Louisiana Heritage Connection

Louisiana Heritage Connection
A Source of Creole Ancestral History, Personal Stories, News, Events and More!
Creole Unity Now and Forever

The goal of Louisiana Heritage Connection (LHC) is to
preserve past, present, and future history of our Creole
heritage. The LHC website and newsletter will be a
connection and a source of personal stories, personal
contacts, news, events, and more.
LHC will also assist subscribers in the basics of genealogy
information and the basic "how to" begin tracing your
family tree.
Our motto is: Creole Unity Now and Forever

Our monthly newsletter will include a summary of noteworthy news, ancestral history through personal
stories, family trees, and researching tips. We will be focusing on Louisiana residents and Louisiana
natives of all nationalities with an emphasis on those of Creole, French, Spanish, African, Native
American, and European descent. It is our goal to maintain a connection to our people nation-wide.

Momma gave me the foundation of spiritual guidance, love, love of family, love of self, love of friends,
love of people, and to be proud of who you are as a Creole, and always remember your heritage..."be
proud of it all." She also taught me that with all the different mixtures and cultures in our family that no
one should be allowed to label us at just... 'the one drop theory." I clearly remember a question I asked
her when I was about to graduate from Corpus Christi elementary school. I asked "Momma why was I
chosen to attend a white high school where there would only be a few of us attending?" She explained
it had something to do with integrating different people into that school. It was then that I said to
her..."Momma I don't want to go there for high school." She replied, "okay then it is settled Momma will
register you at Xavier Prep", and so she did.

I am very proud of my heritage and because of my grandmother's teachings, she made me appreciate
even more that my ancestry was very important...and that is why, along with my husband, Eugene, I am
at this point today...LHC!

Cynthia M. LaCour-Smith
Eugene B. Smith
Founders
Louisiana Heritage Connection

Louisiana Creoles and our culture have existed for over 300 years. Our goal and the
goal of our people are to continue our culture and heritage forever. We need to
continue to educate the world to our existence and fight for our place in the history
books, not as African Americans, nor white, but as Creoles.

In Louisiana, as a French and Spanish colony (1682-1802), a Creole was referred to as
people of any race or mixture who were descendants from settlers of colonial French
Louisiana and who were born in the colony as opposed to France, prior to 1803.

During that course of Louisiana Creole history, our ancestors worked hard to provide for
their families. They provided a foundation, a life style, a religion, a culture, a language,
education, independence and the commitment to family. Our forefathers were leaders in
business, agriculture, politics and the arts, as well as plantations owners and slave
holders. They were proud of their Creole heritage, their culture and their self-
sufficiency. The Creole culture has been passed down from generation to generation
with pride. I distinctly remember being told by my grand parents and great grand parents
never let anyone label you…know who you are, be proud of who you are and where you
and your ancestors came from.

Creoles of Louisiana are people of mixed French, Spanish, African, and Native American
ancestry including, but not limited to, Chinese, Russian, German, and Italian. As
Creoles, our culture and history has continued to grow and it is important for us to stand
strong, as our forefathers did and fight in unity for our cultural heritage and continue to
grow strong world-wide.

The bond amongst Louisiana Creoles today is getting stronger and stronger nationwide.
It is time that we, the Creole people, stand strong for our place in history as it truly was
and is. Prior to the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, we were a
significant part of the history of colonial Louisiana, established by our forefathers as
Creoles and free people of color. We can’t just roll over and die. We owe our
forefathers and culture much more! We have a right to have history written the correct
way…not as America writes it today.

Creoles come in many shades of skin color…from white to light, from yellow to tan, from
brown to dark brown. Our variations of skin color reflect the diversity of our ancestors
and their countries of origin…we are a unique and different culture in a society that does
not understand our true heritage.

Through many different Creole organizations and by whatever means necessary, we
must further enlighten the general public about the history and existence of Creoles
across the nation. In particular, a Creole renaissance began several years ago and the
number of people who have embraced and proclaimed their Creole heritage continues to
grow on a daily basis.

CREOLE UNITY NOW AND FOREVER