Volume 1, Issue 8 Fall 2017 Maine Acadian Maine Acadian Heritage Council Heritage Council Preserving Conseil d’héritage acadien du Maine Acadian Culture, Language, and President Lise Pelletier’s Message History in the St. John Valley In this newsletter, we stress the National Acadian Day: August 15th anniversary of the Grand Dérangement, importance of celebrating and August 15th is the feast day of Our Lady and after the church bells started to Pour préserver la conserving our Acadian culture. of Assumption. The date was chosen as ring, people made noise with whistles, Through annual funds provided by the National Day of Acadians at the 1st automobile horns, bells. In 1979, the culture, la langue National Park Service, the Maine National Convention in Memramcook, Société nationale des Acadiens wanted et l’histoire des Acadian Heritage Council is able to New Brunswick, in 1881. The reason is to revive the Tintamarre to emphasize Acadiennes et provide financial assistance to an historic one. At the time of the the slogan of the celebrations: “On est des historical societies of the St. John settlement of Acadie, France, under venus c’est pour rester” (we have come Valley. Preservation projects may Louis XIII, had a special devotion to and we’re here to stay). Acadiens de include restoring historic buildings; Mary. Louis attributed to Mary the Acadian Flag and National anthem la vallée du repairing structures used for pregnancy of his wife, Anne of Austria, The Acadian flag was adopted by the Haut St-Jean preservation of artifacts; digitizing after twenty-three years of a childless people assembled in Miscouche, Prince photographs and documents; creating marriage. On February 10, 1638, Louis Edward Island in 1884, for the 2nd books for children; documenting XIII decreed that the citizens of France In this issue: National Convention of Acadians. It cultural traditions; and fostering would march in processions on August was proposed by Msgr Marcel-François Presidents Message teaching of the French language. The 15th during which they would pray to Richard. Greater Grand Isle Historical Society is God and the Virgin. The Vatican 2017 Preservation educating the public about Acadian ratified the choice of the Acadian T h e b l u e , Grant Projects culture by preserving it in the form of a convention many years later in a white, and red coloring book. Leah Cook, the book’s proclamation issued on January 19, 2017 Education tricolor pays creator, talks about their special 1938. The Parliament of Canada made homage to the Resource project. Mrs. Gina Jandreau’s 4th grade National Acadian Day an official Development homeland of students at Madawaska Elementary Canadian holiday on June 19, 2003. t h e f i r s t Grant Project School give an account of the book Tintamarre on August 15th: Acadians, France. The yellow star in they produced: “Acadian Culture in Tintamarre means “clangour or din”. the blue panel is the star of Mary Madawaska”. Copies of this book will On August 15th, Acadians are “Stella Maris”, blue being the color Maine Acadian Heritage be gifted by the MAHC to every public encouraged to march through their associated with the Virgin Mary, and library in the St. John Valley. Maine Acadian Heritage is communities and make a lot of noise, gold being a papal color. At the same published four times a year by with noisemakers or improvised convention, the Latin hymn “Ave the Maine Acadian Heritage In order to conserve and transmit the Council. This newsletter is instruments like pots and pans. Maris Stella” was selected as Acadians’ elements of our culture, it is important designed to provide Tintamarre is a recent tradition re- national anthem. It is the only national information on efforts to to learn about the Acadian symbols preserve and promote the established in Canada in the mid-20th anthem in Latin in the world. Here are recognized throughout the world: Acadian culture, language and the words and music, and its French history in the St. John Valley Century. In 1955, during the th and beyond. Submissions are commemorations of the 200 version: subject to editing. For details, contact Kim Deschenes at French Version: 207-728-6826. In complying with the letter Ave Marie Stella, and spirit of applicable laws Dei Mater Alma, and in pursuing its own goals Atque Semper Virgo of pluralism, the Maine Felix Coeli Porta (bis) Acadian Heritage Council shall not discriminate on the Acadie ma patrie grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual À ton nom, je me lie, orientation, national origin or Ma vie, ma foi sont à toi citizen status, age, disability, Tu me protégeras. (bis) or veteran status in all areas. Acadie ma patrie (mon pays) MAHC President Lise Pelletier Ma terre et mon défi Vice Ken