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International Organization of Creole People

image by Chrystian Kretowicz, 9 March 2009

International Organization of Creole People
Louisiana Creole Heritage Center national flag

See also:

Other sites:

IOCP website

International Organization of Creole People

L'Organisation Internationale des Peuples Créoles
Òrganizasyon Entènasyonal Pèp Kreyòl
The International Organization of Creole People

There is also the flag of the French Creole People of Louisiana (US) at http://www.frenchcreoles.com
Chrystian Kretowicz, 9 March 2009

image by Eugene Ipavec, 10 March 2009

It seems that the flag design originally included a fleur-de-lis, vertically divided black-white, instead of the star, in the left triangle. Some background information on IOCP won't harm either:

"In May 2005 an International Creole Symposium and Festival was held in Las Vegas USA; during the preconference sessions on the 17th and 18th May Creole delegates from various parts of the USA, from Australia, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Mauritius got together to review the 1999 Creole Symposium held in the Seychelles, and evaluated the progress that has been accomplished since then. It was assessed that Creolism is still going strong and many new Creole movements have been established mainly in the Diasporas e.g., Australia and Canada. It was also noticed that although regular meetings and festivals are held yearly, they are more on a regional rather than on an International level and consequently, there is not much communication within the Creole world. This lack of interaction was mainly due to the disappearance of Banzil Kreol, the last Pan Creole organization. In view of the situation the delegates decided to set up a new structure and the name, The International Organisation for Creole People was proposed by Raphaël Confiant and accepeted unanimously."

http://www.iocp.info/articles/The%20International%20Organisation%20of%20Creole%20People.htm

A biography of Raphaël Confiant (b. 1951) is available here: http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/ile.en.ile/paroles/confiant.html.
Ivan Sache, 9 March 2009

There is a photo of the Montreal Creoles (Montray Kréyol) with the fleur-de-lis. Could be, the stars replaced fleur-de-lis to make the flag more "international" and less French.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 9 March 2009

Same flag seen at http://www.montraykreyol.org/IMG/jpg/Drapo_Kreyol_image030.jpg - seen in context at http://www.iocp.info/seychelles/festival2005.htm and named "Drapo Kréyol".

Another page at http://www.frenchcreoles.com/Flag%20Concept/flag%20concept.htm shows two flag proposals, one of which we already know (the other, the first one, replaces the star in the fly by an oak tree in the centre). Explanation:
"Red Stripe / native American heritage
White stripe / European heritage
Black stripe / African heritage
Beige/Brown / racial color
Background / racial color
Fleur du Lis / French Heritage
Star / American Heritage
Oak Tree / Strength and Integrity
Flag Trim Black Lace (not shown) / Creole integrity and professionalism (black lace to be added by flag manufacturer)"
Jan Mertens, 9 March 2009

Louisiana Creole Heritage Center "National Flag"

image located by Jan Mertens, 9 March 2009

A completely different item, the "National Flag" as presented (promoted) by the Louisiana Creole Heritage Center - Northwestern State University - Natchitoches, Louisiana: http://www.nsula.edu/creole/myweb13/flags.htm

Caption: "The design, created by Lisa LaCour Bellow, represents the Creole culture nationwide. The flag is single reverse. Image reads correctly on one side with 80% show-thru on the reverse and is grommeted. The image is a teal in color printed on a white background."

White field with teal contents: map of Louisiana in outline, above this the circular logo of the LCHC and the words "Creole Heritage Center" (italic, script), plus the slogan below the map "Unique links create our circle" (upright).
Jan Mertens, 9 March 2009