PRESS PACKAGE
Summary
Press releases
• Waking up to Grand Réveil Acadien!
An overview of the event and the reason behind it
• A northerly breeze is sure to kick up during Louisiana’s Grand Réveil Acadien
Information on who is travelling to the area from other Acadian areas for the event
• Grand Réveil Acadien to kick off in New Orleans
Featuring details on the Opening Ceremony slated for Friday, October 7th
• Coastal Coup de Main planned during October's Grand Réveil Acadien
Featuring details of an event happening in Grand Isle on Monday, October 10th
• Getting Ready to Fête
An overview of events planned at the Cajundome on Thursday, October 13th
• Racing to uncover Acadiana's hidden gems
Featuring information on the youth event’s premiere activity
• Artists to show Acadian homeland of the past and the present at Grand Réveil Acadien
On exhibits at UL and at the Cajundome
• Grand Réveil Acadien to conclude with a vibrant mélange of traditions at Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
A huge parade is planned for the closing on Sunday, October 16th
• MEDIA ADVISORY – Official Opening on October 7th
Boilerplate and Contacts
Photographs
Waking up to Grand Réveil Acadien!
(Lafayette, LA) Louisiana's Acadian/Cajun community kicks off its most important event since the 1999 Congrès Mondial Acadien.
This state-wide ten day celebration of language, music, history, culture and Acadian influence in the heart of Louisiana is focused on further awakening Louisianans passion and pride in their Acadian roots. Organizers hope to achieve this goal by presenting various events that highlight what makes our local Acadian culture so unique. Although many Acadians from Canada, Maine and France will be travelling south to attend, it's truly happening to inspire and energize our own community.
C'est quoi?
The amazing and diverse program that the GRA was put together by Louisiane-Acadie has something for everyone. “Young or old, French-speaker or not, genealogy buffs and cultural activists alike will find something fun and stimulating for them and their family.” explains Louisiane-Acadie President, Ray Trahan. “That being said, it's no secret that the success of an event like this is never really the planned events but rather the unexpected connections and impromptu gatherings that just happen. In just a few hours a person can learn more about who they are than they've ever known.” he continues. Interested in increasing the odds of experiencing something this special? It's simple; you can't miss GRA's events. The complete program of events is now available online at www.gra2011.org and printed guides will soon be appearing around the state.
Celebrations start with official ceremonies in New Orleans on October 7th and move on to Houma on the 9th for a day of genealogical activities down the bayou. The most recent monument of the International Commemoration of the Great Upheaval will also be unveiled that day in downtown Houma. This impressive granite monument tells the story of the Acadian Deportation and presents the Louisiana-specific details of the defining event of our people's story. The following day (October 10th), a coastal coup de main is planned at Grand Isle State Park where cousins from far and wide will come together to help put up sand fencing, plant native marsh grass and clean up the beach.
Caravans will then travel west to Lake Charles where a day of music, food and local attractions await on October 11th. Lake Charles is taking out all the stops for this cultural rendez-vous. Where else can you dig into your genealogy, cast your vote in a boudin war, catch a set of Cajun French music for kids and possibly connect with your ancestor’s cousin? Then it's on to Lafayette where October 13th's Fête de Famille is will offer a day chock-full of music, films, speakers, storytelling and much more. The local public and visitors are then urged to attend Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, Lafayette' annual hommage to the best of Acadian and Creole music, food and crafts.
