re: Cajuns are keen to preserve their identity.

My grand parents and parents all spoke fluent Cajun French. I learned to pick up on most key words and could basically understand most of the conversations. My grandmother on dads side couldn't even speak English. As others here have mentioned, my dad was spanked and punished if overheard speaking French at school. They berated them and told them they were stupid. So understandably my parents didn't go out of their way to teach us. My parents spoke it with their friends while visiting and of course with relatives. My parents spoke it when they didn't want my siblings and me to know what they were arguing or talking about. I've done my best to try to learn all I can as an adult but there just aren't a whole lot of resources available.
ETA- Louisiana Cajun/Creole accent, dialect,customs Oh and IWHI!!!