|
|
Cliquez sur la Fleur-de-Lys ci-bas, pour traduction française de cette page... |
|
|
Bangor Daily News; August 10, 2009
FORT KENT, Maine - The countdown to 2014 is on with Sunday's announcement that northern Maine - together with eighboring regions in New Brunswick and Quebec - has been selected as the site that year for the Acadian World
Congress.
The international event has the potential of drawing 50,000 visitors to the region over a three-week period in August 2014 with a direct economic impact of $55 million and the creation of up to 20 full-time jobs over the planning
period in addition to major financial support for local historical societies
and museums.
The announcement came during the current Acadian World Congress, which is taking place on the Acadian Peninsula in northeastern New Brunswick.
A delegation of 37 representatives from both sides of the St. John Valley made the trip by bus to hear the news firsthand from officials with the Societe National de l'Acadie.
"We did it," Louise Martin, director of the Maine Acadian Heritage Council nd the application committee's co-president, said by phone Sunday morning from the Acadian village in Caraquet, New Brunswick. "I wasn't too nervous,
but then when the announcement came, my heart just stopped."
Lasting a month, each congress includes up to 300 activities, conferences, cultural events, economic discussions and sporting events.
"This is huge," Martin said. "Every town and village in the region has the opportunity to be involved and do something."
The successful application was the first ever submitted by an international group.
The Maine Acadian Heritage Council teamed up with the Forum of Mayors of Northwestern New Brunswick and municipal leaders from the Temisquata region of Quebec to form L'Acadie des Terres et Foret - Acadia of the Lands and
Forests.
"This is a great day for us," Jacques Martin, mayor of Edumundston, New Brunswick, said by phone. "This is a great project with our neighbors in Aroostook County and Quebec."
The group received the unanimous support of the Societe National de l'Acadie. Its proposal beat out competing applications from Quebec City and Lafayette, La.
The group's detailed application included more than 120 letters of support from international leaders, educators, journalists and citizens.
"This is fabulous for us," Jacques Martin said. "We still have a lot of work ahead of us and the next five years will be quite a challenge, but I am sure we have the team to do it."
The Edmundston mayor added that organizers from the current Acadian World Congress have pledged their support for the 2014 planning process.
Good news travels fast, and it didn't take long for word to make it back to the St. John Valley.
"For us in Maine this has such a broad ripple effect," said Lise Pelletier, director of the Acadian archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. "This is about our future and our culture and making that culture work for
us."
Pelletier, who was part of the application committee, said the event will take full advantage of the two universities within the region, with UMFK joining the Edmundston campus of the University of Moncton in offering numerous scholarly opportunities.
"We even have time to do research and publish academic papers of our own," Pelletier said.
The Acadian World Congress, which has become the largest gathering of Acadians in the world, is held every five years. The first took place in Moncton, New Brunswick, in 1994. In 1999 the follow-up event in Louisiana
attracted 300,000 people.
Three hundred years ago, the ruling British forcibly deported Acadians who had settled in Nova Scotia when they refused to take an oath of allegiance and fight against the French.
The action became known as the Grand Derangement and scattered Acadians across North America, including into the St. John Valley.
"But we remain a secret, even though we have the largest concentration of French-speaking people in the country with 85 percent speaking the language," Pelletier said.
Hosting the world congress will allow residents within the region to shine a spotlight on the area's Acadian culture.
"It's about the survival of our culture and of our language," Pelletier said. "Our language is still alive with our culture, and we want to share that with the world."
Towns in the St. John Valley already share that culture with events like the annual Acadian Festival in Madawaska and this weekend's Ploye Festival in Fort Kent.
"These events can still go on in 2014," Louise Martin said. "They can be a part of the congress."
For the three weeks of the congress, Acadians from all walks of life and from around the globe gather to discuss just what it means to be an Acadian historically, culturally, geographically, linguistically and socially.
A highlight of the congress is Aug. 15, International Acadian Day, Pelletier said.
"At 6 p.m. every August 15 Acadians come out of their homes with pots and pans or whatever makes a sound and make as much noise as they can," Pelletier said. "It's kind of a snub toward the [British] saying 'we are still here.'"
Given Sunday's announcement, Pelletier predicts this year's "Tintamarre" on Aug. 15 will be especially loud.
