LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NUNGESSER HONORS FOLKLIFE TRADITION BEARERS
October declared the 7th annual Louisiana Folklife Month
BATON ROUGE, La. – Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has announced that October 2021 marks Louisiana’s seventh annual Folklife Month, a celebration of the state’s living traditions and the individuals who sustain them. Selected by local folklorists and other culture workers, nine tradition bearers will be honored at six events. The recipients share a record of continuing and exceptional accomplishment in perpetuating the state’s traditional cultures.
Folklife Month showcases diverse persons and groups from across the state, and often from overlooked cultural communities. The month-long program also increases appreciation for the vital role folklorists plays in sustaining Louisiana’s folkways.
“Folklife Month is a time for us to celebrate our traditions and honor our culture,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, emphasizing the importance of the initiative. “Each of our traditions traces back to our ancestors, and without that, we would not have the identity we have today. Those traditions continually serve as history lessons on the storied, and diverse, part of Louisiana. It’s important that we have tradition bearers who will carry the torch, and pass our state’s unique culture on to the next generation.” The following traditional bearers are 2021 Folklife Month honorees (information about each in the attached document):
- Steve Judice; Singer/Songwriter; Lafayette, LA
- Vance Vaucresson; Creole Sausage Making; New Orleans, LA
- Elvin Shields; Twisted Wire Sculpture; Natchitoches, LA
- The Broussard Sisters (Sandra Broussard Davis, Virginia Ballard, Tavian Seraile, and Vivian Edwards); Juré Singing; Frilot Cove, St. Landry Parish
- Stanley Masinter; Bagpipe Major; Baton Rouge. LA
- Terry Lapeyrouse; Shrimp Drying; Chauvin, LA
A project of the Louisiana Folklife Commission in collaboration with the Louisiana Folklore Society and numerous community partners, Louisiana Folklife Month is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, plans for some Louisiana Folklife Month events remain uncertain. For more information about Louisiana Folklife Month, and the effects it may have on events, please visit LouisianaFolklife.org.
For information about each traditional bearers are 2021 Folklife Month honorees, please click the below link:
