What is your connection to the French culture?

[Daniel Boucher]

Was french just the language you chose to learn in school?
Are you of French descent?
Where did your family come from?
Was the language passed down to you?
Was music present in your family and passed down?
Do you have any traditions that you still keep up today?
Do you feel that your culture is not existent?
Are you interested in bringing back that culture so it may be passed down again?

Give me your thoughts. Share your stories! Tell your friends! Pass the word around! I want to help be a part of those connections and make it fun and exciting!

[Nathalie]

Hi Daniel - of course, having the maiden name of Thibeault, I spoke French Canadian before I ever spoke English. Interestingly enough, I struggled when I took French in highschool as it was Parisian and not Canadian.

My father's side of the family is 90 miles of New Brunswick in a town called Cabano and Au Claire.
My mother's side of the family is in St. Georges, Beauce (I'm Melissa's cousin).
We always listened to the French Canadian Folklore music and danced to it.. the family on dad's side was big into singing it too
Every year we celebrate New Years with my dad's side of the family, big party.... We rent a bowling ally and the girls and younger children bowl while the guys play hockey. We then rent a huge hall, music, dancing, food, fun.

[Daniel Boucher]

Excellent! Vous connasissez la musique aussi! C'est bon. Peut etre une bonne fois on pourrais partager la musique!

[Don Levesque]

Bonsoir,

What a coincidence. I hadn't heard a word of English before entering first grade in Grand Isle, Maine, and then I flunked French in high school and repeated grade 10. It was the first French class I'd ever had. Maine cultural genocide was in full swing in Maine in the 1960s.

[Daniel Boucher]

My own connection?

My parents come from Québec. 80 miles south of Québec city. Practically centrally located between Québec city and the U.S. border. Two small adjacent towns within 15 mins of St. George de Beauce! <--(Beauce's easy landmark) St.-Honore de Shenley is where my mother grew up (La Famille Lessard) dans le Rang 9. My father dans le Rang 9 just over the town line in St.-Benoit de L'Arbre. 95% of both of their large families are still in Canada. From La Beauce, to La ville de Québec, to Montréal, Ontario, Ottawa. As far as U.S. bound- my father has two siblings here- a brother in Flint, Michigan and a sister back in my hometown of Bristol, CT along with my immediate family as well.

My parents like many French Canadians came down into the states for work. Not millwork like many other family stories, but Construction. 'Yes' I fit the bill of being the typical French Canadian descendant who was brought up in Construction and basically manual labor. Sheetrock? Yes that too. "Guilty!" Surprisingly finally in the past couple of years i'm becoming better at taping. It really is an art and quite the workout.

My parents moved down here in CT with very little to possibly no english capabilities. Not to worry though. They were among many Canadians that came down for the same reasons. So there were plenty of people to speak french with and they helped each other out. My parents decided to take English courses to better their bilingualism (not sure if that is a word). Unfortunately it was short lived and they both found themselves doing better in each their own environments. My father learning english on the Construction site while my mother learned by watching english soap operas while doing house work and taking care of all 4 of us. So dare wuz alut ov brrokin franglais! My siblings and I were brought up speaking both french and english. It was my father 's strict discipline with this that we are fortunate and thankful today to be so fluent in French. An absolute plus it has been for us growing because both of their families only speak french. We have spent a lifetime of traveling en Beauce many times a year, especially on the holidays. Bumping into Canadians on the same roads back home was a usual occurrence, like a pilgrimage!

From Sirop d'Érable to Québec's bon fromage to Pantouffes and Sheetrock--"Je suis fier d'être un Canadien.!"

Welcome to my new community to help find other's like me (hopefully) and other's who weren't so fortunate to have had similar connections. I have a lot more stories. Keep coming back for more!

[Don Levesque]

