Janie Luster is a Native American culture bearer and palmetto basket weaver from the United Houma Nation. Born in Dularge, LA, she helped revitalize the tradition of basket weaving in her Tribe, and she is a fluent speaker of Louisiana French.

In her first long-form interview in her native French, we spoke about growing up down the bayou with family who made a living trapping and shrimping, coastal erosion, the rise of the oil industry, and displacement and population loss caused by environmental and economic challenges.

We also discussed her experience during school integration as a Native American, her relationship with her brother former Houma Tribal Chief Kirby Verret, and her work breathing new life into the palmetto basket weaving tradition of her Tribe.

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Geno Delafose is a Grammy-nominated zydeco musician and accordionist, known worldwide for his signature sound combining Creole, Cajun, and even country influences. Born outside of Eunice to the Delafose family, Geno learned music and the French language at home, one of the few local stars still able to speak the language fluently. In this exclusive long-form interview in Louisiana French, Geno talked with us about family life, the importance of French to Cajun and Zydeco music, touring the world, life as a real cowboy in Evangeline Parish, and much more.Special thanks to Le Grand Hoorah and Lakeview Park & Beach in Eunice, LA.

Dustin Dale Gaspard made history this season on The Voice when he sang in Cajun French—a first for NBC’s flagship national singing competition. In this premiere episode of La Louisiane, we sat down with Dustin at Suire’s Grocery in his hometown of Cow Island to discuss growing up in rural Vermilion Parish, his behind-the-scenes experience of The Voice, his relationship with coaches Niall Horan, Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire, and Snoop Dogg, what Cajun culture means to him, and why and how he learned the French language of his grandparents.

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