"Of course, now the real work planning the conference begins," she added.
MADAWASKA, Maine April 2009 - Members of the Provisional Committee of Acadia Land and Forests, candidate for obtaining the World Acadian Congress in 2014, presented an outline of their application, at a press conference held at the Madawaska Elementary School School, Maine, on Thursday April 30, 2009.
Representatives of organizations, municipalities, governments and influential people in the region of Acadia Land and Forest, participated in the conference. The Committee also presented the broad details of its application for the Acadian World Congress of 2014, including its vision, mission, motto, logo and its proposed geographical boundaries.
The region of Acadia Land and Forests is truly international. Uniting people of Aroostook, Maine, with the north-western New Brunswick and Temiscouata County, Quebec, gives the region of Acadia Land and Forest a unique character that cannot be claimed by any other Acadian regions of the world. The territory of Acadia Land and Forest extends over two countries, two provinces, one state, five counties, and more than 50 municipalities and community groups and includes 100,000 inhabitants.
Whether for Acadia or any other major groups, it will be necessary to look long and hard to find another part of the world capable of taking advantage of regional, political, demographic, economic, cultural which this application offers.
It is for this reason that the idea of hosting the Acadian World Congress of 2014 in our region quickly and easily find not only a consensus, but above all a willingness to show the world that strength and friendship of the citizens who make up Acadian Land and Forests, transcend the divisions imposed by borders.
We expect to host more than 50,000 new visitors and friends, and 600,000 participants in various activities of the World Acadian Congress in 2014. The budget of the event is approximately $13 million, which would create economic benefits for the region as much as $50 million dollars and would be the largest event socio-economic and cultural-historical for the region of Acadia Land and Forests.
Without disclosing all the details of their program, the Committee noted that there will be activities of all kinds and for all tastes equally distributed throughout the country and conducted throughout the Congress, during the three weeks between late July and mid-August 2014.
These activities will include ceremonies and an opening show, activities for celebrating the festival of August 15, many family reunions, a series of conferences, an international showcase, special events and live shows, for enjoyment of all ages, as well as a spectacular ceremony and closing performances, and a series of historical activities. In summary, more than 200 activities will be presented. We also plan a series of activities from 2010 to 2014. Also, a major activity with international partners will be held in 2013.
If the St. John Valley bid is confirmed, members of the Committee believe that the road to be traveled for the next five years is as important as the three weeks of the Congress itself. Needless to say, the Congress will bring a renewed acadienne pride in the north-western New Brunswick region, as well as an assurance of renewed French language by the participating institutions of Maine, as well as a renewed historical Acadian interest by our cousins in Temiscouata, Quebec.
Moreover, Maine is a major player in the event. This state has the highest proportion of Acadians in the United States. They deserve to be known and recognized as such. The event is both important for the region and throughout the Acadiana World.
Since September 2008, the committee's work has borne fruit. It has received unequivocal support of virtually all organizations of the territory of the Acadian Forest and Land. Some sixty reunions and meetings were held with agencies and municipalities. In addition, all levels of government were contacted by members of the Committee, including the Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, the Premier of New Brunswick, Shawn Graham and Quebec Premier Jean Charest.
On April 3rd, the Committee, through the delegates from each of the sub-regions of Acadia Land and Forests, submitted their formal bid documents to the office of the Société nationale de l'Acadie. At the end of June, the Committee will meet members of the Selection Committee of the 2014 World Congress. The winning bid will be announced in August 2009 at the 'Congres Mondial Acadien' being held in the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick.
L'Acadie des Terres et Forêts is seeking the privilege and honor to be the host of the World Acadian Congress in 2014, to be celebrated as "l'Acadie in the world: a new Acadia! .
Louisiana's bid to host CMA-2014
WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE ONLINE AT WWW.CMA2014.COM (looped archive)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 4, 2009
From Sabine Pass to Isle Dernière, Cajuns are working to host Acadie in 2014
Lafayette, LA – Lafayette’s LITE was full this morning for the official launch of Louisiana’s bid to host the 2014 Congrès mondial acadien. The bid’s Steering Committee also launched the bid’s official website in an effort to increase public awareness of the Congrès’ campaign. The Congrès mondial acadien is a two to three week event happens in a different Acadian area every five years and is recognized as the world’s largest gathering of Acadians.
