Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana
An organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the culture of the Canary Islanders descendants in Louisiana, with a focus on the 18th century settlements of Valenzuela and Galveztown
WELCOME
Welcome to the website of the Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana, a cultural, historical, and genealogical society dedicated to promoting the history and heritage of our ancestry of the Canary Islands, with emphasis on those who lived at the settlement of Galveztown and Valenzuela in south Louisiana. Over twenty years ago, our society was formed to preserve and promote the culture of our Isleño ancestors who came to Louisiana in the late 18th century in search of a better life. We also promote cultural exchanges between Louisiana and the Canaries.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
The Friends of the Cabildo is hosting a weekly lecture series
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Spring America 250 Member Lecture Series
All lectures via Zoom & 6pm CST (Link Sent the Morning of the Lecture)
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Free for Members, $10 for Individual Lectures for GA
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May 5 – The Islenos and Louisianan’s Role in the Galvez Militia – William Hyland
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May 12 – Natchez Rebellion of 1781 and Louisiana’s Impact on It – Dr. Frances Kolb Turball
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May 19 – Independence Lost: Lives on the Edge of the American Revolution – Dr. Kathleen DuVal
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May 26th – Louisiana Creoles and the American Cause during the War for Independence – Dr. Elista Istre
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June 2 – The Spanish Governors and their Role in the American Revolution – Robert Freeland
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The Friends of the Old State Capitol along with the Friends of the Archives is hosting a monthly lecture series at the Archives building on Essen Lane
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Our President, Chad LeBlanc will be speaking at the July meeting. More information can be found here - https://louisianaoldstatecapitol.org/becoming-louisiana
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Even
Saturday, August 1, 2026
EBRPL Library - Bluebonnet Branch
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CIHSL Summer Quarterly Meeting​
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We will be having a genealogy meeting where members and visitors can share research, tools and knowledge of researching their ancestry. Join us for an informative meeting to get your genealogy journey going.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
EBRPL Library - Bluebonnet Branch​
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CIHSL Fall Quarterly Meeting​
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Meeting information coming soon.
December 2026
TBA
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CIHSL Annual Holiday Gathering
PAST MEETINGS AND EVENTS
CIHSL 2026 Spring Quarterly Meeting
May 2, 2026
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The spring quarterly meeting was held on Saturday, May 2nd at 11am at the EBRPL Bluebonnet Branch.
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Mr. Dennis Dale presented his documentary video on Louisiana Geopolitics during the American Revolution.
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You can view his documentary here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z0ILUSeQXPYNoLOhUVH6ClaOB3alZOdM/view?usp=drive_link
CIHSL 2026 Winter Quarterly Meeting
February 28, 2026
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The winter quarterly meeting was held on Saturday, February 28th at 11am at the EBRPL Bluebonnet Branch.
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Our secretary, Shannon Achord delivered a presentation on her genealogical journey to find her Isleño ancestors.
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Video of her presentation can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3eqPfv7C9o&t=1156s
CIHSL Fall 2025 Meeting
November 1, 2025
The fall quarterly meeting was held on Saturday, November 1st at 11:00 AM at the EBR Parish Library - Bluebonnet branch at 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd. in Baton Rouge.
Mary Lydia Ruiz, a retired healthcare executive and long-time member of the Canary Islanders Heritage Society of Louisiana, presented a fascinating talk about José de Rivera, the world-renowned modern sculptor whose work is featured on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
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The meeting was well attended and we thank Mrs. Ruiz for her time and information.
CIHSL Summer 2025 Meeting
August 2, 2025 - Thibodaux, Louisiana
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For our summer 2025 meeting, we met at the Lafourche Heritage Society annual seminar in Thibodaux, LA. President Chad LeBlanc delivered a presentation on the families of Pierre Part and Belle River which included many Isleño descendants.