More than just your regular old party
While similar events have often focused on the past, understanding our history and where we come from, GRA is rather asking where we are going. This marks a new dawn in the fight to increase and enhance the presence and use of French in Acadiana. The program features discussions on our cultural future as well as activities for students that are currently enrolled in French immersion learning all organized in the hopes of instigating pro-active thought and actions among community leaders. It's time to go past simply surviving; we must also strive towards growth. “It seems like an easy thing to do, fully live your culture but it's not that easy. Our language is a major part of what defines us, certainly not the only thing, but a major one and it's been marginalized for years. If it continues to be oppressed, we are no longer who we really are, who we are supposed to be. The GRA can be the catalyst that is needed to drive us to fight for our language.” says GRA Youth Program Director, Valerie Broussard-Boston. She is responsible for Camp de Jeunes, GRA's “for youth, by youth” event that will bring together dozens of French-speaking students aged 14 to 18 from Louisiana, Eastern Canada and Maine for four days of fun and cultural identity building. Planned activities include a night of music by young musicians from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Houma's Isle Dernière, keynote speakers, group discussions on the future and a cultural Amazing Race-style car rally that will require participants to get up-close and personal with Lafayette, St-Martin, Vermilion, Iberia parish geography, history and fun facts. Spots remain for students from Louisiana hoping to participate in this amazing (and free!) extracurricular adventure happening from October 13th to 16th. Register and request more information at valerie@louisiane-acadie.com.
The final highlight of GRA will be no less than a huge parade through Lafayette's Girard Park billed as a celebration of all Acadian procession traditions and a clear demonstration of cultural and community affirmation. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles attendees are invited to join in or just watch this noisy and colourful collision of different north American Acadian customs. Noisemakers, costumes, pride and good cheer are to be expected for the official closing event on Sunday, October 16th at 2:30 pm!
General Program
October 7-8 New Orleans Opening Ceremony and attractions
www.neworleanscvb.com
October 9-10 Houma Gathering of Acadians, new monument, Coastal Coup de Main
www.houmatravel.com
October 11-12 Lake Charles Day of activities at Civic Center and discover the parish
www.visitlakecharles.org/gra
October 13-16 Lafayette Fête de famille, Camp de Jeunes, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles and Grande Procession Closing Parade
www.gra2011.org
& www.festivalsacadiens.com
The Grand Réveil Acadien is presented by Louisiane-Acadie with the help of the following sponsors and partners : Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, CAFA, CODO FIL, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, FrancoJeunes de Louisiane, the Société Nationale de l’Acadie & all its member organizations, Lafayette Consolidated Government, LCVC, New Orleans Metro CVB, Houma Area CVB, Southwest Louisiana CVB, Acadian Ambulance, Frank's Casing Crew, CCET, Action Cadienne & Zachary Richard, Les Amitiées Acadiennes, Association Jeunesse à Lafayette, Bretagne-Louisiane-Acadie, Les Cousins Acadiens du Poitou, Canadian & Louisiana Twinned Cities, FAFA, Festivals Acadiens in Clare, NS and Caraquet, NB, Festival en Chanson (Petite Vallée, Qc), France-Louisiane-Franco-Américanie, Madawaska Acadian Festival, our many other partners in Canada & France and the unfailing support of the Acadiana Caucus especially Senators Mike Michot, Eric LaFleur and Representative Jack Montoucet.
A northerly breeze is sure to kick up during Louisiana’s Grand Réveil Acadien
(Lafayette, LA) Many Acadians from all over the world have heard our call and are on their way here for Grand Réveil Acadien (GRA, Great Acadian Awakening); 2011’s premiere celebration of Acadian culture and an event that has been mobilizing our state’s Acadian community for the past few years.
Set to start on Friday, October 7th, GRA can be seen as a sort of reverse Great Upheaval. It will bring hundreds of visitors, academics, students and official delegates from Canada and France to participate in the many GRA activities planned throughout the state. While some of our distant cousins are coming on their own to discover Acadiana, many are part of organized groups that will travel together and tour the area by bus. This is the case for a gang from Memramcook (New Brunswick) organized by the local historical site committee (pictured) and another from Québec City coordinated by the Coalition des organisations acadiennes du Québec. These visitors plan to attend many GRA activities including October 13th’s Fête de famille and the closing Grande Procession at Festival Acadiens et Créoles.
Louisiana’s newest francophone youth organization is also patiently awaiting the arrival of delegations from Eastern Canada for the Camp de Jeunes, the first ever for youth, by youth francophone event in the state. The Société Nationale de l’Acadie’s (National Acadian Society) delegation is composed of 22 youth and 5 chaperons while another 5 students are expected from Maine. On top of that, local jeunes ambassadeurs de la francophonie des Amériques (Acadiana youth that have been designated Francophonie ambassadors) will welcome fellow ambassadors from various countries. Young Acadian musicians from Canada will also be contributing to the cultural programming of the event that will bring together young French speakers from Louisiana, Eastern Canada and Maine.