“A lot of people in Louisiana identify themselves as Cajun but some might not understand what that means, both culturally and historically. Beyond being Cajun, we are also Acadians (descendants of those who settled Acadie in the 15th and 16th century) and are part of a huge extended family. It’s important for everyone to understand that they are included in this worldwide celebration.” Louisiane-Acadie, Inc. president Ray Trahan explains. Louisiane-Acadie, Inc. is coordinating the bid that will include all South Louisiana communities. This group observed the positive effects experienced by the province of Nova Scotia when it hosted the Congrès mondial acadien in 2004 and decided to compete in the next bid process. Past Congrès programming includes three major events, over sixty family reunions, festivals, community events, conferences, concerts, etc. Any community wanting to showcase their identity can participate. The Congrès attracts thousands of Acadians from all over the world, more specifically the Canadian Maritime Provinces, Québec, France and, of course, Louisiana. Louisiana’s Congrès Bid Steering Committee feels strongly that the economic and cultural impact of the event will greatly benefit Louisiana.
The bid group felt it essential that the launch was inclusive and accessible to all by assuring it was available both live and online to everyone and anyone interested in being part of the celebration. “As a young Cajun today, I certainly understand the power of technology. I use it every day to connect with my friends all over the world. We would have been missing a great opportunity by not incorporating this powerful tool that is so present in the lives of those who will be attending the Congrès mondial acadien in five and a half years,” says Valerie Broussard, a young Steering Committee member. The bid’s website (www.cma2014.com) has three specific goals. Firstly, it is a place for the global Acadian community to obtain information on what makes Louisiana’s bid special and unique. Secondly, it provides Acadians an instrument to support the bid of their Cajun cousins and thirdly it personalizes the process, making it interactive and invites everyone to tell the world why Louisiana is the best place to host the 2014 Congrès. This is the first time that a bidding region has created a website seeking the support of individuals throughout the world. The goal is to create a platform for grassroots support, impressing the selection committee while increasing local public awareness.
The Steering Committee did not divulge all the bid’s secrets at this morning’s event, but rather informed the public that the communities in South Louisiana are ready and willing to host this international event. They also emphasized their ability to do so. The passing of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike has created an awareness of the fragile relationship between Louisiana’s environment, culture and language and has created a sense of urgency and alarm. This call to action is being heard throughout South Louisiana and it is time for the Acadians to hear it too and help us create a cultural awakening that will strengthen cultural identity and pride. “We owe it to our youth to create an environment where they can grow and blossom within their own culture and speaking their native French language. That is why the Congrès mondial acadien is important for our region. It will be much more than a party, it will be a catalyst for the survival and durability of our culture,” emphasizes Trahan.
The enthusiasm that the development of this bid has generated in the community is overwhelming. For example, a group of young Cajuns now meet monthly to talk about their role in the Cajun community and what actions they can take to encourage the evolution of their culture. Louisiane-Acadie, Inc. has also seen an increased interest in the cultural cause. Just last month, about thirty associations answered a call to become partners of this organization that represents Cajuns internationally.
“ If you feel, like we do, that the Congrès mondial acadien should be here in 2014, please support the bid! Visit the website at www.cma2014.com and add your name to the growing list of supporters. You can also send a homemade video describing why you want the 5th Congrès to come to Louisiana.” Trahan explains.
Louisiana’s bid will be submitted to the Société Nationale de l’Acadie (National Acadian Society) at the end of March. The announcement of the winning region will be August 9, 2009.
For more information or interview:
Rachelle Dugas
rachelle@louisiane-acadie.com
337.422.4453
347.326.1978
Louisiana's bid to host CMA;2014
February 4, 2009
Our Vision
Louisiana's Congres mondial acadien will celebrate Acadian culture by presenting diverse and interactive activities:* that reunite and build permanent connections between Cajuns, Acadians and the surrounding cultures;
* that showcase the unique, diverse, genuine and engaging spirit of the people and their traditions in Southern Louisiana;
* that mandate the continued evolution of the native French language and culture by all members of the community;
support the young people in making it their own;
* and that will have long lasting impact on the lives and communities of Cajuns and Acadians worldwide.Our Mission
Louisiana's CMA will reconnect Acadians, descendants of the French who settled Acadie in the 17th and 18th centuries, in a celebration of shared heritage and unique differences in order to mobilize all Acadians, and the youth in particular, to participate in the continued expression of the native French language and culture.
