Calendar of Events

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009

Members gathered for a holiday celebration to ring in the Christmas season.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009 - 11:00 AM

LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE

BATON ROUGE, LA

At our November meeting, we held our annual elections. The election results are posted below, indicating the new officers and board for our Society.

Vice President - Alisa Janney
Treasurer - Steve Estopinal
Board Member - Rogers Serpas
Board Member - Layne Lindsley

Also, Joan Aleman presented an update on upcoming meetings for 2010, and gave us a preview of some excited activities planned for next year.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009 - 11:00 AM

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY - BLUEBONNET BRANCH

9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge (between Highland Rd. and Perkins Rd.)

Our October meeting consisted of a genealogy workshop, where members gathered together to go over family charts and assist each other with researching names. Many of our more seasoned members shared tips on how and where to find important information for research.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 - 11:00 AM

LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE

BATON ROUGE, LA

The speaker at the September 12, 2009 meeting of the Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana was Desiree Aguado, a native of the Canary Island of Tenerife. Her talk focused on the Island of Tenerife and her home village.

Her talk was very interesting, featuring lots of pictures of her home, and really conveyed a feeling of being there. The meeting was well attended, and Desiree did a great job with her presentation.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 - 11:00 AM

LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM - 660 N. 4TH ST. - DOWNTOWN

BATON ROUGE, LA

Our speaker was Mr. John C. Sykes III, the Education Manager for the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. Mr. Sykes shared his knowledge of the rich history of Spanish Town. Some of the Canary Islanders who came to Louisiana in the late 18th century were originally settled at Galveztown along Bayou Manchac. A number of these families were later relocated to Spanish Town. Surnames of some of the original grantees of Spanish Town lots are: Cazas, Pereyra, Pino, Rodriquez, Collado, Quintana, Diaz, Tilano, Marcos, Bockseh, Rivas, Lesassier, Losada, Guedry, Solano, Gacio, Masias, Sanchez, Cruzat and Estevan. Following his talk, he led everyone on a walking tour of the Spanish Town area.

Mr. Sykes opening the meeting

Mr. John Sykes, giving his multimedia presentation to the group.

The historical marker indicating the area of Spanish Town

Meeting attendees taking a walking tour of historic Spanish Town, led by Mr. Sykes

*All photos by Marie Estopinal

SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009 - 11:00 AM

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH LIBRARY - BLUEBONNET BRANCH

9200 Bluebonnet Blvd. (Between Perkins Rd. and Highland Rd.)

Taylor Fernandez and Alisa Ramirez Janney, members of the Canary Islands Heritage Society of Louisiana, gave a presentation about the Canary Islanders who settled in the Spanish Colonial Settlement of Valenzuela located on Bayou Lafourche near the site of Belle Alliance Plantation in Ascension Parish, Louisiana in the late 1700s. The meeting was very well attended, and Taylor and Alisa delivered a great presentation.

Member Taylor Fernandez speaking to members at the meeting

Member Alisa Janney giving the talk on Valenzuela to the members at the July meeting.
All photos by Marie Estopinal

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2009 - 2:00 PM

ASSUMPTION PARISH LIBRARY

MAIN BRANCH - NAPOLEONVILLE, LA

The library is located at the corner of Napoleon St. and LA Hwy 308.

Past President Chad LeBlanc gave his presentation on the Canary Islanders to folks in the Napoleonville area. The event was very well attended and several new members joined the society. The interest of the people in that area to learn more in regards to their heritage is clearly evident and the society plans to continue to work to promote our heritage to the area.

Past President Chad LeBlanc going over genealogy information with member Gerard Corbo. Photo by Marie Estopinal

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2009

BATON ROUGE, LA

Members gathered at the home of Alisa and Bill Janney to observe "Dia de la Cruz" or Day of the Cross, which is celebrated on all seven of the Canary Islands in early May. Members took turns placing fresh cut spring flowers in several small crosses. This was a great event where members were able to participate in an activity that our ancestors and fellow Canarians in the islands celebrate. These type of events help us to preserve our cultural traditions.

