CALENDAR OF PAST EVENTS - 2005
DECEMBER 2005
We did not have a meeting in December 2005.
NOVEMBER 12, 2005 - 1:00 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was Dr. Florent Hardy, Archivist for the State of Louisiana. Dr. Hardy spoke about the efforts undertaken to rescue and preserve records in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also reported that many states, and the national government have offered their assistance in this effort.
Also, the nominating committee presented their report on the expiring terms of office for the positions of Treasurer and Vice-President, along with three of the current board members. None of the individuals nominated were opposed, so they were all elected to their respective offices. They are as follows.
| Vice-President - John Hickey Treasurer - Vilora Bergeron Board of Directors - Chad LeBlanc |
OCTOBER 8, 2005 - 1:00 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our meeting consisted of President Catherine Prokop giving members an update on conditions in St. Bernard post Hurricane Katrina, and board member Vilora Bergeron presenting her committee report on the Society's current by-laws with suggested revisions. The revised by-laws were approved by a majority of members.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 - 1 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
DUE TO HURRICANE KATRINA OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING WAS CANCELLED
AUGUST 13, 2005 - 1 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was Dr. Arnulfo Ramirez, a member of our group, who spoke on how the Spanish language has changed from the time our ancestors arrived (1779) to present day. His talk was quite interesting and informative.
Following his presentation, President Catherine Prokop, spoke of the extensive teaching career of Dr. Ramirez in America and in Spain, his distinguished volume of his published works, and his being named to Knighthood by the reigning King Carlos II of Spain. For these reasons and for his constant support he was named as an Honorary Member of the Canary Islanders Heritage Society of LA.
Pres. C P, Dr. Arnulfo G. Ramirez holding his certificate of Knighthood, Christina, daughter, and Mrs. Maria Esther Ramirez (Photo by William Carmena)
AUGUST 9, 2005
The mayor of Ingenio, Gran Canaria, Spain and his wife Luisa Gonzalez visited Baton Rouge and were welcomed by our group.
Click here for pictures and details of their visit.
JULY 9, 2005 1 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was our board member, Mrs. Jean Nauman, who spoke about documents she found on a recent trip to the Canary Islands. These documents are from the mayors of the various villages that supplied recruits. She also spoke about the process required to translate these documents in order to find the best information. Her talk was quite informative and insightful.
JUNE 18, 2005 - 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
JEAN LAFITTE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND PRESERVE - EDUCATIONAL BUILDING
BARATARIA, LA
Our group put on a great presentation down in Barataria, and it was well attended. Several speakers presented various topics covering a great deal of information. President Catherine Prokop opened the meeting, greeted guests, and gave an outline of what the program would be consisting of. Lynn Gray sang the beautiful "Adios Canarios", a song about our people leaving the islands forever. Member Paul 'Skip' Newfield gave a presentation on the recruitment of the Islenos, followed by Vilora Bergeron and John Hickey who gave presentations on the Valenzuela and Galveztown settlements, respectively. Junior member Stacey Punch explained the Canary Islands flag, and its meanings. Mr. Bill Hyland spoke about San Bernardo and Terre Aux Boeufs, and the program was closed with Paul Newfield speaking again about Barataria. He read aloud the list of Islenos who resided in Barataria, a fitting tribute to those who endured the hard conditions in the very area we were gathered.
Also, the event was videotaped, and will be available in a couple of months on both DVD and VHS video. Stay tuned to our website for more details.
We have received lots of great responses on the event. Here are just a couple.
The program at Barataria yesterday was one of the best programs I have seen on Louisiana Canary Islander heritage. The whole CIHSLA group should be commended for the splendid program - it was well planned and executed. Barataria was the ideal place for it and the weather exemplified what our ancestors experienced - tell me you planned it that way! The participation by various members was especially nice and effective with each giving an experts view of the history, things, areas, places and people. The planned lunch was the icing on the cake so to speak. Although I was aware of much involved every subject held my attention and I learned a lot. I will not attempt to name the many people involved but please thank everyone for such an enjoyable and informative program. Thanks ever so much - it was well done!
I did find it sad that the Park Service has not added anything new to the display of Isleño heritage at the visitors center. Not even one thing from all the investigation of the Isleño houses, nor artifacts uncovered during the past 18 years. Even the small brochure they once gave out to visitors related to the Isleño Barataria post has been discontinued. The Canary Islander immigrants deserve more recognition!
Again thanks for all you and the many members of CIHSLA did for the wonderful Barataria program. Please keep up the good work you and others are doing.
