendants, such as Marie-Thérèse Coincoin, the exhibit sheds light on the evolution of landownership and cultural identity in the Cane River area.

The exhibition will be on display from Nov. 22, 2024, through March 15, 2026, with a grand opening celebration on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, from 6-8 PM. The community is invited to join for an evening of history, culture, and celebration as the exhibit is unveiled. The event will feature local artists and musicians demonstrating the cultural traditions of the region, and it is free and open to the public.

Visit the FLASH Facebook page or call 318-357-2492 for more information.