Top Row (L to R) - Layne Lindsley, Alisa Janney, Taylor Fernandez, Chad LeBlanc
Bottom Row (L to R) - Carol Fernandez, Marie Estopinal, Rogers Serpas, Sergio Ramos

The group who attended the meeting, with the crosses adorned with fresh flowers.

Photos by Marie Estopinal

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2009

LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE

BATON ROUGE, LA

Unfortunately our original planned speaker, Jean Hodgeson Nauman was unable to attend our meeting. However, she does plan to still deliver to us her prepared talk at a later date.

At our April meeting, President Rose Marie Powell gave the society a report of the Fiesta held late March in St. Bernard. She described the event as a huge success and showed us the many great gifts that we were given by the visiting Canarians. She also mentioned how well attended our genealogy exhibit was and how appreciative the St. Bernard society is of our continued support of the Fiesta.

Our speaker for the day was Joan Alemán whose talk, “Old Settlers of Pierre Part with Canario surnames”, included historical background of Pierre Part and information about the Alemán, Cavallero, and Perera families. Joan spoke briefly about the celebration of Dia de la Cruz in Canary Islands, Spain, Latin American Countries, and the United States. Joan brought recipes of traditional Canary Island dishes and encouraged members to prepare a traditional dish for the May gathering.

President Rose Marie Powell displaying the flag of the Canary Islands given to us at the Fiesta

Members displaying flags of Aguimes and Gran Canaria given to us by visitors from the Canaries at the Fiesta.

Pottery given to us at the Fiesta from the visitors.

Member Joan Alemán giving her presentation.

All photos by Marie Estopinal.

MARCH 21,22, 2009

ISLENOS FIESTA!

ST. BERNARD, LA

The 2009 Fiesta was a great event, featuring two days of great food, fun and music. Coros y Danzas de Ingenio performed both days and truly brought the spirit of the Canaries and our people home to Louisiana. Our society had a genealogy based booth which got lots of traffic and served to spread our message throughout the community of visitors.

To see pictures from the Fiesta, click here.

FEBRUARY 14, 2009 - 11:00 AM

LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE

BATON ROUGE, LA

The island of Gran Canaria was the topic at our February meeting. Speakers were Sergio Ramos and Paul Newfield.

Mr. Newfield, a genealogical researcher, discussed families who sailed to Louisiana from the islands, specifically those who sailed aboard the polacre ship La Victoria. Treasurer Sergio Ramos gave a great presentation on his native land of Gran Canaria, speaking about the geography, etymology, and history, as well as political situations, festivals and places of interest there.

Mr. William Hyland was also in attendance, visiting us from St. Bernard. He gave us an update on the progress of the Islenos Museum, which has been in the rebuilding stages ever since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

We were honored to have a very special visitor, the Consul General of Spain in New Orleans, the Honorable Daniel Chamorro Garcia. He expressed his pleasure and gratitude in visiting us and our Society, and pledged to help us in our work in any way that he can. We greatly appreciate his visit and his gracious hospitality.

The Honorable Daniel Chamorro Garcia address our meeting.

Mr. William Hyland speaks to the group, updating us on things in the St. Bernard area.

Treasurer Sergio Ramos giving his presentation on Gran Canaria.

Member Paul Newfield presenting information on families from Gran Canaria who sailed to Louisiana.

*All photos by Marie Estopinal

JANUARY 10, 2009 - 11:00 AM

LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING, ESSEN LANE

BATON ROUGE, LA

At Our January meeting, Past President Chad LeBlanc presented the 2008 annual report, then swore in the new President and Secretary to the Society. Our presentation was on the celebration of King's Day, given by Sergio Ramos and Joan Aleman.

Past President Chad LeBlanc swearing in new officers, Rose Marie Powell, President, and Carol Fernandez, Secretary (l to r)

Newly installed President Rose Marie Powell addresses the group.

Treasurer Sergio Ramos speaking about the celebration of King's Day in the Canary Islands.

Joan Aleman speaking on how King's Day is celebrated throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

Traditional King's Cake that is served in the Canary Islands, prepared by Joan Aleman

*All photos by Marie Estopinal

Please note that visitors to the Archives are required to show photo ID and sign in.