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Organizations Unite for Monday, May 10 Press Conference Launching Acadian Heritage Week.
Support the effort by signing our online petition.
Scott, La. – A number of community organizations committed to the survival of the Acadian culture in Louisiana joined forces Monday, May 10 at a press conference at Scott City Hall to launch Acadian Heritage Week, which will be celebrated during the third week of September. Acadian Heritage Week will celebrate the contributions of the Acadians to the culture of the State of Louisiana in general and will promote the history of the Acadians of Louisiana in particular.
“The history of the Acadians of Louisiana suffers still from negative stereotypes, even in the standard textbooks used in Louisiana history classes in our public schools,” says Zachary Richard, chairman of the Committee for Acadian Heritage Week. “This is unacceptable. It is important that the history of our people be taught in a meaningful and permanent manner. The stories of Beausoleil Broussard and Olivier Thériot and Elizabeth Brasseaux should be passed on. The tragedy of the forced deportation of our ancestors should be used to promote tolerance in the minds and hearts of our young students, and the resistance of the Acadians in the face of great adversity should be used to promote perseverance and compassion.”
An online petition is available at www.AcadianHeritage.org requesting that the State of Louisiana proclaim the third week of September Acadian Heritage Week, and through the State Department of Education implement a curriculum guide for the teaching of Acadian History in the Louisiana history classes of our public schools. A fully developed Web site created by Longevity Design will be inaugurated during Acadian Heritage Week 2004.
A variety of activities are slated for the inaugural Acadian Heritage Week, which will take place from Sept. 12-19. “We encourage all the citizens of Louisiana to celebrate Acadian Heritage Week. There is no set formula. We hope to create a context in which we can all celebrate the Acadian heritage of Louisiana in our own ways. We’ll provide suggested activities and create a clearinghouse of information via the www.AcadianHeritage.org Web site,” explains Richard.
Thank you for your time, consideration and support of this valuable and important community-wide effort.
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