Getting Started

Start Here! Welcome to the Tribe!

July 1, 2017 /

 

Join the Tribe!

 

Welcome to GumboLife!  This is a community focused on story, culture and spirit.

 

But what exactly does that mean?

 

The “o” in GumboLife is a compass, it is meant to help guide you along in discovering and telling your story whether that is through genealogy, sharing family stories or discovering the story of the people that connect the lines on your family tree.  While much of the stories and information here focuses on Creole culture, it is not exclusive to that.

Learning your “story” means not only where you came from, but why your family celebrates certain traditions and where they came from.  Story is also documenting the stories of those that came before you and preserving that history.  Story is developing your family history and sharing it within this community.  Remember, a picture or story of your great grandmother is also the picture or story of someone else’s great Aunt or distant cousin.

 

So what can I expect to learn here?

  • Stories of course! GumboLife is a community and will accept stories from our tribe to share with others.  This is a great opportunity to seek out some of those family connections!
  • Suggestions of books to read, genealogy resources, how to preserve your data and much more.
  • Get great information from Creole and cultural scholars, interesting people doing interesting things, authors, artists, musicians (some great ones lined up!) and more.  Let us know your great ideas!

 

What this is not!

  • This is not a place of judgment or telling someone who or what they are.
  • This is not a community that is exclusive but rather inclusive of everyone.
  • This is not a place of competition there’s room for everyone!

 

Who runs this thing?

The day we met at Creole in Vegas 🙂
  • ME! I’m Tracey Colson Antee, a native of Natchitoches, LA currently living in Opelousas, LA with my smokin’ hot husband and two weird but handsome teenage boys!
  • I have been speaking, promoting and preserving the Creole culture for almost 25 years through many different platforms. How?  My mother, Janet Ravare Colson, was the brains and idea generator and magic maker behind the Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern State University.  She along with her tribe began the original Creole Heritage Day Celebrations and Creole in Vegas conferences. She also through over twenty years of work created many of the resources that many people use today.

    Me and my Mommy, Janet Ravare Colson
  • I also coach other creative people in completing their projects and collaborating as an idea facilitator or creative doula (because I think that sounds snazzier)
  • Long story short I’ve devoted much of my life to culture and story and have met amazing people along the way that I want to share with you!

 

Want to hang out?

There are a couple ways to participate in this community with more avenues coming soon!

  1. Join the free Facebook community GumboLife, there you’ll find a helpful, positive and supportive community of people that “are just like you”.
  2. Sign up for the mailing list! No spam just regular updates and first chance offerings for upcoming in person workshops (coming to your hometown soon!), online courses and sales on GumboLife apparel!  This is not a newsletter but more of a “Hey Yall Guess What!!” short email.  Go here to get on that list!

 

 

Don’t forget to Sign Up!!