Interview with Lilian Nérette Louie

              Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Liliane Nérette Louis
Miami, FL, September 16, 2013
Interview ASM0085000044
Interviewed by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis and Ben Morris
Length: 01:12:35
Interview with Liliane Nérette Louis, a storyteller, author, and cook with a strong interest in Haitian folk arts. The daughter of a doctor, Louis grew up in a large family in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After listening to her mother tell stories in Haitian Creole, Louis began to tell stories to her seven younger siblings, and then later to her own three children. She immigrated to New York in 1964 and settled in Miami in 1977. She earned a B.A. in Professional Studies and an M.A. in Human Resource Development from Barry University, and worked for many years as a Health Information Manager at Jackson Memorial Hospital before retiring in 1999. Since the 1980s, Louis has regularly done storytelling at festivals, schools, and other events. She served twice as the Master Artist in the Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program and she has twice won the Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in Folk Arts. She wrote When Night Falls, Kric! Krak! Haitian Folktales in 1999. Louis is also an accomplished cook who has taught courses in Haitian cooking through Miami-Dade College and WLRN. She is also very knowledgeable about the use of plants in Haitian culture.
This interview forms part of the Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu.
Liliane Nérette Louis 2
September 16, 2013
INTERVIEW OUTLINE
− 00:00:13: Introduction
− 00:00:47: So we’re going to start. If you would tell us a little bit about your childhood, your birthplace, where you went to school, your parents, your family environment.
− 00:18:12: How did you [buy your love]?
− 00:34:52: Where did you go to college, and what subject did you study?
− 00:38:33: And that’s when you started at Jackson [when you came to Miami]… you worked at Jackson hospital for a while?
− 00:43:01: Let’s talk about your storytelling now. Let’s talk about that and your book – When Night Falls, Kric! Krak! Haitian Folktales… Tell us the experience of writing this book and its impact.
− 00:51:38: Let me ask you, who was your apprentice?
− 00:53:04: You also had the Florida Individual Artist Fellowship twice. What was that?
− 00:53:48: So as a master cook, you’ve taught so many people. You had a program on WLRN for many years. Do you want to tell us a little bit about that? What was the program about?
− 00:56:38: you said earlier you cooked a 5-course dinner for that young lady. So if someone wanted to impress a guest with a 5-course dinner, what would be included in that 5-course dinner?
− 01:02:37: Before we leave, you have to say a little something about the use of plants in Haitian culture.
− 01:10:04: Of all of your accomplishments, which one are you most proud of?
− 01:10:24: Is there anything that I didn’t ask that you want to add?
− 01:12:35: END OF INTERVIEW