Other visiting cousins will take part in the general GRA programming. The busiest one being Université de Moncton genealogist Stephen White who will be speaking on family genealogy to crowds in Houma, Lake Charles and Lafayette. Also on the bill are Prince Edouard Island historian George Arsenault and Canisius College (NY) Modern Languages Department Head, Dr. Eileen M. Angelini who will both be encouraging us to think about our heritage and our future during the Fête de famille. Furthermore, New Brunswick’s Hert LeBlanc and Nova Scotia’s Unisson will perform at Festival Acadiens et Créoles and Moncton’s Georgette Bourgeois will show her art exhibit The Spirit of Grand-Pré at UL’s A. Hayes Town Building. Finally foreign participants will be hard to miss at the GRA’s closing event La Grande Procession featuring all of the Camp de Jeunes participants as well as representatives celebrating different Acadian area parade traditions such as the Tintamarre and the Guiannée being represented specifically by a group from Prairie du Rocher in Illinois.
« Our worldwide extended family’s presence at GRA is fundamental since it will enable us to show our local community what is going on and happening in Acadie right now, to present the reality of contemporary Acadian life. It is often said that you have to leave home to realize that where you are from and its culture is special. Our hope is that by bringing the outside home to us, GRA will trigger this awakening for our community on our own soil.” says the GRA’s programming director, Brenda Comeaux-Trahan.
So, people of Acadiana watch out! Your Acadian cousins are on their way and ready to meet you and discover your Acadie!
Grand Réveil Acadien to kick off in New Orleans
(Lafayette, LA) Visitors and distinguished guests from Louisiana, Canada and France will gather on Friday, October 7th at 4 pm to officially launch this state-wide ten-day celebration of language, music, history, culture and Acadian influence in the heart of Louisiana focused on awakening Louisianians' passion and pride in their Acadian roots.
Hosted by Codofil's Executive Director, Joseph Dunn and Brooke Smith, Director of Strategic Partnerships in the Office of Mayor Mitch Landrieu the event will feature a welcome by the Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu and remarks from Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne as well as the Honorable Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Consul General of Canada, the Honorable Jean-Claude Brunet, Consul General of France, Madame Françoise Enguehard, President of the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, Dr. William Arceneaux, Chairman of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana and Ray Trahan, President of Louisiane-Acadie.
This is just one of the many Grand Réveil Acadien (GRA) events in the state. "The GRA (Great Acadian Awakening) offers Louisiana an unprecedented opportunity to host friends, relatives and visitors who share a common interest in our French heritage. The event spans multiple parishes for an extended period of time, affording all of us interested in promoting our state a chance to shine. I wholeheartedly encourage all to be a part of this celebration" explains Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.
The ceremony being held at Gallier Hall (545 St. Charles Avenue) will be followed by a reception hosted by the New Orleans Metropolitan CVB and attended by many visiting Acadians from Canada and France.
Coastal Coup de Main planned during October's Grand Réveil Acadien
(LAFAYETTE, LA) It's no secret that our ties to our land and wetlands are a big part of our culture here in Louisiana and while we host our Acadian cousins from all over the world during the upcoming Grand Réveil Acadien (GRA, Great Acadian Awakening), one event in particular will help us share this passion for our amazing natural resources and surroundings.
In true Coup de main style, locals and GRA visitors of all ages are invited to share in this experience and work together to help restore a part of the coast in Grand Isle State Park. Participants will all travel by bus to the site and spend the day together attaching fencing material to posts, planting dune-adapted native plant species and assisting in a beach sweep.