L'histoire des acadiens et franco-americains du nord du Maine est assez differente de l'histoire des autres franco-americains. Quand mon arrière-grandpère Louis Levesque est venu a Grand Isle comme jeune homme c'était pour s'trouver une terre et se faire une vie. il ne voulait retourner a Saint-Arsène de Kamouraska.
We were brought up in French. I didn't know anybody who spoke anything else. Still today, about 80% of the people of the St. John Valley region of Maine speak French. I have always lived as a member of the majority language.
Of course, when I started elementary school, we were physically punished for speaking French. They wanted us to speak Chinese. Pas vraiment. But it might as well have been Chinese because none of us had ever heard English before.
So, ont parle français mais nous avons de la difficulté a le lire et encore plus a le lire. Moi je suis an exception to the rule en cause que j'ai marrié une canadienne-francaise et je demeure a St-Basile au Noveau-Brunswick. Je suis comme 5 minutes du journal a Madawaska, Maine. I carry my passport ALL the time because I am constantly entering and leaving the country. Aller du Maine au Canada a toujours été comme traverser la rue par ici. La, ont a besoin d'un passport pour traverser la rue!
Dans la Vallée Saint-Jean nous parlons presque tous le franglais. Ont dit le computer, le monitor, la mouse, le keyboard, le desk and so on.
So, though many in the Valley are pretty much functionally illiterate in French ont est fier quand même d'avoir survivé jusqu'asteur.

[David Bezotte]

I heard French spoken at home and in our community in Chassell, Michigan, but the ability to speak it wasn't passed on to me. I took a French course in high school and several in college, and also took some short courses in Paris and Quebec City. My family on my mother's side has maintained contact with relatives in Saint-Cuthbert, and I felt it was important to continue that connection now that most of the French-speaking relatives here have passed away. That's the main reason I've made the study of French a high priority. I'm able to have satisfying visits in French with my older relatives there, although we don't always understand each other 100%, and several of my younger cousins have now become quite fluent in English, so there's hope of continuing our family connection between Michigan and Quebec!
And I'm very interested in bringing back the culture in my community here in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan. Other than French place names and pork pies, there's been very little evidence of French culture here for quite some time, while other groups are much more visible. A couple of years ago, I began organizing programs of French-Canadian music and dance, using a combination of memories of music from family visits and recorded music & song books that I bought in Quebec over the last 30 years or so. Our community seems to be pleased with the results. I'm now working with the Chassell Heritage Center to plan a festival to take place at the end of August, called "Festival Joie de Vivre". "De Temps Antan" will be coming to play and do music workshops at the festival. After that, I plan to continue working toward increasing awareness of the culture for the enjoyment and enrichment of our community.
Thanks very much for creating this opporunity to communicate about something that's so important to many of us!

[Rhea Cote Robbins]

bonjour,
Was french just the language you chose to learn in school?
We were taught French in grade school as part of the regular curriculum...the nuns being Franco-American, Ursulines, from all parts of Maine and also Louisiana, one of them. My first language was French and I lived in French, completely, in Waterville, ME.--growing up. My maman was from No. Maine and my dad was from Waterville. I was completely bilingual, still am, and I was given poor grades in French at school. Snort. All I could think was...what is wrong with those silly nuns...? I was even given a "D" in French in the 7th grade...how ridiculous...but how it stung. The teacher at the high school, one of them, would make the Francos ashamed and cry as a result of their so-called, supposed bad accent/French. I refused to take French with such a person. Turns out, she was/is also Franco-American. All those myths about patois, 'Parisian French'...which does not exist...not anymore than New York English...like finding an accent in a haystack...my French works fine in France and Canada...so, the collective, generational damage done to bilingual speakers is real...I'm right there with Don Levesque...they had me for a time believing I did not know my own language...but not anymore...as my father used to say: "My dogs are smarter than most people...my dogs know two languages."

French descent: all four lines...10th generation

Family origin: Mortange aux Perche; France, Limoges, France; Revillion, France; Gagnoniere, I forget the town...in France to Quebec to Maine...

Music: At times, yes. Memere Daigle played the harmonica, others sang. Melodies Francaises on the radio in French...every Sunday...

Traditions: Values and beliefs...practiced in the maison...as well as several other deep, dyed in the soul practices...a way of life...for us. Foods, colors, music, songs, etc.

Culture existent? I believe that the culture is there...but not always allowed to breath as freely as other ways of being...and also that people are starving for the public life spaces for the culture...

Culture to the surface? I work very hard to put forward the contributions of the Franco-American women, broadly defined. As well as many other aspects of the culture also. I believe this is important to a sound, fully realized, actualized, mental well being of the population as a WHOLE, to recognize the diversity that is in the Northeast and elsewhere. With full recognition of the women's works as well. See: http://www.fawi.net/

Thank you to you for these questions.

