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2007

2007 Marquis Quilt Exhibit
Opening Weekend – Quilters’ Itinerary
October 4-7, 2007

Thursday, October 4, 2007 – Sponsor’s / Opening Reception
6:30-8:00 p.m. 2007 Marquis Quilt Exhibit, Acadiana Arts Center

Friday, October 5, 2007 – Exhibit Opens, Acadiana Center for the Arts

6:00-8:30 p.m. Quilters’ International Reception, By Invitation
Hosted by Brenda Comeaux Trahan, residence location.

Saturday, October 6, 2007 – Quilters’ International Forum with Veronique
9:00 – 11:45 Barreau, France Patchwork, Amelia, GSQA, Quilters’ Guild
Acadienne; Quilt Pictave, Poitiers, France Guild members and
other participating quilt groups
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (On your own)
1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Visit area quilt shops / Lafayette Natural History Museum
Marquis Exhibition / ACLA Latin Festival

Sunday, October 7, 2007 - Quilts on the Teche, St. Martinville, LA
9:30 – 10: 00 a.m. Registration
10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Welcoming Remarks, Mayor of St. Martinville
10:15 - 4:00 p.m. Quilts on the Teche : A Quilt Airing in each of the 5 locations,
Acadian Memorial – Quilted Wearables
Acadian Cultural Heritage Center – Cultural Quilts
Old Castillo Hotel (B&B) – Antique Quilts
Maison du Champ – Traditional Quilts
The Opera House – Contemporary Quilts
11:00 a.m. Mass – St. Martin de Tours Church
12:00 Lunch on your own – Quilts on the Teche features
Catering by Anna providing local fare and a “sweets” booth
Café Oaks
Le Petit Paris
Dana’s Bakery
Old Castillo Hotel (B & B) – Beignets and coffee
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. See the Program Guide for Quilting
Demonstrations and presentation times and locations

August 2007 Events

La Fête Nationale de l’Acadie / National Day of the Acadians
Donations are welcome - no admission charged

On Wednesday, August 15, 2007 St. Martinville will celebrate la Fête Nationale de l’Acadie / National Day of the Acadians to honor the Nation of Acadian people

History of la Fête. The first national Acadian convention held in Memramcook, New Brunswick in 1881, over 5,000 Acadian delegates met for the first time after the deportation in 1755. They choose August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, as the National Acadian holiday and called it across the world “The National Day of the Acadians”. The Nation of Acadian people are recognized throughout the states especially in Louisiana and Maine, in the Canadian Acadian provinces, and France on this day. Acadians celebrate and remember their ancestors, history, culture and traditions .

Mayor Thomas Nelson and the City of St. Martinville Council Members, the Acadian Memorial, St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center, Duchamp Opera House, Information Tourist Center, Petite Paris Museum, St.Martin du Tours Catholic Church and the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site welcome visitors to our city on August 15th for this day of celebration. Throughout the day, visitors may tour the Acadian Memorial hall, the Museum of the Acadian Memorial, African American Museum at no charge. They may also browse art and heritage craft collections at the Duchamp Opera House on Main Street and the Tourist Information Center where light refreshments will be served. Those who visit the Memorial, Heritage Center on the 15th will be eligible to enter a drawing for a souvenir gift basket. The winner will be announced at the Acadian Memorial reception that evening.

Schedule of Events from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Acadian Memorial.

10:00 a.m. - City Hall - Opening ceremony - Flay Raising

10:10 a.m. - 1929 movie, “Evangeline” / Acadian Memorial Conference Room

10:15 a.m. - Derek Albert, Reporter & Photographer at Teche News / lecture on “Cajun Architecture”.

11:30 a.m. The Atchafalaya Trace - Join us for the opening of the new 328 mile trail route around the Atchafalaya Basin called the “Atchafalaya Trace”. Harold Schoeffler, activities of natural preservation, will announce the opening where the trail will begin at mile zero in St. Martinville, a gateway city, the Acadian Memorial !

