La Veillée

Alligator Hunting: How It’s Done and Why It Matters

In the season 3 premiere of La Veillée on LPB, the team revisits the topic of alligator hunting with a focus on the process of hunting and its economic and cultural significance. To this end, we first visit musician Jourdan Thibodeaux at Cypress Cove in St. Martin Parish where he takes us on a hunt in the Atchafalaya and explains the steps in the process. We then talk to longtime alligator hunter Ernie Calais in French and Creole about his upbringing in this area and the impact of alligator hunting on local food, artisanry, and culture.