I've had a generous offer to help me in the genealogical research for my mother's grandfather. I had sent an e-mail to compliment a site I had come across, tho site owner emailed back. Through several back and forths since yesterday, I've offered to show her the earliest Acadian cemetery in PEI and she is putting me in line for a cool event. She heads a genealogy group where they take one query or one name a week and each group member researches it. Her (and her husband's) last name is the name I am searching for and her mother is of the same last name.
A great percentage of Acadians stayed a very homogeneous group, living among themselves in various pockets of the world. They shared an extraordinary history, a unique culture, and a language. I lost out somewhat along the way as I don't speak French fluently but my kids attended French Immersion until grade 12. Here's the quick and dirty Wiki version of the Acadian story. We had our 400th anniversary in '04, the oldest European settlement in North America....unless you count the Vikings, who didn't stay. It is very interesting genealogy to work on with the same names criss-crossing over and over. It makes you dizzy.
I've got tons of Lennie Gallant and Rheal Pelletier cd's but nothing on my computer. They're PEI Acadians, both whom I've known the thirty one years I've been on the Island. Instead I'll treat you with Daniel Lanois who I'd consider an honourary Acadian. The Collection of Marie Claire was a favorite 'car song' for my kids. If this song isn't just the best.... Also, here's Jolie Louise.
2 comments:
Mes racines sont aussi Acadien. Malheureusement, ma famille a tout perdu notre langue est notre culture. So, like you, we find ourselves on the outside looking in. Acadians in name but not in spirit.
Fortunately, through their Québecoise mother, my children have regained the language. But they'll never regain that deep, ingrained sense of culture, of belonging. Too bad...
My connections are to the Island. The vast majority of my research has involved my PEI ancestors. Need some pointers? Let me know...
Dan, you wouldn't believe that Lucie, the woman I corresponded with has already found lots of what I was looking for. I think she has most of the research for that family already done. She uncovered in an hour what I've been looking for for years.
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