The Art of Filé Making: An Afternoon with John Oswald Colson

Please join us at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum for an afternoon with Louisiana tradition bearer, filé maker John Oswald Colson. Mr. Colson has been making filé for over sixty years. He uses a traditional Native American pilon, similar to a large wooden mortar and pestle, to pound the dried leaves into a fine powder commonly known as filé. Colson's product, knowledge, and demonstration skills of creating gumbo filé have been sought by those throughout Louisiana and beyond. Folklife Ambassador for the Louisiana Folklife Commission Dr. Shane Rasmussen will interview John about his craft and lead a panel discussion with Dr. Hiram "Pete" Gregory, Professor of Anthropology, NSU and Dustin Fuqua, Chief of Resource Management, CRCNH Park.  This event is part of a series of events throughout the state for Folklife Month in Louisiana. Free and Open to the public. Supported by the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in collaboration with the Louisiana Folklife Commission.