Center for Louisiana Studies Archival Catalog
This searchable database provides information on images, documents, and audio and video recordings, made between 1934 and the present.
Interview with Louis Blum
Octa Clark Live at Mulates in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana - Tape 2
4 track 1/4"
Tape Speed 15 IP
Engineer Perry J. Serrette
Multitracks are as follows:
Track 1 - Vocals
Track 2 - Bass Guitar and Drums
Track 3 - Fiddle
Track 4 - Accordion
00:15 - Grand Mamou;
04:50 - La porte d'en arrière;
09:40 - Chère Meon;
14:04 - Colinda;
18:30 - La valse de chagrin;
23:01 - Back of Town Two-step;
Edison Dardar interview part 1
HDV film Interview with Edison Dardar
Discussion of yard art display of bottles and objects found from dredging oysters
Working on the water from age 10 with father
Tonging oysters
Dardar, Naquin, Chassions on the Island
The road through the island was mud, then shell, then asphalt
Moving off the Island- no body wants to move- who would want to move?
Some plans to move to back of Bayou Blue in swamp
If people move off Island, they'll sell it to rich people for camps, since people didn't move, they had to fix the road
Cocodrie was homes before camps were built
Young people get married and move off the Island- closer to work- can retreat to kids house for storms
Most Island residents older now
Moving off Island- why not let each resident choose where to go
Meeting about moving- no one wants to- politicians got involved
Grew up speaking French- describes himself as Frenchman- when young, only spoke French- now they teach kids English because it is easier for school
Tells local mothers to teach French- but I didn't teach too much French- they understand it but don't speak it
Edison Dardar interview part 2
HDV film Interview with Edison Dardar part 2
French speakers
Canadian reporter made a story in French- different French
Wire muskrat and handmade wood nutria pelt stretchers
Made nutria board because hurricane took old ones
Muskrat trapping at age 10-14- trap behind house- plenty muskrat
Nutria, raccoon, opossums- ate raccoon
Made crab traps
Oyster dredge- pull behind boat- half sack every 15 minutes if you pull fast
Bottles on sign for sale
Driftwood found me- left by hurricane
Head shaped rock- pulled up in dredge-plans to decorate like a face
Plastic shaped like a horse- likes to pick up junk
Popier- net on frame- when current is strong, it fills with shrimp- fun when there are shrimp to fill it
Old well in yard- long time ago- no good anymore- living in house 42 years
Old house had well- 10 feet to water
Sign across street by Edison and son- everyday outside people come and say the Island is disappearing- it they don't like it, stay away. They think that if they say the Island is going away, we'll feel bad about it and leave- but we know better than that the Island is disappear by the minute. Those people want the Island for themselves. Maybe you (Sharp) are one of them.
"Everyday. Everyday man. '... on the Island, the poor people suffering there.' We don't suffer- we like to live on the Island."
Cats posing for pictures- feeding cats- cat family lineage talk
"Those aren't my cats, no- they just live here"
Had little store beside house - Captain T-Son's- also name of boats- nickname since young
Oyster captain all his life
Locals got together to build houses- hold up better than new
Married in 1968
Hurricane Camille moved his house 300 feet- house movers brought it back with a truck- $1300
Hurricane Andrew moved his house to middle of road- pushed it back off road- then built this new one
New house rotting already- 16 years old with rotten corners and deck- junk wood
House now 11 feet 11 inches high- doesn't want to go higher than that- old foundation
Pilings from lake
Visual of sign text "Island is not for sale- If you don't like the Island stay off- Don't give up fight for your rights- it's worth saving. Edison Dardar Jr."
Louby J. Ledet interview
HDV film Interview with Louby J. Ledet
Interview filmed while fishing in Bayou- caught redfish and trout (didn't want them to be filmed)
Eighty six years old
Coming to Isle de Jean Charles his whole life
Point Farm- Salt Coast(?) farmed sugar cane on ridge- sold to State- now Wildlife preserve area
Hogs, deer, muskrat, nutria, raccoons, mink, opossums
Trap when I was a young boy behind my house- mostly fished
redfish, speckled trout, black drum right here in bayou- I don't eat the salt catfish
Lives on family land- Laise Ledet (sister) taught in Chauvin for Archdiocese had Masters in French Education- wrote a book ("They Came, They Stayed") on Point Aux Chene ancestry.