1:30 p.m. - Marcelle Bienvenu, Author of Cajun Books / Speak on growing up with two great Cajun cooks & their differences

2:00 p.m. - Showing of the new documentary film on “The Story of the Acadians” by Brenda Jepson from Maine.

3:00 p.m. -Christy Maraist lectures about the true Evangeline of St. Martinville, titled ,"Emmeline & Evangeline"

4:00 p.m. - " Theaté Cadien French Vignettes" - Shirley Savoy (Terrio as an older man), Robert Landreneau (Terrio as a younger man) and Jim Viator (Henri Peyroux de la Coudreniere)

5:30 p.m. - Acadian family name banner carries met in the Acadian Memorial Garden, with Coordinator James Akers, to start the procession to church. Anyone interested in participating,come early to claim a banner. Please volunteer.

5:45 p.m. - Precession to French Mass / St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church

6:00 p.m. - Mass - devoted to Our Lady of the Assumption, patroness of Acadians will be celebrated in French / feature the Acadian Memorial regional French choir.

7:00 p.m. - Reception held in the Acadian Memorial Hall and Meditation Garden

7:30 p.m. - Theatre / Comical Mimi- French version of “Cinderella” by Melissa Pesson who portrays 7 different characters from the story / Meet the Acadians:Theaté Cadien French Vignettes Performing historical vignettes about the Cajuns who settled in Louisiana

On Display: Area students Social Studies projects on Acadians will be on display in the Acadian Memorial and the students will be available for questions. (More participants are needed)

Spend a day in historic St. Martinville

For National Day of the Acadians / la Fête Nationale de l’Acadie

On August 15, 2007

The City of St. Martinville Offers Special Events Around Town

Restaurants Open for Lunch & Dinner Serving Special “Acadian Day” Plate Du Jour

Le Petit Paris Café - Jambalaya, White Beans, Rolls, Salad

Café Oaks –Smothered Chicken, Corn,Salad, Roll & Bread Pudding

Possum’s Seafood – Varity of Luncheon Specials

Other events through out the city:

11:00 a.m. - every hour on the hour /The St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center, in the Acadian Museum Media Room, will premiere the Cajun Cooking show, “A Taste of Louisiana With John Folse: Our Food Heritage, The Cajuns” scenic sites filmed in St. Martinville. You can catch both segments every hour on the hour ending at 4:00 / Free

10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Duchamp Opera House & Mercantile / Théâtre de l’Opéra Duchamp - - Exhibition of a colorful art show of local artist paintings called the "Swamp Spirits 2007" Free Entry / Gift, Antique Shopping and Refreshments available

Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site will take part in the National Day of Acadians celebration with guided tours of the Acadian farmstead, Olivier Creole plantation house and video showings of “Against the Tide” by Zachary Richard. The film will be shown hourly starting at 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information on events at Longfellow-Evangeline, contact site manager Reinaldo Barnes at (337) 394-3754, (888) 677-2900, or longfellow@crt.state.la.us.

The Petit Paris Museum, open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - interpretive Mardis Gras costume exhibit of Oak & Pine Alley Wedding, as well as works by famed local artist Nolan Braud. The Petit Paris can be contacted at (337) 394-7334. Admission: $1 adults

St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church (Mother Church of the Acadians)– Open for viewing – Free

Evangeline Monument – Immortalized by Longfellow Perpetual Adoration Garden and Historic Cemetery / St. Martin de Tours Church Square (behind the church)

Evangeline Oak Park – The most photographed tree in the world / Bayou Tech promenade / Longfellow Bust

July 2007 Events

Calling “L’Ordre Du Bon Temps Members & Guest" for an Organizational Barbeque Social Meeting/ RSVP a must: 337.394.5718 or 337.394.2258

Saturday , July 28th, 2007 - 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at New Iberia City Park - Veteran’s Memorial Building , Mia-Paw Memorial Drive / “L’Ordre Du Bon Temps” Barbeque social & the “ Day of Remembrance”

The Acadian Memorial's organizational “L’Ordre Du Bon Temps” social meeting will be held in New Iberia on July 28th, 2007 from 4 pm-8 pm

The day will include a chicken and sausage barbeque dinner ($15.00), cash bar, Cajun music, guest speakers. (NOTE BELOW SCHEUDLE OF THE DAY)

The French social eating club, “L’Ordre Du Bon Temps” was founded in the first North American (Acadie) settlement in Port Royal, Canada in 1606. In 1604, after a first near failed attempt to create a hamlet in “Acadie”, Samuel de Champlain created a means of helping his men survive the hash cold and depressing winters in hopes of solidifying the colony. The historic “L’Ordre Du Bon Temps” social eating club helped the men start the first strong colony in North America.

