February 10, 2010

GRAND REVEIL ACADIEN


LOUISIANE-ACADIE, INC. ANNOUNCES

“GRAND RÉVEIL ACADIEN / GREAT ACADIAN AWAKENING”

Lafayette, Louisiana. January 29, 2010 - Louisiane-Acadie, aiming to

fulfill the mission to mobilize all Acadians to participate in the

continued expression of their native French language and culture,

announces "Grand Réveil Acadien / Great Acadian Awakening”, a one week

gathering of Acadians from around the world, to be held in Louisiana in
October 2011.
From September 30 to October 9, 2011, the entire Acadiana Region will

open its doors to welcome family and friends, who want to celebrate and

assist in helping preserve the Acadian/Cajun culture, customs,

traditions and history of the first North American settlers, the

Acadians. The "Grand Réveil Acadien / Great Acadian Awakening” will be

held the week before Festival Acadiens et Créoles and will close with a

huge celebration of renewal on the last day of the Festival

After engaging a group of young adult Cajuns (Les Jeunes Cadiens) to

represent the Louisiana Acadians at the 2009 World Acadian Congress, an

awakening of their heritage became evident. "The spirited Acadians of

the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick , hosts of the 2009 Congress,

more particularly the “Grand Rassemblement Jeunesse”, sparked a

renaissance and awakening of our younger generation's pride and

interest in preserving their Cajun ancestor's native French language

and culture,” states Louisiane-Acadie President Ray Trahan.



The Acadians left France in the early 1600s to colonize “Acadie,”

present - day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada. Years after the

Deportation of 1755, over 3,000 Acadians arrived and settled in south

Louisiana bringing with them the French language and rich

French-Acadian customs. These settlers, now called "Cajuns," are

estimated to number over 600,000. As the Louisiana gulf coast, where

many Acadians settled, dwindles, the Cajuns are forced to move further

north to English-speaking communities. Consequently, as the older

generation of Acadians passes away, our French language and many Cajun

traditions risk being lost forever.

When Cajun parents/grandparents pass away, material possessions from

those loved ones are dearly preserved to remember and honor them.

"There is no better way to honor and remember our loved ones, than to

keep and to live their native French language and culture,” says Trahan.

The importance of keeping this momentum cannot be lost. It is time to

invite the world, especially those of Acadian descent, to join us, in

Louisiana, and continue the fight to keep this culture alive
We have awakened a renewed spirit of our Cajun people and need

everyone, including our international families and cousins, to support

us in our efforts. Vive l’Acadie!

###

If you would like more information on this event, please contact Ray

Trahan at (337) 288 – 2681 or visit www.gra2011.org and

For your information:

“Grand Réveil Acadien/Great Acadian Awakening”:

Mission: The mission of the Great Acadian Awakening is to awaken the

population of Louisiana and the world, primarily those of Acadian

descent, and in particular our youth, to the realization that, while we

have made positive strides, the people of Louisiana are losing their

French language, culture, and coastal land, and to seek support,

partnerships, solutions and concerted plans of action through these

large gatherings.

Executive Board Members:

President Ray Trahan

Vice-President Elaine Clement

Secretary Peggy Matt

Treasury Loubert Trahan

Philippe Gustin

Brenda Trahan

Valerie Broussard

Lucius Fontentot

Associate Members Sharon Alfred

Angie Istre

Information will be forthcoming as plans are finalized. The web sites,

mentioned above, for Louisiane-Acadie are currently being developed and

should be accessible shortly.

Sponsored by a grant from the State of Louisiana and the Lafayette

Consolidated Government

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