Musician, wetlands advocate, project creator and proud Acadian, Dr. Tommy Michot sees a direct link between the historical strength of the Cajuns' culture and its wetlands. "I believe that the wetlands of south Louisiana played a crucial historic role in the isolation of French-speaking Acadians from the rest of the English-speaking world. The Acadians were able to basically live off the land and harvest the bounty of our wetlands with minimum influence from the outside." This is why Dr. Michot from the Institute for Coastal Ecology and Engineering (ICEE) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, along with the Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) and Nicholls State University, are collaborating to implement a coastal restoration project during this fall's Grand Réveil Acadien. The project, created to engage and bring together Acadians from near and far to embrace the cause, also gives participants the opportunity to make a real difference in the natural and cultural landscape. By being involved in building up the coast and protecting the wetlands, participants will be making a true contribution to the continued preservation and sustainability of the French language and Acadian culture in Louisiana.
Online registration is required for the free event taking place on Monday, October 10th. Participants will depart from the Houma Civic Center at 7 am and be bussed to the project site. Return to the Houma Civic Center is planned for approximately 6 pm. Organizers hope to have 50 – 60 participants including local students, community members and visitors. Spots are limited so those who are interested must register as soon as possible at www.gra2011.org/marsh-grass-planting.
Getting ready to fête!
(LAFAYETTE, LA – Friday, September 30, 2011) In two weeks Acadians from Nova Scotia, France and other areas will descend on our area. They will be here to attend the Grand Réveil Acadien (GRA, Great Acadian Awakening), a 10-day event designed to boost state-wide pride in our Acadian and francophone culture and heritage as well as to show a great time to our cousins and cousines.
Acadians normally meet up every five years at a Congrès mondial acadien (CMA) but Louisiana's Acadian community has decided to break with tradition and host them all here only two years since the last CMA. The idea to organize the event stems from an exciting time in 2009 when Louisiana was vying to host the Congrès in 2014. Although the bid wasn't successful, the process clearly motivated and inspired the community. This lead to a delegation attending the 2009 CMA where they were bombarded by Acadians interested in Acadiana and its people. It was clear: if we organized it, they would come. Planning started almost immediately and two years later, the ten-day, four region festival-style event is a reality.
The Lafayette area activities are centered around Fête de famille on Thursday, October 13th at the Cajundome. A little history, some entertainment, great food, folks from out of town, meeting distant relatives, sharing stories and lineage; the Fête de famille will resemble your own family reunion but on a much larger scale. The day will feature Acadian and Cajun music, a talk by renown genealogist Stephen White, a film fest, French story-time with New Brunswick's Diane Carmel Léger and Louisiana's Sheila Hébert Collins for French immersion students and younger kids, a meal prepared by the Cajundome's Chef Gilbert and Chef Bossé from Nova Scotia, booths on various Acadian/Cajun topics and products as well as talks and presentations about our future, language and environment. All of the activities are free and open to the public with the exception of the Luncheon and keynote address for which tickets are $20. The tickets for that portion are now available online at www.gra2011.org.
This day of events will be an ideal time for GRA visitors and local Acadians and Cajuns to meet up, discover their similarities and share their travel, heritage and family stories. It will reflect the spirit of the GRA by helping Acadians from the North and South connect while showcasing our best. All are invited to drop by and spend the day in company of friends, family and possibly far removed cousins.
Racing to uncover Acadiana's hidden gems
(Lafayette, LA) Part treasure hunt, part Cajun trivia, part nature walk and of course loads of fun, the GRA's youth Grand Rallye Automobile will be a sort of cultural Amazing Race-style car rally that will bring participants up close and personal with Lafayette, St-Martin, Vermilion, Iberia parish geography, history and fun facts.
Do you know the Louisiana French word for catfish or the name of the founder of Abbeville?
The fifty-or-so participants will be able to not only learn about Acadiana's unique culture but they will also get to see and experience it during this first-hand day-long event. Students aged 14 to 18 that are attending the Camp de Jeunes (GRA's for youth, by youth international francophone camp) will be divided in groups and matched with drivers who will chauffeur them along the route guided by clues and challenges they will find along the way.
