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B
O N J O U R E T B
I E N V E N U E
Welcome
to the Acadian Heritage Week Committee web
site. In celebration of our Acadian heritage,
we are organizing a series of events during
the week of October 8-15, 2006.
Our primary focus is to relate the Acadian’s magnificent story
of resistance to the school children of Louisiana.
A curriculum guide has been designed for the
8th grade Louisiana history students by the
Louisiana Department of Education, which we
hope will be taught during Acadian Heritage
Week (school principals need be consulted).
The curriculum can be downloaded here (pdf
document) and if you endorse the teaching of
this curriculum in our schools, please talk
to your school principal and teacher about
using it in class this coming fall.
In
addition, the Mayor of Lafayette, Joey Durel, has
agreed to help us organize the screening
of “Against the Tide” in the Heymann auditorium for the assembled
8th grade classes of the parish. “Against the Tide” is
a one-hour documentary, which examines the
history of the Acadian people of Louisiana. It was awarded
Best Historical Documentary by the National
Educational Television Association in 2000.
(Click
here to purchase an Acadian Heritage Week packet at a very special price, and which includes a copy of "Against the Tide.")
Furthermore, Mayor
Durel has agreed to furnish us technical and logistical support in
order
to coordinate commemoration events within all of the
communities throughout Acadiana. We will
be placing displays in public libraries and will
be offering assistance to the various municipalities
in Acadiana to help them organize their
own commemoration events.
This is where we need your support.
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G E T I N V O L V E D !
In order for our commemoration to be effective, we will need your help in organizing events in your communities.
Suggested activities include:
- Screening of “Against the Tide.” We have DVD and VHS copies available for sale and if you can help us organize a screening where you live, please contact us.
- Commemorative masses or religious ceremonies. (Contact your parish priest or minister. Even though the Acadians were persecuted because of their Catholic faith, we believe that this commemoration should be ecumenical and inter-faith whenever possible)
- Teaching of the State Dept. of Education curriculum guide for 8th grade Louisiana history classes, Acadian Odyssey. (Contact your school officials and encourage them to implement the one-week teaching plan. Talk to 8th grade teachers and tell them about this ready to use curriculum.)
- If you work
with other French-speakers, talk to them
about making Acadian Heritage Week “French week” in
the office and speak French at every opportunity
you have between October 8 and 15. This
is a great way to honor the Acadian ancestors.
- Speak French, not only at work, but whenever you can all week long.
- Ask your librarian to purchase books and teaching aids about Acadian History so that every one has the opportunity to learn from the story of the Acadians. (click here to view our specials)
- You don't have much time? You can help by simply passing along our web site address (www.acadianheritage.org) to your family and friends, asking them to visit and take part in the commemoration evemts.
- And, of course, if you wish to help in any other way, please do not hesitate to do so. Contact us for more information.
Please help us in sharing the powerful story of the Acadians with our entire community. The story of the Acadians is a big part of the story of Acadiana. The lessons of tenacity in the face of adversity, and of tolerance in the face of intolerance, are valuable to all, regardless of ethnic origins. Help us in commemorating the memory of the deported Acadians, ancestors to so many among us, and to pass the story onto all the children of Southwest Louisiana.
MES AMIS, N'OUBLIONS PAS!
– The Acadian Heritage Week Committee
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