Volume 1, Issue 5 April 2017 Maine Acadian Heritage Council Maine Acadian Heritage Council Preserving Acadian Culture, Language, Conseil d’héritage acadien du Maine and History in the St. John Valley MAHC Partners with the Acadian Archives/Acadiennes Pour préserver la The Maine Acadian Heritage groups that followed different and state senators. culture, la langue Council and the Acadian routes after the Deportation: the The Maine Acadian Heritage et l’histoire des Archives acadiennes of the Acadians of the Atlantic Council paid the tuition and University of Maine at Fort Kent provinces of Canada, and the Acadiennes et des CEU costs of four Valley collaborated on a course taught Acadians of Maine. In Canada, Acadiens de teachers: Mrs. Jenny Béchard and by Archives director, Lise the Acadian Renaissance lasted Mrs. Debbie Nadeau, Madawaska la vallée du Pelletier, “History of Acadie and from the 1880’s to the 1970’s. In Elementary School; Ms Connie Haut St-Jean the St. John Valley”. The course the late 1960’s, Acadian youth Cloutier, Dr. Levesque, ran for two hours per week for rejected what they perceived was a In this issue: Frenchville; and Mr. Clarence five weeks at the University of too gentle approach by the elite, Soucy, Madawaska High School. -MAHC & Acadian Maine at Fort Kent, from January fighting for equal rights for the In addition, each received a Archives 18 to February 22nd. The class Francophones of New Brunswick. number of books, an Acadian covered the period marking the This rebellion was followed by an -Mardi Gras Deportation poster, an Acadian permanent presence of the incredible burgeoning of flag pin, a tote handmade by the -YouTube Videos by French in the New World, 1604, creativity in art, literature, music, Theriault sisters from Fort Kent: local students to the Acadian World Congress and politics. The Acadians of Eva Bard, Charlene Charette, in 2014. Major topics included: Maine, meanwhile, settled in a -Acadian Recipes Sharon Chassé, and Louise the French regime, the founding new area with their French- Harvey. In return for these -Top O’ Maine of Acadie; patterns of Canadian relatives to transform wonderful and generous gifts, the immigration; the aboiteaux the Madawaska Territory. After --What is it? teachers submitted lesson plans system; the English regime; the years of uncertainty following the for public distribution. The Golden Age of Acadie; Le Grand separation of Maine from Acadian Archives acadiennes gave Dérangement; migrations before Massachusetts, the St. John River each of the participants reading and after 1755; Acadians of the was chosen as the border between materials, the teacher guide of the diaspora; the return to Acadie; Maine and New Brunswick, 2014 CMA, and the lesson plans the Acadians of Louisiana; the separating the French Catholics created for the 2014 CMA. Evangeline poem by American families settled on both sides of Maine Acadian Heritage Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. the river. Acadians embraced The Acadian Archives director is Maine Acadian Heritage is published their new country and its politics, currently teaching a French Participants then had an four times a year by the Maine Acadian becoming state representatives Heritage (Valley) language class. Heritage Council. This newsletter is opportunity to study two Acadian designed to provide information on efforts to preserve and promote the Acadian culture, language and history in the St. John Valley and beyond. Submis- Right: Students preparing for their sions are subject to editing. For details, last 5 week course with Lise Pelletier. contact Kim Deschenes at 207-728-6826. In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals of pluralism, the Maine Acadian Heritage Council shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizen status, age, disability, or veteran status in all areas. MAHC President Lise Pelletier Vice Ken Theriault Right: l to r - Teachers Connie Cloutier, Debbie Nadeau, Secretary Chad Pelletier Jenny Bechard, Cur Soucy & Archives Director, Lise Treasurer Don Cyr Office Manager Kim Deschenes Pelletier presenting teachers with their bag of materials. Maine Acadian Heritage Council Page 2 History of Carnival and “Mardi Gras” Carnival or Carnaval is celebrated that otherwise would not be million people converge on Nice throughout the world, in over 60 permitted. Disguises are also a in the French Riviera to watch the countries. It was a pagan break from routine, or again, the parade floats with their wacky tradition long before it was natural order of life. In adopting a large-headed papier-mâché Website: adopted by the Catholic Church. mask, individuals adopt a new characters. Parades, street artists, maineacadian.org Carnival is a time of abandon and role, therefore their behavior tightrope walkers, folklore groups, merriment which precedes