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.
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
South to Louisiana
ÒChez Dennis MageeÓ Beausoleil; ÒHey JolieÓ Vinn Bruce; Balfa Brothers; ÒEverything to MeÓ Roddy Romero; ÒTwo-step OrleansÓ Paul Daigle; HaydŽe Lafaye interviews Boozoo Chavis about La-La dances; ÒSuzie QÓ Boozoo Chavis; Interview with Chavis; ÒJolie CatinÓ Boozoo Chavis; underwriting information
South to Louisiana
Host: Michael Doucet; ÒBosco StompÓ Belton Richard; ÓLaissez-FaireÓ Bruce Dadigrepont; ÒBow Legged WomanÓ C. J. Chenier; ÒKeep on RunninÕÓ Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas; ÒHeart on FireÓ Zachary Richard; Zachary Richard speaks about his musical influences; learning Cajun music; ÒOh MadelineÓ Zachary Richard; learning Cajun music in Canada; his style; ÒWho Stole my MonkeyÓ Zachary Richard; underwriting information
South to Louisiana
ÒValse AcadienÓ David and Michael Doucet; ÒI Love My Saturday NightÓ Jim Olivier; ÒSpit in the AirÓ Paul Dugas; ÒQuoi Faire?Ó FilŽ Cajun Band; HaydŽe Lafaye interview Lionel Robin of RobinÕs Restaurant in Henderson; ÒGood for the GooseÓ Chubby Carrier; ÒMa NanetteÓ Zachary Richard; Richard descibes his music; ÒCome on SheilaÓ Zachary Richard; underwriting information
South to Louisiana
Host: Michael Doucet; ÒLes Flames DÕEnferÓ Wayne Toups; ÒRide ÔEm CowboyÓ Blind John Hart & Clifton Chenier; ÒHound Dog RollÓ Jude Taylor and the Hollywood Flames; ÒBayou BoyÓ Evangeline; What is a Cajun?; ÒGrand MamouÓ & ÒLouisiana ManÓ Waylon Thibodeaux; Thibodeaux talks about the Cajun life; ÒAllons Faire Vie EnsembleÓ Waylon Thibodeaux
South to Louisiana
ÒLa Danse de la VieÓ Beausoleil; ÒUn Deuxieme ChanseÓ Helene Boudreaux & Pete Bergeron; Michael Doucet; HaydŽe Lafaye interviews Chef Alex Patout about Rabbit Sauce Piquante; ÒBig MamouÓ Waylon Thibodeaux; Thibodeaux on playing the fiddle; ÒJolie BlondÓ Waylon Thibodeaux; changes in musical style; ÒJambalayaÓ Waylon Thibodeaux; underwriting information
South to Louisiana
Host: Michael Doucet; ÒÕTit Galop pour MamouÓ Balfa Brothers; ÒTonightÕs The NightÓ Zydeco Hurricanes; ÒAmadŽ Two StepÓ Jo-el Sonnier; ÒAlligator ManÓ Jimmy C. Newman; ÒBetween Eunice and OpelousasÓ Steve Riley; Steve Riley talks about traditional music; ÒWayne Perry MedleyÓ Steve Riely; Mamou Mardi Gras; ÒMamou Hot StepÓ Steve Riley; HaydŽe Lafaye interviews Chef Kerry Boutte about Mulates; underwriting information