Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana
An organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the culture of the Canary Islanders descendants in Louisiana, with a focus on the 18th century settlements of Valenzuela and Galveztown
WELCOME
Welcome to the website of the Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana, a cultural, historical, and genealogical society dedicated to promoting the history and heritage of our ancestry of the Canary Islands, with emphasis on those who lived at the settlement of Galveztown and Valenzuela in south Louisiana. Over twenty years ago, our society was formed to preserve and promote the culture of our Isleño ancestors who came to Louisiana in the late 18th century in search of a better life. We also promote cultural exchanges between Louisiana and the Canaries.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
CIHSL Summer Meeting
August 2, 2025 - Thibodaux, Louisiana
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For our summer 2025 meeting, we will be joining the Lafourche Heritage Society in Thibodaux for their 47th annual seminar. Society President Chad LeBlanc will be delivering a presentation on the families of Pierre Part and Belle River which includes many isleño descendants. It will be held at the Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center at 726 N. Acadia Rd (5th floor). The cost of the seminar is $40 per person which includes lunch. Click on the link below to register - https://lafourcheheritagesociety.com/?page_id=32
Deadline to register is July 26, 2025.
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To visit our previously recorded Zoom meetings, click here for our YouTube page.
"2025 Los Isleños Fiesta"
March 16, 2025
The 48th annual Los Isleños Fiesta was held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in St. Bernard. Unfortunately, the fiesta events scheduled on Saturday, March 15 had to be cancelled due to weather.
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The folkloric group Achimencey del Sur, Santa Lucia de Tirajana, Gran Canaria preformed at the event and it was a great success.
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The 2026 Fiesta is set for March 7-8, 2026. More info can be found at the link below.
CIHSL Spring 2025 Meeting
May 10, 2025
The spring quarterly meeting of the society was held on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Bluebonnet Library in Baton Rouge.
We celebrated the traditional Isleños festival "Dia de la Cruz", where crosses are decorated to commemorate our ancestors. Members brought supplies and decorated their crosses. Some will be placed on their ancestors' graves.
Pictured (L to R) - Gloria Toth, Alisa Janney, Marie Estopinal, Darlene Soule.