Rhea Cote Robbins

[George Dunne]

French language was a nightmare for me during my academic studies. The college I attended had a requirement for graduation of 2nd year competency in a language and my choice was French. It took me three years to get that requirement satisfied with many nights waking up with the dreaded thought of not being able to receive my Mathematics degree because of French. The interesting thing is that I feel an unexplained connection to French art and music. My favorite artists are the French impressionist of the early 20th century as well as the composers of the song during that same period such as Debussy, Poulenc and Faure. I became familiar with the New England Francophone family upon becoming friends with Martha Pellerin and Dana Whittle in 1996. I attended many tonks in Martha's home and was privleged to be introduced to many great musicians along the way. The hi-lite was playing with the ensemble for La Danse des Enfants in 1998.

As far as I know there's not a drop of French or Canadian blood in my veins (pure Welsh & Irish) but the deep down feeling for the culture is definitely in my bones. Today I still struggle with
conversational French but I don't let it get in the way of attending many events in Quebec which is only 3 hours from my home in Vermont.

[Maurice Mercier]

Bonjour Daniel, I don't know where to start. Let's start with me. I was born in the city of Montreal. My father was born in ladurantaye, Quebec. My mom was born in Montreal, yes I'm 100% Canadien, My wife of 43 years is Scotch descent. I have 4 sons and no one here except me speaks french. In growing up they where not interested in learning it, I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, they speak french also. Now the music comes from my fathers side. On the farm my grandfather & grandmother had 14 children, 7 boys and 7 girls, Only one girl played the piano. Now the boys 3 played the diatonic 10 button accordion, My grandfather and my father played the violin, My mom and dad moved to the US for work, he settled in Schenectady,NY and 2 of his sisters moved to Springfield Mass. One of his sisters married a wonderfull man my uncle Leo Blais a fine fiddler, So you can see when ever we got together. The music was on, I do mean ON. Picture 2 fiddles, one accordion, me on the guitar and his wife on the piano, my brother on the spoons, and everyone dancing some doing the jig. I love the word tradition, We have to keep it going. The music is a big part of the french culture, I can go on and on it would take a while, I met some nice folks, I met Alain at a french night in chiccoppee Mass, Also I Jam with John and Vonnie, fine folks and may I say extremely talented. This year, its on to Memoire et Racine. Last year I met my cousin Mark Talking about talent, This man can play the fiddle, and I also play accordion with him, Its on to the party in July. Bon Daniel, A la prochaine" Salut Bien.

[Jon Normandin]

Good Job New Years Eve 2008 Daniel.

Born in Woonsocket and raised mostly in a Norwegian household I didn't take French until high school. My fathers father was from the Family of Daniel Normandin, Notary and from DNA test I also believe Cogot from the west of France. My fathers mother was of the family of Joseph Francois Choiseul, dit Martel from France to Point du Lac, QC about 1794 and I became interested in genealogy long before I developed an interest in culture. I live in Burlington so I can be in Trois-Rivieres in less than three hours, Montreal in Less than two hours and St. Jean in slightly over an hour.

[Suzanne B Bernier]

Bonjour Daniel,

Was born in Woonsocket, RI, the oldest of 2 children - my father (the 2nd of nine children) was born in St Michel des Saints, PQ and came to the US when he was almost 10 - I always spoke French to my grandparents. When I went to grammar school we had half a day in French and half a day in English.

I still speak a lot of French being involved in the Club Richelieu and also as host of a weekly French radio/internet show. You may listen to the show "Salut! Bonjour!" every Sunday from 8:30-9:30AM by going to the website www.wnri.com and clicking the "on air" button. You will hear music from France, Canada, as well as Franco-American artists such as Josee Vachon, Chanterelle, and any other artists who give me some of their CD's to play on the radio. Have received e-mails from listeners in Europe, Canada, as well as New England. Enjoy meeting musicians such as yourself when I attend concerrs, festivals, etc.

Love my French language, traditions, and music.

Looking forward to seeing you again soon at one of your "gigs"

Suzanne Bernier

[Aline Cormier]

HI I come from Nouveau Brunswick, I speak a lot of Chiaq meaning half french half english, we spoke english at home but we went to a french school, so I am bilingual. We lived in Moncton most of my life.
As for music, my Dad played the jews harp and the harmonica and a bit of accordion, I play nothing grin. would love to play the piano, just got a keyboard will see if I succeed.
So this is a bit about me, I am into genealogy been at it since 1976 , I have an acadian website at acadian-roots.com if anyone is interested, I blog also.
Thanks to Roger for alerting to this site.
Aline