At the barbeque social gathering, the Acadian Memorial membership and guest will celebrate the colonization of the first settlers in Acadie and then take time to pause for the “Day of Remembrance” when the decision was made to end the colony of Acadie. At exactly 4:15 p.m., Acadiana Catholic Churches will toll church bells to bring awareness to this sad moment in history.
Entertainment will consist of
Cajun band, Kyle Huval & Acadie playing old fashion Cajun Music with a back-porch style of jamming
Marcelle Bienvenu - book signing & introduction of , “Stir the Pot: The History of Cajun Cuisine” co- authored with Dr. Carl Brasseaux and Ryan Brasseaux, demonstration of her signature dishes, & discussion of Cajun men cooks and their wild game style as well as the history of Cajun foods.
John Albert “Al” Landry, local artist - discussion and singing of, “Hoorah Plantation – 1930-1945”, which captures the nostalgia of a time when “family” was all important in the Louisiana/French culture and plantation life, was still viable.

Click here for additional historical information.

May 2007 Events

Maine Film Maker and "Evangeline" Scholar In Louisiana To Film "Evangeline And The Acadian Journey"

On a recent whirlwind trip, a film maker and an Evangeline scholar from Maine, visited Cajun Country both to capture the history of Louisiana Cajuns and to bring them part of their Acadian history from Nova Scotia and from France.

Brenda Jepson, who produced "The Story Of The Acadians," an hour-long documentary which spans from 1604 to 1785, became fascinated to know what happened to the Acadians after their deportation from Nova Scotia and decided to make a sequel.

While working on "The Story Of The Acadians" in France, she learned of the 1,500 Acadians who were deported to France and then traveled to Louisiana to settle, and she knew she had to learn more about their fate by traveling to Louisiana to meet their descendents.

Jepson teamed up with Dr Francoise Paradis who already had traveled to Louisiana several times to meet Cajuns to share with them her work on Evangeline, the Acadian heroine immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem. Dr Paradis also volunteered doing work for the Red Cross in Plaquemine in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Now Jespon and Paradis would travel together to Cajun Country to work on a film called "Evangeline And The Acadian Journey", as well as doing showings of the film Jepson already had produced, "The Story Of The Acadians.

"We were completely overwhelmed by the stories we heard in Louisiana, and by the beautiful scenery we filmed. We also were completely engulfed by the friendliness and helpfulness of the folks we met. I have never seen anything quite like it," said Jepson, who has filmed extensively throughout Europe and the Eastern Seaboard states for PBS during her twenty-four year film career.

Very soon, Jepson realized that her original plan to film an hour-long documentary, including a fifteen-minute segment on the Cajuns of Louisiana just wouldn't do. "The story of the Louisiana Cajuns" is so big, we quickly realized that we would have to devote at least an hour for telling the tale - if it stops at that."

And so the two plan to come back in October to continue their work. And some of the Cajuns they met plan to venture up to far Northern Maine next month for the Acadian Festival in the St John Valley.

“Seeing Acadians making these connections is so exciting,” said Dr Paradis who is part Acadian herself. “These families have been separated for well over two hundred years – in fact the Acadians who settled in the St John Valley came in 1785. That is the same year a group of Acadians came to Louisiana. Yet when they meet, they look alike, they sound the same and laugh at the same jokes.”

Jepson and Paradis also plan to return to Louisiana in April next year to show their film “Evangeline And The Acadian Journey.” Jepson will spend the winter in the loft of her snow bound, old log house editing the footage together. “I can’t wait to get started,” said Jepson. “While the north winds blow outside, I will have the pleasure of editing together beautiful footage of balmy Louisiana in spring time. It will bring back many wonderful memories!”

May 19, 2007, 5:30 pm

BRENDA COMEAUX TRAHAN & WARREN PERRIN COLLABORATE TO WELCOME NEW YORK'S LA BOCA THEATER COMPANY TO ACADIANA

The La Boca Theater company will introduce "EVANGELINE & RITA: AN INTERACTIVE DRAMA WORKSHOP" in Acadiana. The company is in town this weekend, visiting from New York, and would like to invite you to a Saturday afternoon workshop at 5:30 p.m. in Erath at the Acadian Museum of Erath. The company troupe will use theater to explore the relationship between Evangeline and Rita. They are creating a new play about the continuing legacy of displacement, using Longfellow's poem and real stories from Hurricane survivors.

What they would like to do is get to know those people who experienced Rita and might identify with Evangeline's story. It is important to them to build a relationship with the community whose story they want to tell, to better understand what needs to be said to their audience when they perform in New York.

At 5:30 pm on Saturday, May 19, the La Boca troupe will present a small piece of their show and ask for your feedback. You will be invited to take part in a series of interactive exercises that will allow participants to examine the Rita experience through drama. This workshop is a unique opportunity for those who have endured destruction and displacement to use storytelling as a means of building community resiliency after the storm.

The public is invited to join with the troupe in an effort to assist them with their play while reflecting on recovery after the devastating storm. For more information call Brenda Comeaux Trahan at 337.394.2258 or 337.288.5914.

May 2, 2007

"Emmeline, Evangeline and the Bayou Teche" by Christy Dugas Maraist
(Lecture on Longfellow's literary work and his influence on St. Martinville's legend)
Acadian Memorial (conference room), 121 South New Market
May 2nd, 2007, 2:00 pm

Longfellow influenced the history of the Acadians and others to record local history. Join an Acadian Memorial board member and native of St.Martinville, Christy Maraist, to learn more. She will discuss "Emmeline, Evangeline and the Bayou Teche." and touch on important figures such as Marguerite Martin, Edward Simon and Felix Voorhies who are at the center of St. Martinville's interesting, much debated, historical legend.

Marguerite Martin, Acadian exile portrayed on the mural at the Acadian Memorial is the second best known figure on the mural at the Acadian Memorial. Her stories of "Acadie" and Poste des Attakapas are recounted in Felix Voorhies, "Acadian Reminiscences." Marguerite Martin is the matriarch of the Guidry, Hebert, Castille, Mouton and Dugas families. She had five daughters so none of her descendants carry the names of her husbands, Rene Robicheaux or Dr. Antoine Bordat.
Enjoy coffee, tea and cookies as we reminiscence over the St.Martinville's rich story

April 2007 Events

April 10th, at 6:00
Acadian Memorial Conference Room / (Access from the back gate)
Admission: $1.00

Catahoula native, Greg Guirard, photographer and author will lecture along with a slide presentation of the Atchafalya Basin scenery and wildlife. His topic is titled "What should be done in the Achafalaya: A Concern for Cajun Fisherman".

***

April 17th, 6:00pm
Acadian Memorial Conference Room
Admission: $1.00

François Paradis, Acadian native of Madawaska, Maine and author of "Evangeline, An Acadian Tale" will present a slide show on the tale of Evangeline and discussion of the influence Longfellow's works on the Acadian history.

***

On April 18th, Dr. Allan Dubos from les Landes, France, will be in St.
Martinville as guest of the Acadian Memorial, city of St. Martinville and Alliance Francaise de Lafayette.

At 10:30 a.m. the public is invited for a private tour of the Acadian Memorial and Acadian / African museums ending at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon and lecture held in St. Martinville' s Duchamp Opera House on 200 South Main Street starting at 11:45 a.m.. The lecture on his research is titled, " ACADIA: HISTORICAL FANTASY OR CONTEMPORARY REALITY?".

For the past five years, Dr. Dubos has been putting his energies into a work
of fiction on the Acadians, both from Canada and from Louisiana. He has
produced four books to date on this period of time in the history of France
in America, a time still poorly understood. The books have allowed him to
establish an additional link today between France and her former possessions
in North America, connected by a history of 200 years.

Dr. Dubos states,"Fantasy or Reality, both are accurate, in fact. From the
arrival in 1604 of Henry IV's pioneers to the nomination of an Acadian
lieutenant governor for the province of New Brunswick, four centuries of
tumult, epic struggle, tragedy and the resurgence, reveal and recount what
can easily be called, without exaggerating, the Acadian miracle. It is a history that is, indeed, remarkable, these families of colonists content on their land but unfortunately caught between a rock and a hard place, what with the British on one side and the French on the other. Brutally uprooted, set adrift on the sea, then forgotten about over time, theirs is a story of biblical dimensions. The several thousand survivors of the deportation of 1755 should have disappeared, blending in with the general population. On the contrary, they formed the original migration of a people who today, having neither state nor province but, still an incredible vitality, ask to be recognized for that. The driving force of this fierce
resistance to assimilation has been their attachment to the French language,
which they have clutched to their bosom in the face of trials and tribulations. What lesson can be drawn, if any, from history? Is the experience of the Acadians an example of the deliberate, barbarous treatment of peoples that we often witness in our own times?"

Cost for the luncheon and lecture is $15.00. Space is limited and
reservations must be made in advance by calling 262.5810 or 394.2258. There
is a $2 admission fee for each attraction, the Acadian Memorial and St.
Martinville Heritage Center.

Sponsors: Acadian Ambulance, La Délégation Général des Alliances Française aux USA, CODOFIL Alliance Française de Lafayette & Acadian Memorial

***

April 19th, 6:00 pm
Admission: $1.00

"The Story Of The Acadians" To Premier In Louisiana

A film that traces the Story of The Acadians will premier in Louisiana at the Acadian Memorial on 19th April at 6:00p.m. when Maine film maker, Brenda Jepson and Evangeline scholar, Dr Francoise Paradis , fly to Cajun Country to present the epic documentary.
"We have had a film showing in France and at theaters all over Maine, where many folk of Acadian descent are living today. I am thrilled we now have the opportunity to bring this film to the Cajuns of Louisiana." said Jepson.
"It's about their origins too and I'm sure they will find the story of The Acadian Line, where many of their ancestors were housed as refugees before emigrating to Louisiana, a fascinating piece of their history."

The Story of the Acadians spans one-hundred-seventy years beginning with the arrival of the French at Isle St Croix off the coast of Maine in 1604 and ending at the Acadian Line in France in 1774. It was from The Acadian Line, that hundreds of Acadians emigrated from France to Louisiana.

This hour long epic tells the tale of a peace loving people who never give up. The Story Of The Acadians shows how the first French settlers brought with them pre-fabricated homes from France, how their strong relations with the Native Americans helped to save their lives, and illustrates the innovative designs of the French in the construction of the the intricate system of dykes they introduced into North America.

The film explains how the French became Acadians with a culture of their own - a culture of family values, of hard work and of a determination never to be destroyed despite numerous attacks by the British - assaults which culminated in one of the worst human tragedies of all time - the Deportation from Nova Scotia.

"The Story Of the Acadians" features dazzling footage of St Croix Island and St Sauveur in Maine; Port Royal, Annapolis Royal and Grand Pre in Nova Scotia as well as Chaussee in Poitou, France - ancestral home of the Acadians. It ends at The Acadian Line in Chatellerault in France where a few descendents of the Acadians still live today.

After living in France for twenty years, hundreds of the Acadian refugees left The Acadian Line in the late 1700's to settle in Louisiana. They had been given free land in Poitou as well as homes, but their hearts remained in the New World and so they left for a new life in Louisiana.
"The Story Of The Acadians" is an unforgettable account that shows how a nation without borders has survived for more than two-hundred-and-fifty years and has become even stronger for its struggles.

The film had its world premiere in France when Maine's Governor, John Baldacci, presented the film to the French during his gubernatorial trade mission. For more information contact Brenda Jepson: 896-3416 or email her at abjepson@nci3.net website: www.crownofmaineproductions.com

Attached Photos Identification

1. Illustrations from the film #373 shows the first French settlement in North America at Isle St Croix off the coast of Maine. Although it was only 1604, the settlers brought with them pre-fabricated houses with leaded glass windows. These would become the Acadians after they abandoned this inhospitable island and colonized Nova Scotia instead. After the deportation in 1755, their descendents would end up back in Maine in the St John Valley in 1785 after fleeing to New Brunswick.

2. The second illustration shows the deportation of the Acadians from Grand Pre in 1755. Don Cyr, an Acadian scholar living in Lille in northern Maine, produced these paintings.

***

CALLING ALL CAJUNS AND FRIENDS
THIRD ANNUAL - Acadian Memorial Festival
March 17, 2007
Theme: A Celebration of Longfellow's 200th Birthday & Influence on Acadian History

Evangeline Oak Park
Evangeline Blvd. & South New Market
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremony

Let the festival begin with a tribute to
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
with the musical
"Evangeline"

10:30 a.m. Evangeline Musical by Lisa's School of Dance, St. Martinville

11:00 a,m. Cajun Band, Kyle Huval et les Acadiens – Bandstand

11:00 a.m. - Wooden Boat Tent along the Bayou Teche
Join the discussion and hear stories and history of Wooden Boats

11:00 am - Theatré Acadian -Deportation Vignettes- Acadian Memorial Hall

11:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m. - 1929 Film "Evangeline" - with Christy Maraist's story of St. Martinville's true Evangeline – Acadian Memorial Conference Room (Limited Space)

1:00 p.m. Reenactment of the Arrival of the Acadians / LeBlanc & Trahan Families

Cajun Bands Members will fiddle a Welcome song
Introduce- Mickey Rivet, Plaquemine, LA with International Acadian Festival
Tribute to Longfellow’s 160 year old poem, "Evangeline" - Queen Evangeline, Erin Francsé) arriving by boat - Welcoming Evangeline are Indian Princesses & Chief / International Acadian Festival, Plaquemine, LA.
Children's Welcome Parade - singing and declaring pride of being Acadian
Actors portray first LeBlanc and Trahan ancestors

2:00 pm. - John Albert Landry - Lecture and Book Signing on his new book, "Hoorah Plantation - 1930-1945" Al captures the nostalgia of a time when family was all important in the Louisiana/French culture and plantation life was still viable

2:00p.m.. Cajun Music by "Moi-J'aime-ca-Comme-Ca (I-Like-It-Like-That)"

2:00 p.m. - Nunk Allain - Story Teller Traiteur / Heritage Center Media

3:00 p.m. - Dr. Ray Brassieur, ULL - Wooden Boat Lecture / slide show. Acadian Memorial Conference Room

Children's Programs

11: 00 a.m. "Name the Acadian Mural Pig" and enter the Pig Coloring contest - Heritage Center Media Room

11:00 am - Jackie Miller teaches children and adults how to make the traditional Screen Mardi Gras Mask. Cost: Supplies $8 / Children under 12 - Adult needed – City Hall

12:00 Noon - Story of the "Fiddles and Spoons: An Acadian Mouse Journey" / Color the Mouse family / Parade of Acadians with spoons, flags & bubbles. Learn some French songs with French Teacher Renée-Claire Bornes / Heritage Center Media Room

1:45 p.m. - Announcement of the Winning mural pig's name and the Pig coloring contest
- Bandstand

2:30 p.m. Egg Knocking Contest (Pacques), St. Martinville Information Center Grounds – Blue House

All Day Exhibits & Demonstrations & Arts&Craft
Cajun Foods: Couche-couche, Jambalaya, Gratons, Boudin
According Making, Moss Picking, Quilt Lessons, Antique Cars
Antique and Reproduction Wooden Boats on the bayou and on display
L'Ordre Du Bon Temps Tent: Cajun Men Cooking Game and Fish
Wooden Boats display - Atchafayala Minature Boat Replicas Used by Acadians
Sweet Booth & Much More

***

Feb. 27th, 11:00 a.m. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) plaque unveiling - "Longfellow's Influence on St. Martinville and the Acadian/Cajun history". A commemoration and remembrance of Longfellow's 200th birthday, 160 year old poem "Evangeline" which speared the making of the 1929 film"Evangeline" in St. Martin Parish and Judge Felix Voorhies's local historical book on the Evangeline of St. Martinville, "Acadian Reminiscences: The true Story of Evangeline"! The public is invited!

