French diplomat visits Native American tribes in southern Terrebonne
NEWS

French diplomat pledges help to French-speaking communities in Terrebonne and Lafourche

Kezia Setyawan
The Courier

France's representative in Louisiana is forging ties with French-speaking communities in Terrebonne, Lafourche and the rest of the state. 

Consul General Nathalie Beras and her team visited Pointe-aux-Chenes and Isle de Jean Charles and met with leaders of French-speaking Native American tribes about two weeks ago. They call it a start to long-term collaborations with broader French-speaking communities in the area on projects to bolster the language, culture and environment. Meetings with other groups are being planned.

Beras said it was exciting be out of New Orleans and interact with people who speak French and want to pass it on to future generations. 

Outside the Pointe-au-Chien tribal building earlier this month are French Consulate Cultural Attaché Jacques Baran; Télé-Louisiane CEO Will McGrew; Tribe Second Chairperson Donald Dardar; tribal member Brenda Billiot, tribal Secretary Michelle Matherne, Pointe-au-Chien Council Member Earl Billiot, Consul General of France in Louisiana Nathalie Beras, tribal member Theresa Dardar Pointe-au-Chien Council Member Christine Verdin and tribal member Morgan Connor.

“Several hundred years ago, French people arrived here, and Louisiana was sold to Americans in 1803. So it was a long time ago, and we still share the culture and the language. Language is much more than only words, this is an identity,” Beras said.

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Also at the gathering were representatives of Télé-Louisiane, a multilingual media company dedicated to preserving French language and culture in Louisiana.

The group took a boat ride on waterways surrounding Isle de Jean Charles. The tour was led by Albert Naquin, traditional chief of the Isle de Jean Charles Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe; and Chuckie Verdin, first chairperson of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe. 

Consul General of France in Louisiana Nathalie Beras and others take a boat ride around Isle de Jean Charles earlier this month.

Beras said she learned how climate change, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion have rapidly changed the bayou environment and hopes to lend help in combating those struggles as well. 

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Beras said people are moved when they learn that these communities have fought to keep French language and culture alive. 

The New Orleans French Consulate is also invested in supporting French language programs in schools through groups such as the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, or CODOFIL. 

Cultural attaché Jacques Baran hopes local officials will see the worthwhile investment in establishing French language programs in schools. 

“The need is obviously there, and when a school hires a teacher through the CODOFIL program, their salary is partially funded by CODOFIL. This is really important as well because it really helps all the schools,” Baran said. 

Consul General of France in Louisiana Nathalie Beras (foreground, left) speaks with Pointe-au-Chien Tribal Council Member Christine Verdin and her daughter, Morgan Connor.

Télé-Louisiane CEO Will McGrew wants local officials to know that help is available for these French language programs. 

“France and other actors are there ready to help local school boards open schools if they want to,” McGrew said. 

McGrew is working with the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe as well to begin weekend French classes in the near future for local children. The New Orleans French Consulate and CODOFIL are supportive of the classes. Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribal Council Member Christine Verdin and other tribal members have backgrounds in education to help advance those efforts.