On Longfellow's Bicentenniel

Story of fictional Evangeline evokes emotions in Acadians.

Research on Usher Syndrome

The Sound of Hope: New research helps the fight against a rare disease that afflicts descendants of the original Acadians.

New DVD

The Story of the Acadians.

Ethnic slurs

Storm about use of the derogatory term "coonass" (a slur against Acadians) by Alabama coach Nick Saban. Saban gave a non-apology apology, saying he could "understand how some would take offense." But afterwards he claimed "It's a term of endearment down in Louisiana." Erath attorney Warren Perrin, president of CODIFIL, however, says, "It is highly offensive."

"The most insulting and derogatory term levied against Acadians is the term 'coonass,' Perrin wrote. "The use of this offensive term re-affirms negative stereotypes and its vestiges of pre-civil rights era racial discrimination. This insulting slang was never a proud or complimentary term affixed to the Acadian people. We will not tolerate the use of this racial slur which has pejorative connotations."

Perrin also cited the Roach vs. Dresser Industrial Valve and Instrument lawsuit of 1980 in which an employee was allegedly terminated for protesting his superiors' use of the term coonass.

"The case resulted in a federal judge declaring Cajuns a bona fide minority group protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and thus protection from ethnic slurs like "coonass," Perrin said.

Perrin added that in 1981 that the Louisiana Legislature condemned the use of coonass.

"Cajuns over the years have been successful in discouraging the term's use, both by non-Cajuns and fellow Cajuns alike," Perrin said. "It's just not good for people visiting Louisiana to hear that word either. You can't get away from the vulgarity of the second part of the word."

Here and here.

Talking Acadian

John Chetro-Szivos, of Fitchburg, MA, has written Talking Acadian: Communication, Work and Culture.

The book provides a look into the lives of French-Speaking American Acadians, particularly those who left eastern Canada to settle in Massachusetts in the 1960s. It begins with a description of a fall fair at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Gardner and goes on to explain the role of the church in the ethnic identity of the Acadian community.

CMA -- 2014!

Lafayette is starting its campaign to bring the Congres Mondial Acadien back to La Louisiane in 2014.

But some have been hoping for some time that we'd be going to France for a CMA.

New blog

Lucie LeBlanc Consentino has a blog: Acadian Ancestral Home.

Acadian Day in Nova Scotia

Proud to be an Acadian--on this year's celebrations in Nova Scotia.

Latest discoveries at Grand-Pre

Significant Acadian artifacts found: Archeologists believe they may point to site of deportation

Acadian children

Day of the Acadians remembers the children

Homestead of Daniel LeBlanc

Canadian artist Daniel LeBlanc has created a watercolor painting of the Homestead of Daniel LeBlanc, and is making limited edition prints available. Click on the link for more info.

Madawaska

Acadian Festival opens in Madawaska, Aroostook County, ME.

Acadian Village

Acadian Village in Lafayette, LA, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

PS: It's a hoax.

60 Minutes takedown of The Priory Of Sion.

Halifax's Grou Tyme cancelled

Axing Grou Tyme upsets Acadian communities.

The Chinese of the Eastern States

I've transcribed and posted to my webpage much documentation related to the 19th controversy over Carroll Wright's reference to French Canadians as the Chinese of the Eastern States.

C. Mel Surette

Fr. C. Melvin Surette of the Archdiocese of Boston was removed from ministry in 1995 because of charges of inappropriate conduct with young men. He was then given a job in the chancery, where his job was to find jobs for other priests who had been accused, including Fr. Ron Paquin--he was kind of the fox guarding the henhouse, you might say. This ended in 2000. Surette, living in the Peabody area, keeps busy these days writing for Acadian and French Canadian genealogy newsletters, and speaking at conferences on this topic. I met him at the Congres Mondial Acadien in 2004. The link above will take you to a Google search.

Only 3 more years!

CMA 2009.

Museum mounts binational exhibition on Seven Years' War

Museum mounts binational exhibition on Seven Years' War; Clash of Empires: The War That Made Canada 1754-1763, will start at Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, and will end up at the Smithsonian.

More idiotic headlins

Scout.com: Fear and Loating in Cajun Country. I'm not sure what "loating" is -- but there's nothing in this article about "Cajun Country."