Roquey
Want to express keen appreciation of the June 18th program, the location chosen for it, and the obvious enthusiasm of the presenters and attendees for the Los Islenos experience. Well done!It was a great pleasure to meet and speak to members of the group, with whom past contact has been mostly by e-mail.Best Regards,Fernando J. Estopinal III
JUNE 11, 2005 - 1 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was Mr. Al Robichaux, author and researcher, who presented us with a brief overview of the information already known about the Islenos, from the Villere and Din books, and spoke about his own research concerning not only the his Canarian ancestors, but German, French and Dutch as well. He also outlined the basic research books needed to get started on looking up your Canarian ancestry.
MAY 14, 2005 - 1 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was Mrs. Lorraine Moore from the Baton Rouge computer users group, Cajun Clickers. She spoke on how she codes information in her genealogical records, which helps her in displaying information and ordering names in indexes. Her presentation was quite interesting, showcasing how she has setup and organized her genealogy research electronically using her computer and specialized software.
Speaker Lorraine Moore, presenting her genealogical research records from her computer. (photo by Paul Newfield)
APRIL 9, 2005 - 1 P.M.
SAINT JOSEPH'S CHURCH HALL - CORNER OF 4TH AND MAIN DOWNTOWN
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was Mr. Sergio Ramos Lopez. Sergio lives in Santa Lucia, Gran Canaria and is currently in Baton Rouge teaching Spanish at Episcopal High School. He spoke to the group about growing up in the Canaries, and about life there today. He also spoke specifically about Santa Lucia, his hometown, which is very near Ingenio and Aguimes, two of the towns from which many of our ancestors migrated to Louisiana. Sergio was a very well spoken, and interesting speaker. Everyone in the group enjoyed his presentation and his stories of life from the islands.
President Catherine Prokop posing with speaker Sergio Ramos Lopez, as he indicates on the map of Gran Canaria where his hometown, Santa Lucia is located.
MARCH 21, 2005
On Monday, March 21st our group hosted the Canarian visitors from Arucas here in Baton Rouge. After a tour of Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the state capitol building, the visitors were treated to a luncheon at Casino Rouge in downtown Baton Rouge. Our guests were greeted by members of our society along with Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden, and City Councilman Darryl Ourso. Afterwards the visitors were taken on a tour of the Rural Life museum on Essen Lane before returning to St. Bernard.
 (L to R) - Baton Rouge city councilman Darryl Ourso, and Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden receive gifts of wine from the Canarian visitors. To the right you see President Catherine Prokop and Mr. Sergio Ramos Lopez. |
 (L to R) - Baton Rouge city councilman Darryl Ourso, President Catherine Prokop, Mr. Lopez, Mr. D. Guzman, Board Member Jean Nauman, and Mr. J. Guzman. |
 (L to R) - Councilman Ourso, Mayor Holden, President Catherine Prokop, Mr. Sergio Ramos Lopez. |
MARCH 19-20, 2005
LOS ISLEŇOS FIESTA 2005!!
1357 BAYOU ROAD, DUCROS-ISLENOS MUSEUM
ST. BERNARD, LOUISIANA
Click here to see pictures from the Fiesta!
MARCH 12, 2005 - 1 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was our webmaster, Chad LeBlanc. He spoke about the Society's website, internet usage, and fielded questions from members regarding these things. Members also got a look at new changes to the website which have just been implemented recently.
FEBRUARY 12, 2005 - 1 P.M.
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Our speaker was Mr. Barry Keim from the Southern Regional Climate Center at LSU. He spoke about the effects the Canary Islanders suffered coming from a hot and dry climate to a hot and wet climate by illustrating current trends in weather here in South Louisiana. His presentation was very interesting and informative.
JANUARY 8, 2005 - 1:00 P.M.
Please note that meetings are now on the 2nd Saturday of the month!
LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE
BATON ROUGE, LA
Vice-President John Hickey was our speaker. He discussed the composition of the regular Spanish Army in Louisiana in the years 1765 - 1785 and the detachment to other places from their regular Army units.
On a recent trip to the Canary Islands, members Bob and Jean Nauman visited the Regional Military Archives of Santa Cruz de Tenerife where they were presented with a gift to our Society from Colonel Juan Tous Meliá. Below is a picture of the gift, a reproduction of a hand written and drawn ancient map of the Canary Islands. The map is titled: Militar Y Politico De Las Islas De Canaria. Por Andres Amat De Tortosa, Ingeniero Militar, 1779. Of particular interest to our members is the date, 1779, which is the year our ancestors began arriving in the Spanish held Louisiana Territory. The map will be displayed during future presentations by members as we continue to tell the history of our Spanish beginnings to school children as well as adults throughout the region.
Catherine Prokop, President, (r.) accepts copy of ancient map of the Canary Islands from Jean Nauman (l). Map is a gift to our Sociey from Col. Juan Tous Meliá of the Regional Military Archives of Santa Cruz, Tenerife.
©2005 Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana