CALLING ALL CAJUNS!
A Publication of The Acadian Memorial Foundation March 2015
COME ONE, COME ALL—March 21, 2015 11th Annual Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival Festival Schedule and Wooden Boat Congrès
9:00 am—Brazos Huval School of Music– Cajun music -Ongoing cooking and craft demonstrations (all day) -Food and beverage booths -Crafts booths and Acadian Memorial boutique
9:45 am—Flag raising
10:00 am—Welcome and intro- ductions - conversation in French (Mike LeBlanc and friends)
11:00— c -La Récolte—Cajun music -Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic site—traditional life on the bayou
12:00 pm—Traditional round dances with Earlene Broussard Photo courtesy of the Borne family - / Acadian Brown Come take part in welcoming the Acadians to Louisiana, along with food, music, arts Cotton, a documentary film by Sharon and Suzanne and crafts, theater, demonstrations and workshops, at the 11th annual Acadian Memo- rial Heritage Festival and Wooden Boat Congrès! The Festival takes place in Evange- 12:30 pm—Cajun dance les- line Oak Park on the Bayou Teche in downtown St. Martinville from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 sons with Brandon Broussard and Brazos Huval Schol of Mu- p.m. The event is free and open to the public. sic Enjoy traditional Cajun food and crafts, while watching demonstrations of how they are
1:00 pm—Re-enactment of the cooked and crafted from local chefs and artisans. Gumbo, fried fish, jambalaya and Arrival of Acadian families, hon- cracklin demonstrations continue throughout the Festival beginning at 9 a.m. While oring the Guilbeau and Sonnier having a bite, wander through vendors and artisans who turn wood of Louisiana trees families into boats, bowls and musical instruments while others reflect their beauty in paintings 1:30 pm—Crowning of and offer other hand crafted items. The Acadians arrived by boat, so it is fitting that the day begins with a parade of wooden 1:45 pm—Native American tra- boats, similar to those that might have been used by the Acadians. The wooden boats ditional music and dancing will also be on display, along with an antique car exhibit. Come join us in honoring 2:00 pm—Wooden Boat Parade Madame or Monsieur Bateau! and Exhibit -Storytime and Scavenger Hunt The re-enactment of the Acadian arrival in Louisiana takes place at 1:00 p.m. with with Suzy Lemoine members of the Guilbeau and Sonnier families, the families being honored at this year’s -La Récolte—Cajun music festivities, in the place of honor. Welcoming them to the banks of the Teche will be -Film on Acadian culture members of Louisiana native American tribes, as well as la Compagnie Franche Troupe 3:00 p.m. Decorating and de la Marine, the royal French peacekeeping force in North America. -ing eggs with Dylan and Jolène Adam Warning to all: The Royal Navy’s cannon will announce the beginning and end of the Festival and lunch at noon. 4:00 pm—Closing Ceremony Continued on page 2B. Calling All Cajuns 2 March 2015 Letter from the President
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Joseph dit Beausoleil Broussard along with approximately 200 fellow Acadians to Louisiana, who would eventually settle in the Attakapas Region. We should all make an effort to be actively involved in whatever events are planned for this year in a concerted effort to safeguard our heritage, language and culture. Some of the events commemorating this anni- versary include, but are not limited to our own Acadian Heritage Festival on March 21, 2015 here in downtown St. Martinville. The Grand Rèveil Acadien, October 3-12, 2015 (activities listed on the website of louisiane-acadie.org); and Festivals Acadiens et Creoles.
Based on information I recently read, the number of people who currently speak French in Louisiana is being reported to be 100,000, down from 1,000,000 in 1970, that represented a quarter of Louisiana’s population at the time. In the last 45 years, the number of French speakers in Louisiana has decreased by 90%. Linguistic erosion mirrors that of Louisiana’s coastline. (Joseph Dunn). The divide and conquer tactic of our governments have been and continue to be very effective. We must all work feverishly to reverse the tide, for, before long, the language and culture of our ancestors will truly be a thing of the past. Ce n’est pas l’heure de lâcher la patate! Now is not the time to give up, but rather the time to fight with all of our might and with every last fiber in our bodies! We know full well the alternative of not involving ourselves. What will you do?
I hope to see all of you at our Acadian Heritage Festival on March 21, 2015!
Sincerely, Randal Menard