Lafourche Parish has joined the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, aligning its boundaries with the historical Atchafalaya Basin. Executive Director Justin Lemoine aims to develop a recreational master plan and identify culturally significant sites in Lafourche.
“The natural Atchafalaya basin extended in the west, Bayou Teche to the east, Bayou Lafourche and so the omission from the Heritage Area just kind of left out a part of the historic region.”
Previously excluded due to an oversight when the Heritage Area was established in 2006, Lafourche’s inclusion rectifies a gap in representing Louisiana’s unique culture. Lemone says this inclusion allows the parish to access federal funding for recreational projects and historical preservation through the National Park Service’s program.
“But it also opens them up to our technical assistance. Our staff provides technical assistance to communities to help them understand how to capitalize on those natural, cultural, and recreational resources.”
The bipartisan legislation, spearheaded by U-S House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and supported by Louisiana lawmakers, passed swiftly and was signed into law by President Biden. Lemoine says the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area spans 15 parishes and over 11,000 square miles, showcasing Louisiana’s distinct food, music, and cultural ties to the land.
“Our moniker is “America’s Foreign Country” because our foodways, our music ways, our lifeways, our language, and the way that we live off the land is different from any other part of the country.”
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