Theriault De près, de loin tu me tiens Secretary Chad Pelletier Mon coeur est acadien (bis) Treasurer Anne Roy Office Manager Kim Deschenes Acadie, ma patrie Ton histoire, je la vis La fierté, je te la dois Maine Acadian Heritage Council Page 2 MAHC Preservation Grant Projects The Greater Grand Isle Historical Society: $4,770 An Acadian Coloring Book I never thought of myself as an artist, Historical Society that we ended up both languages, all of us can access but in the Peace Corps I found going for it and started working on our French heritage without losing it Website: myself drawing freehand our own Acadian coloring book. or getting lost. enlargements of embroidery designs maineacadian.org for the women in my village. One I’ve spent the last year doing research: We’re still working to finish it up, woman heard about this and asked talking to folks in their 80s and 90s; but our local businesses and the me to enlarge a page of a coloring talking to folks raising kids today; Maine Acadian Heritage Council book her daughter had brought home visiting the historical societies, and have made it possible for us to print from school on the other side of the going through collections, and copies to give away for FREE to each border. It was a beautiful traditional joining in while we did traditional and every K-8 student and teacher. carving design, with hypnotic curves crafts. I took notes, picked up my We hope you like it, and we hope it and braids that meant friendship. pencils, and once again found myself prompts memories and sparks She told me the French government drawing. conversations for you as it has for us. had made this coloring book to get Enjoy! the carving designs and their We’re excited to tell you The Acadian meaning in front of the children so Coloring Book is 42 full-page Leah Cook their grandparents’ knowledge illustrations of Acadian life from the Grand Isle, Maine wouldn’t be lost. 1930s to today. It shows daily life and MAHC important traditions in the family Kim Deschênes, When I moved home a few years ago, and the home, and connects them to Office Manager I thought a lot about that idea and how we live today in the Valley. Each how amazing it’d be to make our own page has more written knowledge P.O. Box 88 version of it here. We got so excited layered in, and that final text will all Madawaska, ME about it at the Greater Grand Isle be in our local Valley franglais. With 04756 Phone: 207-728-6826 E-mail: maineacadianheritage @gmail.com MAHC gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support of our partner, the National Park MAHC Service. is a proud sponsor of The Coloring Book Volume 1, Issue 8 Page 3 Fort Kent Historical Society: $5,000 Chad Pelletier writes : A few years ago, the FKHS purchased the former railroad freight shed adjacent to the railroad station. Last year, the building was inaugurated as the “Paul D. Thibodeau Visitors’ Center” in honor of the society’s first president. With the help of grant monies from the MAHC and the fundraising efforts Thibodeau’s grandson, Jim Thibodeau, the building is undergoing a major transformation. The exterior will be painted to replicate the station while the interior will be renovated to display temporary displays and house an information center. Héritage Vivant (Van Buren Acadian Village): $2,615.00 Anne Roy writes: Built in 1857 by Abel Morneault who became a wealthy lumberman, the barn was donated by his grandson, Mr. Addis Beaupré and his wife of Grand Isle. This summer, we worked on stabilizing the back wall of the Rossignol barn. We were able to acquire used electrical poles from EMERA in Fort Kent to make braces to assure all would remain in place for many years to come. The Morin House was raised and new beams were installed as well as the wooden foundation rebuilt. The hay installation was redone. Ste-Agathe Historical Society : $3,700.00 Terry Ouellette writes: The Ste-Agathe Historical Society used it’s 2017 Preservation Grant monies to have the sealant applied to the shingles on the Pelletier/Marquis Museum House. Phil’s Handywork from Fort Kent completed the project of sealing the house and the roof before the flow of tourists arrived in late June. We appreciate the preservation grant monies from the Maine Acadian Heritage Council. Without these funds, we would not be able to preserve the most aged structure on its original site since 1854. The Museum House is located at 534 Main Street in the town of Celebrating Acadian culture and people of the St. John Valley for 20 years Maine Acadian Heritage Council / Conseil d’héritage acadien du Maine Page 4 L’Association culturelle et historique du Mont-Carmel : $7250.00 Don Cyr writes: We are removing the tin off the ceilings of the side aisles of our museum building.