The entire Grand Rallye Automobile is a creation of the late, great Richard Guidry. Known lovingly throughout Louisiana and other Acadian areas in the world as le gros Cadien, Richard spent his life as Cajun cultural activist and educator who worked to save the French language in Louisiana. As part of his work, he designed this circuit to help immerse new French immersion teachers into Cajun culture. It is thanks to a new Foundation that bears his name and keeps his fight alive that the GRA will revive this rally. "We are so happy to contribute to the Camp de Jeunes and to see the rally happen for this event that will bring our French students from Acadiana closer to their Acadian cousins from Canada and Maine. We organized it successfully in 2007 and hoped to repeat it in 2008 but we lost our cherished capitaine. It would bring joy to Richard to know that it is being revived for GRA. Richard felt so strongly about not only preserving our French language but making sure it remained present and relevant in our society. This youth gathering truly reflects the hopes he had for our future generations." explains Brenda Mounier, retired French teacher, long time friend of Richard and member of the Fondation Richard J Guidry Fund Board of Directors.
The Foundation has helped fund the Rallye and part of the Camp de Jeunes thanks to an innovative fundraiser, conceived by Richard before his passing, that just recently become a reality. A special branch of the Foundation, which is managed through the Community Foundation of Acadiana, has produced posters depicting indigenous fauna and flora of Acadiana with each image being accompanied by its botanical, French and Cajun names. The first of the series, Les Gibiers de Louisiane (Waterfowl of Acadiana) is now on sale and will be followed by posters featuring Acadiana's native fish and plants. Local business leaders have joined in this fundraising effort by covering the start up costs making each sale now 100% profit for the foundation's efforts to support francophone youth initiatives. The posters are very detailed and elegant and make attractive and interesting wall art. They can be purchased for $10 by contacting the project coordinator (Jean-Robert Frigault) at frigaultjr@yahoo.com.
Inaugural event for FrancoJeunes de Louisiane, an emerging francophone youth association
The Grand Rallye Automobile is the main Friday activity of the Camp de Jeunes but it's just one of the events happening during this four-day francophone camp focused on identity-building and developing a sense of belonging within minority communities and organized by the newly named FrancoJeunes de Louisiane (formely known as Jeunes Cadiens). International delegates from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edouard Island, Newfoundland, Labrador and Québec as well as a delegation from Maine will arrive on Wednesday, October 12th and will spend the following day discovering Lafayette and it's cultural attractions. The rest of the camp's events include participation by Acadiana and visiting students in the Grand Réveil Acadien's Fête de famille at the Cajundome, a day of round table discussions and conferences about the future of French and cultural development, an evening of music by young Canadian and Louisiana musicians at Vermilionville and a full day at Festivals Acadiens et Créoles including participation in the GRA's closing Grande Procession on Sunday, October 16th. Acadiana students interested in attending Camp de Jeunes, hosting an incoming delegate or becoming involved in FrancoJeunes de Louisiane can contact Valerie Broussard Boston at valerie@louisianeacadie.com.
Artists to show Acadian homeland of the past and the present at Grand Réveil Acadien
(LAFAYETTE, LA) Next month's Grand Réveil Acadien (GRA, Great Acadian Awakening) will be featuring art from New Brunswick and Louisiana in exhibitions that showcase our natural and cultural landscape.
Mythical Grand-Pré in the heart of Lafayette
Acadian artist from Moncton (New Brunswick), Georgette Bourgeois, will be showing the fruits of her 2007 artist residency at the Grand-Pré National Historic Site in a series titled L’Esprit de Grand-Pré (The Spirit of Grand Pré) and created on site to reflect the strength and vitality of the Acadian people. Nova Scotia historian Sally Ross, feel that this exhibition will be a perfect fit for the GRA. "Georgette captures with heartfelt emotion the past and the present of an iconic place.” The exhibition is travelling to Louisiana thanks to the support of ArtsNB and the Société Promotion Grand-Pré.
L'Esprit de Grand-Pré will be showing at UL's A. Hays Town Building (710 E. St. Mary Blvd) from September 30th to October 20th and admission is free. The artist is looking for art lovers to help with the project by becoming docents for the exhibit. Those interested are invited to contact GRA Program Director Brenda Comeaux-Trahan at brenda@louisiane-acadie.com.
