September 21, 2026
About the film: Finding Cajun presents a critical and historically informed perspective on the origin and evolution of Cajun identity.
We see how Cajuns compare to the present-day Acadians in maritime Canada, a community that is supposedly at the historical root of Cajun ethnicity. Through interviews with leading experts filmed on site in Louisiana, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, the film examines the diversity and complexity of South Louisiana's French- and Creole-speaking communities, showing how Americanization, racism, and language shift have reshaped the cultural landscape of Louisiana.
About the Director: Nathan Rabalais is the Joseph P. Montiel Endowed Professor of Francophone Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he specializes in the folklore, literature, and popular culture of francophone North America, particularly in Louisiana and Acadian communities of maritime Canada.
This event is co-sponsored by the Department of French & Francophone Studies, Film & Media Studies, and the Latin American, Latinx & Caribbean Studies (LALC) program at Dickinson College.
Further information
- Location: Althouse 106
- Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Cost: Free