Louisiana Heritage Connection
A Source of Creole Ancestral History, Personal Stories, News, Events and More!
Creole Unity Now and Forever
WELCOME TO THE INFORMATION ON THE
LOUISIANA CREOLE HERITAGE AND RECOGNITION BILL
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. (  )
Louisiana Creole Heritage and Recognition Bill

BY REPRESENTATIVE (  )

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To designate a U.S. Census category for Louisiana Creoles to be used on all local, state, and
federal forms for the purpose of ethnic and racial designation of this unique American population.

WHEREAS, the Creole legacy is a culture comprised of many different groups including (but not
limited to) French, American Indian, African, and Spanish ancestry, and there is a need to educate
the general public about the existence of Louisiana Creoles as a distinct ethnic/racial group; and

WHEREAS, although the history of the Louisiana Creole heritage is rarely acknowledged in spite of
its uniqueness across the United States and especially in Louisiana, it is worthy and deserving of
formal and legal recognition, so that this important part of the American experience will not be lost;
and

WHEREAS, many historians and scholars have attempted to document Creole history, many
aspects of this history are inaccurate or have not led to official designation of this group as one that
exists along side all other U.S. Ethnic groups including other mixed populations such as
Hispanics/Latinos; and

WHEREAS, on November 4, 1994, the United States Congress acknowledged the special
qualities of Natchitoches Parish in its creation of the Cane River Creole Heritage Area; and

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern State University was
established in 1998 through the efforts of the St. Augustine Historical Society and the university as
part of  plan to provide a central location for research and documentation of the Creole ethnic
group’s heritage and culture; and

WHEREAS, there are an estimated 2-3 million Louisiana Creoles living throughout the United
States and internationally; and

WHEREAS, Creole people nationwide have supported the efforts for the Heritage Center to
preserve this history and culture and document the Creole communities across the United States
officially on birth and death certificates as well as on census forms, and college and employment
applications; and

WHEREAS, serving as an information bank and clearinghouse for the Creole communities of
Louisiana and their counterparts nationwide, in addition to research, the Creole Heritage Center’s
mission, goal, and objective is to provide assistance and guidance in the documentations, legal
recognition, and preservation of the Creole ethnic group and culture in the United States; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate to establish a legal ethnic/racial category for Louisiana Creoles,
especially in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to fully acknowledge and recognize the
people of this region and their descendants as full citizens of the United States with proper
identification for the purposes of equal civil rights as granted to all other racial and ethnic groups in
the nation.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Congress of the United States does hereby designate the
Louisiana Creoles as a distinct ethnic/racial group with all of the rights, responsibilities, and
privileges of recognition in accordance with U.S. Laws and with the oversight and implantation of
the Office of Management and Budget to go into affect on the 2010 U.S. Census.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Governors of all fifty (50) U.S. States and to the Office of Management and Budget.

___________________________________
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

________________________________________
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Through many different Creole organizations and by whatever means necessary, we must
further enlighten the general public and the government about the true history, concerns,
and existence of our multiracial heritage across the nation and the world!

In collaboration with the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center, Natchitoches, Louisiana, Dr.
Andrew Jolivette has prepared the draft language for the "Creole Cultural & Ethnic
Recognition, US Census 2010" resolution.  This resolution is to designate a U.S. Census
category for Louisiana Creoles to be used on all local, state, and federal forms for the
purpose of ethnic and racial designation of our unique American population.  There are
over 2,000,000+ Creoles and growing nationwide.  

We ask that all Creoles send letters to Congresswoman Pelosi, Office of the
Speaker, H-232, US Capitol, Washington DC 20515, (202) 225-0100, requesting her
support for this Bill (send a copy of the bill with your letter and ask her to please
attend the Creole Conference in July/August of 2008 in Chicago).

A copy of the Resolution Bill is below for your convenience.  We thank you for your
support of a much needed change!