Acadian World Congress

The Acadian World Congress, or Le Congrès Mondial Acadien, is a festival of Acadian and Cajun culture and history, held every five years. It is also informally known as the Acadian Reunion. Its creator was André Boudreau (1945-2005).[1]

History

The first congress was held in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1994, and the second was held in south Louisiana from July 31 to August 15, 1999. The 1999 event featured the reunions of over 80 Acadian families, three major concerts (Houma, Oak Alley Plantation, and Lafayette Cajundome), and academic conferences centered on economics, culture, women's issues, genealogy and genetics. The President and executive director of the 1999 event was Brian Gabriel Comeaux of Lafayette, LA.

2004 World Congress

The third congress, in 2004, was held jointly by several Nova Scotia communities in the ancestral Acadie region, and celebrated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first French-speaking settlers in Canada. As in the previous gatherings, musical festivals and theatrical productions displayed Acadian culture, and academics debated the meaning of Acadia in the 21st century. Debate topics included the best ways of preserving Acadian culture in an overwhelmingly English area, and what exactly an Acadian is in 2004. Some Acadians in the Maritimes do not recognize more recent immigrants as true Acadians. There was also a debate about whether the descendants of Acadians, who do not speak French, qualify (see Chiac language).

2009 World Congress

The 2009 Acadian World Congress was held in the Acadian Peninsula.

2014 World Congress

The 2014 Acadian World Congress was held along the Canada–United States border, co-hosted by Maine's Aroostook County in the United States and its neighbouring counties in Canada (Témiscouata in Quebec, and Victoria, Madawaska and Restigouche in New Brunswick).[2][3]

2019 World Congress

The 2019 Congress is planned to be held on Prince Edward Island and in New Brunswick, with its central events being held in Summerside. [4]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Olmstead, Kathryn (10 April 2014). "Van Buren, Canadian towns reach across border to get ready for World Acadian Congress in August". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. ↑ http://bangordailynews.com/2015/01/20/news/aroostook/world-acadian-congress-final-numbers-half-of-what-had-been-forecast/
  4. ↑ McKay, Millicent (13 August 2018). "Congrès Mondial Acadien less than a year away, to be held in eight Island communities". Journal Pioneer. Retrieved 17 August 2018.


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