Had to push pole to get to Island from Point Farm ridge to here- down this natural bayou- was fresh- salt water enters through pipelines now
People walked all over the Island before, main way to Point aux Chene through Canal- another canal through where trappers would run
Cocahoe minnows- "larsch" in French
Failed first grade- teachers spoke English- passed second time- completed ninth grade at Terrebonne High- WW2- 17 years old in September- no recruiting station in Houma, so went to Houma. They want them to join as Marines, three agreed to join together, Ledet joined Navy as apprentice Seaman. 3 months Great Lakes, Illinois for basic. Farthest from home ever been. After 4 years enlisted, he ended as First Class Boatswain's Mate. Finished high school after war, got diploma.
20 years with Texaco- built house right after started working there. Not big house- but doors and a roof.
19 inches of water on Island Road for hurricanes- coast to complete road might be $3 million
Canal that follows Island on East side dug to shore up the land, but left it open
Canal ahead of him in pipeline dug to tie into the main in LaFourche- but left open. His opinion is that it should have bene backfilled for the marsh to grow back. Island residents enjoy the canal but it leaves it open to the lakes- so when storm surges happen, the water goes over the Island
This area once had farms- raised great watermelons- now can only raise fish
Casse Banan- fruit is two feet long, four or five inches in diameter, grows on vines- cousin might grow- might be called "Brazil" in Cajun French
Went to traiteurs as kid for stomach ache- thinks mostly mental- don't believe that much any more- too many doctors
Youngest son moved to Ohio- gave boat to him- built camp at Lake Felicity on East side with brother in laws- spent more time there than at home- wife didn't like much because she couldn't swim
Rev. Roch R. Naquin interview part one
HDV film Interview with Rev. Roch R. Naquin part one
Conducted at his home, Isle de Jean Charles
Born and raised on Isle de Jean Charles- home place about 100 feet away from current location- shows picture
Six children, three boys and three girls, Roch fourth September 25, 1932 2 AM Sunday morning
Photo of parents 1976 at 50th wedding anniversary
All siblings married- all lived close- all deceased except Roch and oldest brother
School didn't provide education for Native Americans after 7th grade but need to graduate 8th grade for seminary- refused to get 8th grade books
St. Joseph seminary in Covington, then served in Little Rock, Arkansas, Chalmette, Thibodaux, Theriot, Dulac, retired 1997 and moved back home repaired parents house
In the past, people farmed corn, peas, sugar cane, you couldn't see the water, in 1940s some horses were given to help with farming- enough to transport by boat and sell. Annual flooding helped rebuild soil- watermelons and cantaloupes and vegetables- Mississippi River levees closed off the fresh water supply- salt water intrusion occurred and destroyed trees and eating at marshes. Oil canals is like a highway- allows traffic and salt water.
Once upon a time, this area didn't flood. Nutria invaded and eat roots. So hurricanes came and washed things away.
Indian school in chapel at end of Point aux Chene- built late 1930s. Went by boat/pirogue for school and church. 5 miles paddle each way. Wind, weather, cold. In mid 1940s, hired father to take kids by 20 foot boat- then a bigger covered boat. Old fly wheel motor.
School segregated- bussed Indians out to Point aux Chene- Jeanette LeBouef from Montegut was teacher.
Two stores at Point aux Chenes- Nelo Hebert where marina is now, Artoine Naquin store and dance hall opened as school house. Air-cool engine on huge pirogue to get LeBouef to teach on Island.
Dropped out in 7th grade to work on oyster boat in LaFourche area- local priest helped him get a place with Lege family in Thibodeaux. Took 7th grade again and then 8th grade. Seminary in Covington was tough - finished 1956. Ordained June 2, 1962.
Parents lived on Island whole life- Victor Naquin was Chief- had six children by two wives- house by foot bridge across Bayou- called it the White House- grocery store on road side- Father born 1898- went to French school, learned to write and read French. Mother had 8 siblings- lived in camp boats on Lake- house by marina- never learned English. Father older- Mother rode by boat to church in Montegut - prayed to have a priest son- married young (Mom 12 or 13)- lived in house boat called "the Frog". Dad worked at Delta Farm with sugarcane. Mom caught a piece of lumber floating and saved it to built their house.
Clement Naquin was great uncle- had store and a boat to buy catch to resell- got grocery by boat from Lapeyrouse. Had telephone line on Island- son had store and dancehall - from all over- violin, accordion- people came from all over.
Father was fisherman- owned 40 acres of oyster beds- moved oysters - sold for $1.25 small sacks at Montegut. Fished a trot line ("pallunk"). Fished crabs as well.
Delta Farms at La Rose- suger cane
Father who was Chief always said they were not Houma, but Choctaw. Biloxi Chitimacha Conderation of Muskogees
Lost Indian dialect through intermarriage. Old style French was preserved through a French teacher. Thinks French still dominant language. Being punished for speaking French at school. French spoken at home- English at school.