Who Are We?
Louisiane-Acadie is an umbrella organization that represents Acadians and Cajuns in Louisiana and encourages networking and increased connections between Louisiana organizations in order to promote a united voice and better connect with all Acadian communities worldwide.
MEDIA ADVISORY - January 29, 2009
Louisiana wants to host the world!
Unique virtual press conference brings Louisiana’s launch of its bid to host the 2014 Congrès mondial acadien from Lafayette straight to your computer!
WHAT: The World Acadian Congress (Congrès mondial acadien) is a huge gathering of Acadians from all over the world. It takes place every five years and Louisiana is vying to host the 5th edition of this international event. It would be a unique occasion for the residents of our state to showcase themselves to the rest of the world, as well as the perfect opportunity to meet with cousins from far away. A moment to celebrate together a common past.
Watch live from your desk to get all the up-to-date information on the process and what makes Louisiana’s bid stand out from the pack when organizers officially launch the bid and its website next Wednesday. This event will mark a turning point for the Congrès mondial acadien bid process because it will be the first time that a candidate region has its own bid website and seeks support from Acadians all over the globe. This virtual launch will be webcasted live on the bid website (www.cma2014.com) in order to include all parts of the Acadian world in this great kick off.
Journalists that watch online can also ask questions after the webcasted event by calling 337.422.4453 or emailing rachelle@louisiane-acadie.com. The question period will not be live online but we'll be able to accommodate you.
WHERE: Video section of www.cma2014.com (the site will only become live that day)
WHEN: Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
1:00 pm Atlantic
(11:00 am Central, 12:00 pm Eastern)
INFORMATION: Rachelle Dugas, 337.422.4453, rachelle@louisiane-acadie.com
ST. JOHN VALLEY – Exhibiting pride in their Acadian heritage has never been a shortcoming of the residents of the St. John Valley, but now that same pride could very well be the deciding factor in a major world event coming to the region.
The Maine Acadian Heritage Council, along with the Forum of Mayors of Northwestern New Brunswick, have joined together to form a promotional committee whose mission is to host the 2014 World Acadian Congress in northern Maine and western New Brunswick.The promotional committee refers to our region as the Acadia of Lands and Forests; a depiction they hope will distinguish our region as a unique geographic location without national borders that includes more than 30 municipalities and 200 associations on both sides of the border.
The event has the potential to bring upwards of $33 million in revenue to the region.
Town managers from the Valley, chamber directors from both sides and mayors from New Brunswick met last Thursday evening with the Maine Acadian Heritage Council and other event promoters at the University of Maine in Fort Kent to discuss the possibility of bringing the event to the area and also to explore means of raising funds to support the first stage in the process, creation of a dossier to present to the National Acadian Society, or the Societe National Acadienne.
The WAC event is a months long celebration of Acadian culture and includes dozens of family reunions.
“Think Madawaska’s Acadian Festival times 75 to 150,” said group coordinator Etienne Deschenes.It also would include some sporting events and major cultural activities that have in the past drawn in crowds of up to 300,000 event participants and 50,000 visitors to the area.
Deschenes said the Acadian World Congress has been called the Olympics of culture in the French communities.
There area at least three other areas known to be competing to host the event in 2014. Contenders for the honor, besides the local region, include Louisiana, Québec City and the Gaspésie region of Québec province.
The committee in charge of promoting the event will spend the next three months preparing a dossier that will include a video, calendar of events, and other marketing materials that will all serve to convince the SNA that the Acadia of Lands and Forests region is the best place to host the event.
In March the group will submit the dossier and commence what they have affectionately dubbed “Operation Charm” which will continue through the SNA decision to be announced on Aug. 15.
Operation charm includes a visit from a committee of the SNA in charge of choosing the perfect location for the event.