Landscapes of Acadiana through a new lens
Mamou native and artist, Lucius Fontenot's passion and interest is perfectly clear. “Louisiana is where I am from. Louisiana is where I live. Louisiana is who I am. Louisiana is what I do.» Lucius' work focuses on the people, culture and geography of Louisiana and this photography exhibit will offer GRA participants the chance to see a mélange of old and new Louisiana through Lucius' lens, the lens of a young Cajun artist and activist that has been involved in the cause since he first started discovering his culture at a young age. Since then, Lucius had studied art at UL, French at Université Sainte-Anne, created a record label and worked tirelessly to support Acadiana's growing cultural scene.
Lucius A. Fontenot will be showing his photography exhibit at GRA's Fête de Famille happening all day at the Cajundome on Thursday, October 13th. Admission to this huge family reunion-style day of activities is free but participants are invited to register in advance at www.gra2011.org.
Grand Réveil Acadien to conclude with a vibrant mélange of traditions at Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
(Lafayette, LA) Cajuns are known around the world for their impressive parades and street celebrations. Be it the modern Mardi Gras parades or the more traditional courir, these processions are rooted in our culture and they are shared in interesting ways with our Acadian cousins around the world.
Sunday marks the last day of the Grand Réveil Acadien (GRA, Great Acadian Awakening) and Festivals Acadiens et Créoles and will be highlighted by an international and interactive homage to this still-vibrant Acadian custom. Although these cultural events usually happen at different times during the year in their respective regions (Canadian maritime provinces, Illinois, France, etc.), they will come together for the GRA. Lead by Basile's Courir du Mardi Gras, noisy Tintamarre, costumed Chandeleur and musical Guiannée representatives will follow in a colorful, noisy and joyous travelling procession celebrating our francophone heritage.
"Acadian parade or procession traditions are demonstrations of cultural and community affirmation. It's our way of disrupting common order and making our presence, our culture known. Even though the specifics like costumes and songs may differ by region, at its core, the purpose and the message are the same wherever you are in the Acadian world. Once a year we use this mechanism to tell the world we are still alive and kicking and we're not going anywhere!" explains UL's Dr. Barry Ancelet who has been studying these traditions for years. "These loud, costumed characters will parade through the park and it will be impossible to miss them!"
Among others, planned participants include youth from Canada, Maine and Louisiana attending GRA's youth event, Camp de jeunes, the Prairie du Rocher, Illinois Guiannée group, Basile Mardi Gras runners, the Jumelage committee of Scott, UL students, Prince Edouard Island historian George Arsenault, Confrérerie d'Abbeville – Giant Omelette Celebration and other Acadians visiting Acadiana for the GRA.
Everyone is invited to join in and participate in the first ever Grande Procession which will wind through Girard Park on Sunday, October 17th around 2:30 pm. Those interested in taking part as a representative of one of the regional groups can contact Laurie Burns at alblaurie@gmail.com.
MEDIA ADVISORY
Official Opening Ceremony and Press Briefing
Grand Réveil Acadien / Great Acadian Awakening
Date and time: Friday, October 7th at 4:00 pm
Venue: Gallier Hall, 545 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA
Louisiane-Acadie invites all media to attend the public ceremony marking the kick off of Grand Réveil Acadien 2011.
This state-wide ten-day celebration of language, music, history, culture and Acadian influence in the heart of Louisiana is focused on awakening Louisianians' passion and pride in their Acadian roots. For the occasion, various activities and programs are organized in New Orleans, Houma, Lake Charles and Lafayette for locals and the many Acadian visitors expected to attend from Canada and France.
The official ceremony and media briefing will be hosted by Codofil's Executive Director, Joseph Dunn and Brooke Smith, Director of Strategic Partnerships in the Office of Mayor Mitch Landrieu and will feature remarks from Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne, the Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, the Honourable Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Consul General of Canada, the Honourable Jean-Claude Brunet, Consul General of France, Madame Françoise Enguehard, President of the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, Dr. William Arceneaux, Chairman of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana and Ray Trahan, President of Louisiane-Acadie.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception hosted by the New Orleans Metropolitan CVB and attended by many visiting Acadians from Canada and France.
