About us

 CHAPTER HISTORY

The Canary Islands Chapter located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was organized on April 5, 2021 with Patricia Veasey as the organizing Chapter Regent. Despite organizing at the height of a global pandemic, the chapter and its members are thriving and motivated to grow. Our theme - “Strength Through Diversity,” represents the diverse collection of American Revolutionary patriots (Spanish and French settlers, Native Americans, and African Americans) who successfully destroyed British occupation of Baton Rouge and eliminated access to the Mississippi River during the war.

LINK TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

The Canary Islands Chapter was founded to pay homage to the role Spain played to lead the American Colonists during the American Revolution. Louisiana, a Spanish colony during the time of the American Revolution, was governed by Bernardo de Galvez. The Galvez Expedition, which included their ally, France recruited Spanish troops from the Canary Islands to help protect the Spanish colony, particularly the New Orleans area and most importantly ports along the Mississippi River. Called Isleños, these militiamen participated in three major successful military campaigns: Manchac and Baton Rouge (1779), Mobile (1780), and Pensacola (1781). Many of our chapter members are female descendants of these heroic Canary Islanders, who brought with them their unique identity, language, and culture to the regions north and south of New Orleans that still exist today. We invite female descendants of any individual who helped secure American Independence to join our growing Chapter. It is not necessary to be a descendent of a Canary Islander to join.