They look for a region’s ability to host the event by examining both the financial capacity and the local infrastructure of an area.Other factors the committee will take into consideration are the area’s French speaking background, the organization and willingness of communities looking to host, and the amount of Acadian pride that potential host communities exhibit.
Deschenes said this is the first time there has been an international application to host the event.
He said there area many advantages to choosing our region to host the event including the capacity for housing, a university on each side of the border, proximity and dynamism of municipalities, existing organizational structures, recreational and cultural facilities, important cultural and economic associations, enviable geographical location, and the general safety of the area, among others.The promotion committee will work to overcome possible political opposition at the state or national level, the region’s lack of experience hosting events of this magnitude, and the fact that New Brunswick is hosting the 2009 Congrès mondial acadien.
Deschenes said the promotion committee has a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it. Communities in New Brunswick have committed to giving the committee about one dollar per capita towards the preparation of the dossier.
St. John Valley communities on the Maine side of the border will now see if there is any willingness to contribute. Deschenes would like to see a budget of between $40,000 and $60,000 for the dossier.“Cities like Québec,” explained Deschenes, “will submit a gold-plated document.”
While he recognized that this area will not be able to commit to the same level of funding that a city like Quebec might have, Deschenes said that the Acadia of Lands and Forests region best chance to host the event will be to “do it from our heart and relay our feeling that we wish to do this here [to the SNA].”
Representatives of three partners of a major cultural project mail their application to the National Society of Acadia Thursday, Nov. 27, in Edmundston. From left are Hugues Chiasson, of Edmundston, N.B., president of the Committee for the Promotion of Acadia of the Lands and Forests; Jacques Martin, president of the Forum of Mayors of Northwestern New Brunswick and Mayor of Edmundston; and Louise Martin, Madawaska, manager of the Maine Acadian Heritage Council. Hosting the 2014 Congrès Mondial Acadien in the St. John Valley could draw as many as 100,000 visitors here. -Contributed photo
ST. JOHN VALLEY - Acadia of the Lands and Forests in Edmundston, N.B., let the National Acadian Society know that it is interested in organizing the 2014 World Acadian Congress.Partners of the project are the Committee for the promotion of Acadia of the Lands and Forests, the Maine Acadian Heritage Council of Madawaska and the Forum of Mayors of Northwestern New Brunswick.
The Maine Acadian Heritage Council supports the candidacy of the Acadia of the Lands and Forests. MAHC is an organization that represents more than 40 different entities, such as towns, chambers of commerce, historical and cultural societies, and the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
“We often forget that there exists in our region a vibrant and extremely popular Acadian community. It’s not only in Louisiana that we find Acadians in the United States.
"Maybe we haven’t voiced our presence loudly enough to the Francophone world.
"We believe that securing this nomination would definitely solve that problem,” said Louise Martin, manager of the Maine Acadian Heritage Council.
“The economic impact on for the State of Maine would be great, as this event would be the most important socio-economic, cultural, and touristic event in the history of northern Maine, not only bringing together over 20 municipalities and numerous associations, but bringing 30,000 to 50,000 visitors from all around the world.
"This event would become a common project for a whole region, uniting the international border and giving us worldwide exposure.
"It is important that the St. John Valley gain financial support, not only from the municipalities throughout the St. John Valley, but statewide, in order to demonstrate to the National Society of Acadia (Société Nationale de l’Acadie) its seriousness about hosting the 2014 World Acadian Congress. "Cultural and historical events, along with numerous family reunions, would be highlighted during a month-long summer event in 2014,” said Martin.An informational meeting open to the public will be held at on Thursday, Jan. 8, at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, Nadeau Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Fourteen municipal governments in northwestern New Brunswick have already confirmed their financial support to this project, according to Jacques Martin, mayor of Edmundston and president of the Forum of Mayors of Northwestern New Brunswick
“It is very important to note that it is a region and not just a county that is making its intention known."The upper St. John Valley on the American side and three counties in New Brunswick (Madawaska, Victoria, and Restigouche) are presenting a united front in the hopes of being selected,” noted Hugues Chiasson, president of the Committee for the promotion of Acadia of the Lands and Forests.
“Geopolitically, our region is the only one in Acadia with international ties which hopes to organize and host an Acadian World Congress.
"The uniqueness of our candidacy lies in the fact that part of the United States and part of Canada, together, have applied for this honor.”