Journalists are asked to RSVP by noon on the day of the event (Friday, October 7th) at cduhon@cadits.us.
AVIS AUX MÉDIAS
Ouverture officielle et point de presse
Grand Réveil Acadien (GRA)
Date et heure : Le vendredi 7 octobre à 16 h
Lieu : Gallier Hall, 545, avenue Saint Charles, Nouvelle-Orléans, Louisiane
Louisiane-Acadie invite les médias à assister à la cérémonie d'ouverture du Grand Réveil Acadien 2011.
Cette célébration de dix jours qui aura lieu d'un bout à l'autre de l'État de la Louisiane mettra en valeur la langue, la musique, l'histoire, la culture et l'influence acadienne qui vibrent au cœur de la Louisiane. La panoplie d'activités prévue à la Nouvelle-Orléans, à Houma, au Lac Charles et à Lafayette contribuera à éveiller davantage la passion et la fierté culturelle des Acadiens de la Louisiane et d'accroître la présence et l'utilisation du français dans la région.
La cérémonie protocolaire et le point de presse seront animés par Joseph Dunn, le directeur général du Codofil et Brooke Smith, la directrice des alliances stratégiques au bureau du maire Mitch Landrieu de la Nouvelle-Orléans, avec des mots de Jay Dardenne, Lieutenant-Gouverneur de l'État de la Louisiane, de Mitch Landrieu, le maire de la Nouvelle-Orléans, l'honorable Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Consule générale du Canada, l'honorable Jean-Claude Brunet, Consul général de la France, Madame Françoise Enguehard, présidente of the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, Dr. William Arceneaux, président du Conseil pour le développement du français en Louisiane et Ray Trahan, président de Louisiane-Acadie.
Une réception offerte par le New Orleans Metropolitan CVB (Office du tourisme de la Nouvelle-Orléans) suivra et plusieurs visiteurs acadiens du Canada et de la France y seront.
Veuillez confirmer votre présence avant midi le jour de l'événement (vendredi 7 octobre) à rachelle.dugas@gmail.com.
GRA Public Relations:
Christine Duhon
cduhon@cadits.us
(337) 658-3414 ou (337) 288-3711
Relations médias du GRA :
Rachelle Dugas
rachelle.dugas@gmail.com
(925) 285-5708
BOILERPLATE
This is only one of the many activities planned for this fall's Grand Réveil Acadien, a state-wide two week celebration of language, music, history, culture and Acadian influence in the heart of Louisiana. Focused on awakening Louisianians passion and pride in their Acadian roots, the event kicks off in New Orleans on October 7th, moves on to Houma, to Lake Charles and finally culminates in Lafayette from October 13th to 16th. Various activities and programs are organized in every area for locals and the many Acadian visitors expected to attend from Canada and France. Check out GRA's website for all the details at www.gra2011.org.
The GRA is presented by Louisiane-Acadie and is funded by the State of Louisiana, the Lafayette Consolidated Government, ArtsNB, la Fondation Richard J Guidry and the Société Promotion Grand-Pré and the unfailing support of the Acadiana Caucus especially Senators Mike Michot, Eric LaFleur and Representative Jack Montoucet.
CONTACTS FOR INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS
Christine Duhon
cduhon@cadits.us
337-658-3414 or 337-288-3711
Brenda Comeaux-Trahan, GRA Program Director
brenda@louisiane-acadie.com
337-856-1620 or 337-288-2681
Valerie Broussard-Boston, Youth Program Director
valerie@louisiane-acadie.com
Rachelle Dugas, Francophone Media Relations
Rachelle.dugas@gmail.com
925-285-5708
PHOTOGRAPHS
Coastal Coup de Main
Credit : NOAA
Exhibitions
Credit : Lucius A. Fontenot
Part of the group of visitors from Canada
Credit: Monument Lefebvre
Grande Procession, kids in a tintamarre in New Brunswick
Credit: Lucius A. Fontenot
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