Lent. changes. music and troupes from around Carnival starts on the Feast day of the world make a joyful cortege. Epiphany, January 6, and ends the Carnavals around the world night before Ash Wednesday, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Carnaval de Québec: Celebrated the beginning of the 40-day period Louisiana: As early as 1699, when since 1861. Over 300 family of fasting and abstinence known the French-Canadian Pierre le activities, concerts, and cultural as Lent. The date Mardi Gras falls Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville was activities, among which three upon is based on the Catholic exploring the Mississippi River, he parades, ice sculpture contests, calendar; this year, Mardi Gras is named a bend in the river “Pointe lodging in a castle of ice, dog sled February 17. du Mardi Gras” because Mardi races, and a canoe race on the St. Gras was being celebrated in Carnival is basically a “topsy- Lawrence Seaway. The mascot of France at that time. In 1857, the turvy” period, when masked Carnaval is “Bonhomme official Mardi Gras colors: green MAHC people play tricks on each other. Carnaval”, a huge showman representing faith; gold: power; Kim Deschênes, Much dancing and eating of rich wearing a traditional Québécois and purple: justice. Office Manager foods are also part of the woven belt and red tuque. celebrations. Years ago, on the day Cajun Mardi Gras: “Rooted in the P.O. Box 88 Carnaval de Rio in Rio de of Epiphany, January 6th, the medieval European fête de la Madawaska, ME Janeiro, Brazil. It exists since the community would share a King quémande, or feast of begging, it 19th Century, and was segregated 04756 Cake in which a bean was hidden. is related to other ceremonial until 1930. The Brazilian Whoever found the bean was begging traditions like Chirstmas Carnaval lasts 5 days. It is the Phone: crowned king for the day. In the caroling and trick-or-treating in biggest carnival in the world, 207-728-6826 18th Century, the bean was which a procession of revelers attracting over 500,000 visitors replaced with a marble figurine. travels through the countryside E-mail: every year. It starts with the King Cakes are a vital part of the bringing their performance with maineacadianheritage crowning of the Fat King, King celebrations of Mardi Gras in them to various homes and @gmail.com Momo, who is presented with a New Orleans. requesting a gift in giant silver and gold key by the exchange.” (Barry Jean Ancelet Masks, and costumes allow city’s mayor. Mardi Gras, Gumbo, and individuals to participate in Zydeco”) Continued on back page Carnaval de Nice, France: Over a Carnaval anonymously and do MAHC t h i n g s gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support of our partner, the National Park Service. Volume 1, Issue 5 Page 3 Local Students Produce “Historic” Projects WOWL Channel 16 students created All videos were aired on Channel 16, information into their video productions. short video documentaries of all the on YouTube, and also on the online historic sites in the St. John Valley, from version of Channel 16 The Channel 16 students learned a lot Van Buren to Allagash. Students worked (www.madawaskatv.viebit.com). about local history and were excited about with each historical society to design a their final products. video that highlights key components of Working with individuals from each the site and their importance to the St. society to acquire basic information about -Colin Jandreau John Valley. each group allowed students to learn about Channel 16 Instructor the age of the facilities, their incorporation Madawaska Middle/High School Emphasis was on quality, high definition dates, the number of members, contact video and narration to bring to life information, and information about the historical buildings and objects, to entice artifacts housed in the facilities. Students Videos can also be accessed at those who may not have had an then incorporated bits and pieces of the maineacadian.org and the MAHC opportunity to visit the sites in person. Facebook Page. Pictures from a few historical society site YouTube videos: L to R Dube House, Ft. Kent HS, Frenchville Water Tower & Caboose and the Allagash Museum Acadian Recipes Tarte au Sucre Beignets (Sugar Pie) 6 cups flour 2 cups milk Mix 6 tsp. baking powder 6 jumbo eggs 3 1/4 cups of light brown sugar (well packed) 2 Tbsp. Crisco Oil 1 tsp. salt 2/3 cup flour mix well with the Mix all ingredients together. You should have a nice thick batter. sugar Syrup Add 2 lbs. brown sugar 6 cups water 2 beaten eggs 1 12oz canned milk Combine sugar and water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Once 2 tsp. vanilla liquid is boiling, scoop your batter by tablespoon into your syrup. 2 Tbsp. melted margarine or butter Place only 3 to 4 tablespoons at a time in the pot, because your Mix well.