Chiasson said the deadline to present the declaration of interest document was November 30.
The Société Nationale de l’Acadie, the organization choosing the host town or region for the World Acadian Congress, will make its decision known in August.
Chiasson stresses the contribution of Étienne Deschênes, producer of the show “L’Acadie des terres et des forêts en fête” to this project.
“Étienne is the instigator of this endeavor. Everyone acknowledges his patriotic fervor, his attachment to a plural Acadia. Étienne, through his show, has produced miracles. We are hopeful that, with his guidance, we will secure the nomination of the 2014 World Acadian Congress.”
The Congrès Mondial Acadien is held every five years in a part of North America where Acadians have settled. In 2000 in was in southern Louisiana, in 2004 it was in the Clare region of Nova Scotia and in 2009 it will be in northeastern New Brunwsick known as the Acadian peninsula.
The event usually lasts several weeks.
DIEPPE (New Brunswick), October 22nd, 2008 – The Société Nationale de l'Acadie (SNA) is reminding regions interested in hosting the Congrès mondial acadien 2014 (World Acadian Congress) that the deadline to submit their declaration of interest is approaching fast.
The regions that wish to present their nomination must do so no later than midnight, November 30th, 2008 (Atlantic Standard Time).
The regions interested in organizing the 5th edition of the Congrès mondial acadien (CMA) must first submit a declaration of interest in order to be considered for the following stage of the process. The regions will then have until March 2009 to submit their official nomination. The selection process will take place during the following months and the official announcement of the host region of the CMA 2014 will be done in August 2009 at the Congrès mondial acadien, in New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula.
Mrs. Françoise Enguehard, chairperson of the SNA, is enthused by the interest shown by the various regions to hold the Congrès.
"We haven’t received a formal declaration of interest yet, but we already know that several regions will be competing to host the CMA 2014. This shows that the event raises a lot of interest in the Atlantic Provinces, but also around the world. In less than two decades, the Congrès mondial acadien has become an international institution and the SNA is particularly proud to be the guardian of this event and of its future," says Mrs. Enguehard.
In June 2008, the SNA introduced a new guide for the regions aspiring to host the event. The guide is designed to assist the regions in the preparation of their nomination. It includes details on all the elements that are subject to evaluation within the selection process. One will recall that in 2001, the SNA accepted the mandate to ensure the continuity of the CMA by developing the necessary tools for the selection of host regions including an assessment guide and a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the SNA and the host region.
Contact : Rachelle Dugas
902-769-7611As part of a Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau promotional tour, tourism industry representatives from South Louisiana will be visiting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to promote Lafayette, Lafourche, Jeff Davis, St. Landry and Terrebonne parishes as well as the Creole Nature Trail, the Southwest Louisiana and Alexandria/Pineville areas. The objective of this tour is to promote local Louisiana attractions to their Acadian cousins. Grammy nominated Pine Leaf Boys will accompany the tour and will encourage Acadians to discover more about Louisiana culture including great new Cajun and Creole music. With the youthful and energetic band in tow, the group will tour the area, host public events and prepare gallons of gumbo from August 2th to 7th. As well as meeting with local and regional media, the group will also be sponsoring Cajun music nights at the Festival acadien de Clare (August 2), Dieppe's Mercredi Show (August 6) as well as the Festival acadien de Caraquet (August 7). Accompanying the delegation are organizers of the bid to host the 2014 Congres' mondial acadien (World gathering of Acadians) in Louisiana.
MEMRAMCOOK (NEW-BRUNSWICK) June 2008 – The Société Nationale de l’Acadie announced today the official call for nomination for the 2014 Congrès mondial acadien.
During a media conference held at the Monument Lefebvre, a symbolic Acadian venue in Memramcook, New-Brunswick, the SNA officially announced the call for nomination to all regions that might be interested in organizing the 5th edition of the Congrès mondial acadien.
The SNA introduced at this conference a new guide for the regions aspiring to host the event. The guide is designed to assist the regions in the preparation of their nomination. It includes details on all the elements subject to evaluation within the selection process. A time line for the selection process of the next host region was also announced. With this tool in hand, potential organizers will be able to draw up a precise critical path to the event.
