Born of a Waterman Legacy

Black Duck by Jimmie Vizier, 1987.

Around 1764, a large number of exiled French Acadian people left eastern Canada and settled in southern Louisiana. The unique Cajun culture they developed in their new home was based on utilizing the abundant natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico, the swamps and marshes of the region, and the bayous flowing out of the Mississippi River. Harvested shrimp, oysters, fish, and various types of wild game became the main ingredients in Cajun food. Of course, in the autumn, the emigrants watched for the large numbers of wild waterfowl migrating to their wintering grounds in the Louisiana marshes. As ducks were an important winter food source, hunting them became a tradition and a passion. Hunters quickly realized their success and efficiency in hunting waterfowl were greatly enhanced by using duck decoys. So, decoy carving also became a tradition in the region of south Louisiana.

Along the Gulf Coast is the small village of Cheniere. It was there that Beauregard Vizier was born in 1848. He lived his life as a fisherman, trapper, and hunter to feed and support his family.  Trading and bartering were the common ways to acquire needed goods. Some of the “products” he had to trade were the duck decoys he carved. He passed his decoy-making skills on to two of his sons, Odee and Clovis. Today, their decoys are highly sought after by collectors of Louisiana decoys.

Odee Vizier was Jimmie Vizier’s father. At quite a young age, Jimmie learned to hunt ducks to help feed his siblings and family. He told me the story of being given the job of going into the marsh in the evening to shoot ducks for the next day’s meal at his father’s trapping camp.  Naturally, Jimmie also developed an interest in making duck decoys—something he did for the rest of his life. His early decoys were clearly made to hunt over, and they were most likely used by himself in his waterfowling adventures in the local marshes of Bayou Lafourche.

Ring-necked Duck by Tan Brunet, 1972. This carving was made especially for Jimmie Vizier, and Tan’s inscription shows the closeness of their relationship.

Another family on the Bayou was the Brunets. Tan Brunet worked in his father, Elphege’s, lumberyard along with his brother Elphege Junior. Tan’s mother, Francine, and Jimmie were cousins. Despite a slight difference in age, Jimmie and Tan spent time together and grew up with each other. They had a common interest in waterfowl and eventually carved decoys together. A number of times, Tan referred to Jimmie as his teacher. An inscription on a carving Tan made for Jimmie in October 1972 reads, “Ring-necked Duck, Made for a Prince, Jim Vizier.” The love and deep respect the two men had for each other were evident.

Eventually, Jimmie and Tan elevated their decoy-carving skills to create competition-grade decorative decoys. Tan competed in the World Decorative Decoy Pair category, winning the Best in World title five times. Those winning pairs were pintails (1977), mallards (1978), canvasbacks (1981), green-winged teal (1982), and redheads (1983). After Tan passed away in 2019, this class was named the “Tan Brunet Memorial Award.” Probably because of his tradition of making hunting decoys, Jimmie made a lot of that style of decoy for competition and won endless awards for his creations. He was a consultant when the category “World Shootin’ Rig” was established in 1993; later, when he passed away in 2010, it was named the “Jimmie Vizier Memorial Award.”

So it came to be that two of the most competitive World-level categories are named after these men. Both are icons and legends in the field. The respect they command among their fellow carvers is immeasurable. Jimmie was very much a father figure to me, and we spent many hours carving together, traveling to bird-carving shows and to hunt ducks. I married his daughter, Jessica, and am father to three of his grandchildren. Tan and I had a lot of mutual admiration for each other, as we were fierce competitors, and I especially knew how good he was. Perhaps most importantly, I experienced the way that, when Jimmie and Tan showed up at carving shows with their families and fellow carvers from Louisiana, their Cajun culture added so much flavor to the atmosphere.

Tundra Swan by Jimmie Vizier, 1993.

Wigeon Drake by Tan Brunet. Tan made this carving for Pat, and it is a treasured piece in his personal collection

The following is a “story” written by Tan Brunet about his friend and mentor, Jimmie Vizier, “on a hot, muggy, rainy evening on June 30, 1991.” It is a little, but very significant, bit of the history of carving decoys.

As you meander down Bayou Lafourche in the south eastern part of Louisiana, you will come upon an oak laden ridge. This island of sorts rises as a Phoenix from the salt marsh we call the Trembling Prairie.

This little community of Cajuns is called “Cheniere.” It is bordered on one side by Caminada Bay and on the other by the Gulf of Mexico. This haven was formed by the refuse of the sea and the debris of hurricanes. Being a Shangri-La for watermen[,] it served as a hiding cave for pirates such as Nez Coupe and Jean Lafitte of long ago.

Many years after the sailing schooners with their pirates and the stories of buried treasure[,] we see this community boast of another Son of the Sea. His name is Jimmie Vizier.

Born and reared in this Delta Land, Jimmie’s whole life has been of the salt mist, from crabbing, shrimping, oystering, trapping, hunting, fishing and at last—Ocean going Tug boating.

Little did he know what was in store for him as he combed the beaches of Cheniere and cast his dreams across Caminada Bay to the glitter of Grand Island. Jimmie fell into a pattern that many young men pursued in the 1940’s and 50’s. He had to help earn a living for the family at a very young age that robbed him of the gifts a growing boy is due.

Leaving the shelter and security of home and school[,] Jimmie ventured into the uncertain claws of the sea and earned the title Captain Jimmie Vizier. His sea going ventures reads like a fairy tale. For over 40 years[,] he has roamed the waters of the world from the Caribbean to the North Sea with the Gulf of Mexico as the home based [sp]. His log book adventures would even catch the ear of the likes of Captain Ahab.

All this sounds very romantic and glorious but times were hard on the bayous after World War II.  Many Cajuns survived by living off the land[,] as it were. The Odee Vizier family were part of this format. Jimmie Vizier is a survivor[,] having been hardened by the elements around him[,] he has surfaced and become very successful. He presents himself with an air of respect. His young fans call him Mr. Jim—a fitting tribute to a southern gentleman with wavy grey hair and a trim mustache.

Now 58 years of age[,] Captain Jimmie has returned to shore[,] beckoned by the alluring magnetism of grandchildren.

Having fulfilled his thirsts for the ocean[,] his passion has turned to carving decoys. Jimmie has carved for over 40 years. He has just recently won the most coveted Gunning Decoy award in the World in Ocean City, Maryland. Winning the Best of Show Museum Award at the Ward World Championship is no easy feat.

Jimmie is the son of Odee Vizier and the nephew of Clovis “Cadis” Vizier[,] who carved their names in the Bayou Lafourche decoy history books. Our American Indians were the first at this art some 1,000 years ago—Today Jimmie Vizier is our champion.

In my opinion[,] he is one of the best decoy carvers ever. I should know—he is my teacher.

Tan Brunet

This short story has been written for his wife[,] Marion[,] and his 3 lovely daughters[,] Myra, Jessica[,] and Mitzi.

Jimmie Vizier: “Born of a Waterman Legacy”

The original story penned by Tan Brunet.
Written on a hot, muggy, rainy evening on June 30, 1991, Tan Brunet

Jimmie Vizier and Tan Brunet judging wood ducks at the World Championship (year unknown).

Tan Brunet and Jimmie Vizier watching judging (year and show unknown).

Tan Brunet, Jimmie Vizier, and Tan’s sons Jett and Jude showing off their ribbons at the Ward World Championship (year unknown).

Tan Brunet and Jimmie Vizier working in Tan’s shop in the 1960s.

Jimmie Vizier and Tan Brunet competing in a carving competition (year and show unknown).