Denecia Billiot and her sister in law Marilyn make things out of moss and baskets.
Canal dug in 1940s- road should have been put on natural ridge- but road was aimed to Southern part of Point aux Chene for store, shrimp plant, and dance hall there. Road work started in 1951- first car crossed in 1953 or 54 on gravel road. Traffic caused sinking. Oyster fishing in 1970s and 80s was big business here- 18 wheelers damaged road. Flooding started soon after.
Natural canal had thick marsh on both sides- erosion came from canal widening.
Rev. Roch R. Naquin interview part two
HDV film Interview with Rev. Roch Naquin part two
Filmed at his home on Isle de Jean Charles
Island Road flooding story to go celebrate Mass- wind and waves
Population dropped- 80 families at one time- each hurricanes made a few relocate- 25 or so homes now
Road in disrepair causes problems- two cars meeting- school buses don't run to Island anymore, meet at boat launch instead,
people miss work and school, need to plan with tides, disrupts business at marina
Houses need to be at a certain height to get electricity- won't power trailers on ground
Cemetery at cross - last burial circa 1949- plaque near cross states around 50 buried there
Trying to get bridge built- waiting on ok from kids- pays children of land owner to keep grass cut
BP- wanted to do ground searching radar, but kids stopped
Island owned by families- Narcisse Naquin had big tract of land above cemetery towards Point aux Chene- created out of it
Island is home- disaster is everywhere- no one safe- hurricanes give warning and chance to escape if road is maintained
People scatter for storms- flooding is bad- if you stay, you're stuck. Gustav damaged house- $45,000 of repairs.
Discussion of levees built in "V" shape at Point aux Chene and Morganza to Gulf- they hold water and break
Water Control Structure- Ducks Unlimited and Wildlife- levee pushes water across road and Island
You could walk to Montegut from Isle de Jean Charles- eight miles- later they could pirogue, walk and ride on sugar cane trucks
Road rebuilt and raised several times- raised almost four feet once- lack of protection from waves aids erosion
First oil rig- dug canal from Terrebonne- produced for years. Others not so good- little money to close by property owners.
Main line to Coteau
Most Island residents worked tug boats and fished, now oil related industries, shipyards
Worked 1954 oil rig in Lake Barre
Oil moratorium in Louisiana- President Obama insensitive to concerns
Two local council members voted against Island Road improvements- FEMA money- Parish roadway, parish responsibility
Encouraged to talk to Wencelas Billiot- Tug boat captain, great memory, GED after many years away, wife Denecia Billiot
Respect for environment and home - parts of Island trashed
Future concerns for livelihoods, homes, short term work for BP- new cars
Plants as medicine, few trips to doctor, Tulane sent students to research native medicine, talked to Mother (Adorena Naquin)- she didn't speak English, they didn't speak French- she took them all over the Island and woods showing them plants- they wrote the French names phonetically - possible use of research
Childhood games- make rings under trees
Audio of looking through pictures
Wenceslaus and Denecia Billiot interview part one
HDV film Interview with Wenceslaus and Denecia Billiot interview part one
Served in Philippines during World War 2- 1945
Named after King Wenceslaus of Czechoslovakia
Married 63 years- December 23, 1947
Known each other all their lives- born and raised on Island
At 17- went to work at fish market in Baton Rouge- came back before 18
Lot of land in Baton Rouge- not like the Island
Island changed over the years- lots of trees, people trapped
1955 or 1956 Hurricane started major land change- each storm took some land
Levee in back of house helps, but it still floods
Grandmother had garden where it is water now- planted rice,
Horses, cattle, chickens
People moved since road getting bad- storms messed up houses
Try to stay as long as possible (died 2018)
Road repair start soon (2010)- completed (?)- road health will depend on weather
Early memories- walk in woods, climb trees
Wenceslaus and Denecia Billiot interview part two
HDV film Interview with Wenceslaus and Denecia Billiot interview part two
Listing past Island residents: Joe Dardar, Bernard Naquin, Inez Dardar, Loren Naquin Dardar, Edis Naquin, Olieus Dardar, Victor, Clement, Frances, Antoinne, Vitar, Manuel, Joe Naquin, Leo, Alfred... maybe 20 houses- now 35 or 40
Hurricanes make people leave- damage houses- destroyed houses on the road side of the bayou
No pirogue anymore, so they need the road- camp owners will still come by boat
In old days, they took people out to Montegut, but now it floods
Last hurricane evacuated to Schriever- 13 feet above sea level- daughter in law worried about flood there- funny
Trees on road from hurricanes in Mississippi
Point aux Chenes in Mississippi- below Ocean Springs- hurricane destroyed houses
Tugboat Captain 20 years- moved rigs, boats, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama
Well on Island- near house- dried up- $20 every few months
Pipelines from gas by head of road for houses- turn off for hurricanes, then back on after
Drilling offshore- inshore drilling got slow- oil too deep- several new wells around Little Calliou- now drilling inshore- deep
Harvey Pelltier, Texaco man- moved big rigs
Timbalier Island- messed it up, dug canals at middle of Island- now washing out sand and disappearing
Dug canal across Jean Charles Bayou for well- shut down well- canal getting bigger now
Oil companies own the land around- Island now only 14 acres wide
Grandson in the Mediterranean Sea doing oil work- in Egypt
Fishing in area- crab, shrimp, fish, sold crabs 15 and 25 cents a bushel- now 5 crabs for $6- 25 & 35 cents a bushel for oysters- now $25-30 a bushel.