The deadline for filing the declaration of interest for the regions interested in hosting the next CMA is November 2008. The candidate regions will then have until March 2009 to submit their official nomination. The selection process will take place during the following months and the official announcement of the host region of the CMA 2014 will be in August 2009.
The SNA also created during the past year an internal committee that reviewed the evaluation criteria to ensure they were up-to-date. The committee also wrote a new policy for the Congrès mondial acadien, which was adopted by the Board of Directors of the SNA last May.
The chairperson of the SNA, Mrs. Françoise Enguehard, qualified this announcement as exhilarating. "This is excellent news. In less than two decades, the Congrès mondial acadien has become an international institution and the SNA is particularly proud to be the guardian of this event and of its future", she explained.
One will recall that the SNA accepted in 2001 the mandate to ensure the continuity of the CMA by developing the necessary tools for the selection of host regions including an assessment guide and a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the SNA and the host region of the CMA.
The Société Nationale de l'Acadie is a non-profit federation that includes the four francophone representative associations of the Atlantic Provinces and the four youth associations. Its mandate is to represent the Acadian people on the Atlantic scene and both nationally and internationally.
La fondation de la Société Nationale de l’Acadie remonte en 1881, lors de la première convention acadienne tenue à Memramcook, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Près de 5000 personnes de tous les coins de l’Acadie avaient participé à cette réunion. On créa alors l’organisme, la Société Nationale l’Assomption.De 1881 à 1955, la Société Nationale l’Assomption a tenu onze grands congrès, à des intervalles variant de trois à dix ans. Les questions débattues touchaient, entre autres, à l’éducation, l’agriculture, la colonisation, la presse et les problèmes de l’émigration.
Lors du 12e congrès général des Acadiens tenu le 22 juin 1957, à Memramcook, la Société Nationale l’Assomption devint la Société Nationale des Acadiens. Pour la première fois de son histoire, l’organisme eut alors un secrétariat permanent et un Conseil Général qui se réunissait annuellement. Son rôle était de voir à la défense et à la promotion de la vie française en Acadie. Elle desservait les Acadiens et Acadiennes des trois provinces maritimes. Son premier bureau permanent ouvrit ses portes le 1er août 1958, à Moncton. Le projet de loi d’incorporation de la SNA reçut l’assentiment de Fredericton, le 11 avril 1959.
Vers la fin des années 1960 et le début des années 1970, avec l’émergence des différentes associations acadiennes provinciales, la Société Nationale des Acadiens diversifia un peu ses actions et, en plus de travailler sur des dossiers interprovinciaux, commença à développer des liens sur la scène internationale, plus particulièrement avec la France. Elle devint alors une fédération formée des trois organismes provinciaux: la Société des Acadiens du Nouveau-Brunswick, la Fédération Acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse et la Société Saint-Thomas d’Aquin.
En 1986, les Francophones de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, par le biais de leur association provinciale, la Fédération des Francophones de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, devinrent membres de la Société Nationale des Acadiens. En 1988, c’est au tour des quatre associations jeunesse provinciale d’adhérer à la Société Nationale des Acadiens. En 1994, l’association française, les Amitiés Acadiennes, dont le siège social se trouve à Paris, devient membre associé de la SNA et en 1998, ce fut le tour de la corporation culturelle Arrimage, des Îles-de-la-Madeleine. La Corporation des Acadiens aux Îles remplace cette dernière au sein de l’organisme et deux nouveaux membres associés, soit Action cadienne et l’Association St-Pierre et Miquelon/Acadie, joignent les rangs de la SNA en 2001.
La Société Nationale des Acadiens devient la Société nationale de l’Acadie le 23 mai 1992, soit lors de sa première assemblée générale annuelle tenue dans la province de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador.
En juillet 2005, la SNA devient officiellement une organisation internationale non-gouvernementale accréditée du statut consultatif auprès de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Ce nouveau titre permettra dorénavant à la SNA de prendre sa juste place dans la Francophonie internationale.
|
On a periodic basis, I (infrequently) send out Acadian Genealogy resource information on a complimentary basis to those folks who have subscribed to receive same. If you want to be added to my mailing list, just complete the form below. |
Comments about this Page? Send them to me at cajun
acadian.org