January 2007

Bonjour,

Two thousand and six, a year committed to memory! Despite the tragic storms that surrounded our community, the Acadian Memorial ends this year with many blessings! This was a difficult year yet a perfect time to find new ways to preserve our Acadian heritage for the local Cajun families,children and tourist around the world.

The efforts of the Acadian Memorial and supporters created a national awareness about our history! A message of acknowledgment from author of "To Honor Our Veterans: A Trilogy," Jason Theriot, applauds our success, "I want to thank you and your volunteers and donors for taking the "Acadian Revival" and preservation movement to a new level--a national level--where others will learn that our history is more than just crawfish, hotsauce, and Evangeline. It is about survival, adaptability, ingenuity, and longevity. I believe your efforts, and that of the Acadian Memorial Foundation will have a generational impact. Fier pour êre L"Acadien! (Proud to be an Acadian)"

All who worked on projects this year have much to be proud and grateful for! Read below just a few of our major accomplishments & highlights during 2006.

The History Channel's $10,000 Save Our History grant and the $10,000 Lowe's Honors Award gave local junior high students an opportunity to become "detectives" as they studied the history of deported Acadian children. This project, created by Sylvia Bienvenu, brought a major impact on the interpretation of the story of Acadian children's deportation experience! We were recognized nationally by the White House Preserve America Initiative, First Lady Laura Bush, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, U.S. Department of Education, the History Channel, Save Our History and Cox Media. How wonderful that teachers have the opportunity to use the curriculum / project guide, recognized by these major national organizations, to engage future students in learning through this "active hands-on" classroom approach. For more information, Click on: Let the Children Speak By Sylvia S. Bienvenu, Ed.S. An Educator’s Guide to researching and writing the history and genealogies of Acadian children who arrived in Louisiana in the late 1700s after being deported from Nova Scotia by the British. The Acadian Memorial 2nd Annual Festival offered an added program with the re-enactment of the Acadian's arrival on the Bayou Teche. Two Acadian family names, Hebert and Broussard were honored and next year, on March 17, 2007, the Leblanc and Trahan families will be honored during the festival. Thanks to the idea of the festival chairman, Ray Trahan, we can teach the story of the Acadian's settlement in Louisiana through this live visual program.

The Acadian Memorial Foundation initiated a fundraiser organization based on a 400 year old social eating club called "L'Ordre Du Bon Temps". In 1606, Samuel de Champlain started this eating club to provide entertainment and satisfy hearty appetites during the long, harsh Acadian winters for his 15 men company. Each took a turn being host for the day by designing his menu on the day's hunt and paraded with their creative dishes before serving. Christy Marist, past AM President, created the idea to celebrate the anniversary of "L'Ordre du Bon Temps" for a means of bringing our Cajun nation of people together. Now the Cajuns of Louisiana will be a part of the "first club of its kind" in Louisiana. Join us to enjoy "400 years of Acadian/Cajun Men Cooking: 1606 Acadian/Acadie - 2006 Louisiana/Louisiane. We invited our fellow supporters and Cajun cooks of game and fish to join this chapter just as the first Acadian settlers did. Charter members hope you will participate in the two "soirées" a year to enjoy fellowship and great eating. Membership is a yearly $25.00 per person.

The progress accomplished at the Acadian Memorial during a year where many Acadians suffered greatly yet survived, says a great deal of the Cajun people, who are all about "survival, adaptability, ingenuity, and longevity" as Jason Theriot's message indicates!

Bon Noel et Bon Année 2007

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