$15 a day for fishing back then
Trolling for shrimp- $30 a barrel Grand Isle 12-15 count 1940s- pulled nets by hand
Some made nets by hand- bought in Bayou LaFourche- now some nets outlawed- trammel
Red fish, speckle trout, drum, sheepshead, mullet, and croaker
Weaving- baskets, hats, palmetto- made to sell at pow wows- Denecia learned from her Mother
Wenceslaus dances- gourd dance by people in military at pow wow- only local meetings now
Hope Island residents stick together and stay on the island- Houma and Biloxi Chitimacha
Plans to make people move are backed by people who want to make big camps- move Island residents to a place they don't want to go- not Parish government trying to move them- contractors and land developers trying- Army Corps of Engineers involved with last effort- suggested move to Bourg and Little Calliou area- into area that floods and is swampy
Houses around Robinson Canal area before the camps- regular working people
Built boats- one in Mississippi, one in Point aux Chenes
Built boats designed in his mind- built three. wood expensive now- used to be .25 a foot
1947 bought cypress in LaRose- 35 feet long and 10 feet wide
Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac
Quicktime file from GoPro cameraDrive through of Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac September 1, 2012
Point aux Chenes to Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac
Quicktime file from GoPro cameraDrive through of Point auc Chenes to Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac September 1, 2012
Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac part 2
Quicktime file from GoPro cameraSecond drive through of Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac September 1, 2012
Interview with Aristile Carmon
Interview with Edmund Gudd
Interview with Clifford Frilote
South to Louisiana
Chanson de Mardi Gras - Beausoleil;
One Scotch. One Bourbon, One Beer - Aldus Roger;
Doucet explains Mardi Gras;
Zydeco Mardi Gras - Boozoo Chavis;
Chanson de Mardi Gras - Mark Savoy;
Doucet on crickets;
Chanson de Mardi Gras - Balfa Brothers;
Mardi Gras Jig - Aldus Roger;
underwriting information
South to Louisiana
Host: Michael Doucet; ÒSweet JoleneÓ Wayne Toupes; ÒJambalayaÓ Waylon Thibodeaux; ÒLoverÕs WaltzÓ Steve Riley; Doucet defines Cajun and Zydeco music; ÒColindaÓ RockinÕ Doopsie; ÒHuckabuckÓ Beau Joque; ÒZydeco BugalooÓ Fernest Arceneaux; ÒMatildaÓ Cookie and the Cupcakes; HaydŽe Lafaye interviews Chef Enola Prudhomme about seafood gumbo; underwriting information
South to Louisiana
ÒTasso/ MageeÕs ReelÓ Beausoleil; ÒBon Temps LouisianaÓ Evangeline; ÒLouisiana BluesÓ Jo-el Sonnier; ÒZydeco Cha ChaÓ Clifton Chenier; Interview with Terry Huval of Jambalaya; ÒHuvalÕs ReelÓ; Huval on songwriting; ÒOh Ma BelleÓ Jambalaya Cajun Band; Huval on the band; live recording of Jambalaya from the Liberty Theatre in Eunice; Underwriting information
South to Louisiana
Host: Michael Doucet; ÒBayou Pon PonÓ Basin Brothers; ÒWeekend SpecialÓ Cajun PickinÕ with Belton Richard; ÒLouisiana ManÓ Rusty and Doug Kershaw; ÒLes Tit Yeux NoirÓ Jambalaya Cajun Band; Doucet on ÒCreoleÓ; ÒDog HillÓ Boozoo Chavis; HaydŽe Lafaye interviews Chavis at his ranch, Dog Hill; ÒZydeco Hee-HawÓ Boozoo Chavis; ÒMa NanetteÓ Zachary Richard; HaydŽe Lafaye interviews Joann Clevenger of Upperline Restaurant; underwriting information