Aug. 28. Chassell Heritage Center open 4:00 for festival registration and the following:

Thursday evening at the Chassell Heritage Center:  Keweenaw National Historical Park 4th Thursday in History, 7:00 pm.

      Fashion show by the Friends of Fashion highlighting the lives of the French-Canadian immigrants to the Copper Country

      Music and dance by the local Maple Sugar Folk music group

      Delectable French-Canadian desserts

Aug. 29.  Friday:  Chassell Heritage Center 10:00am to 8:00pm for festival registration and the following:

      Exhibits highlighting the history of Chassell and French-Canadian settlement and culture

      Documentaries such as Franco-Americans: We Remember, Réveil: Waking up French and Medicine Fiddle

      Guided trolley bus tours, available throughout the afternoon, visiting historic French-Canadian settlement areas

      Evening reception at the VFW Hall in downtown Chassell for the Québecois band De Temps Antan

Aug. 30. Saturday:   Chassell Heritage Center open at 9:00am to 8:00pm for festival registration and the following:

      Museum exhibits and documentaries continue throughout the day.

      Hour-long workshops on Fiddle, Harmonica, Guitar, Singing, Folk Dancing, and the French-Canadian Jig. REGISTRATION FORM.PDF 

      Two-hour hands-on genealogy workshop with over $1,000 worth of research materials available for use by participants, with interpreters on hand to translate French documents, and Friends of Fashion members assisting in dating old photographs.  Genealogy 101 workshop for beginners.  REGISTRATION FORM.PDF

  Also on Saturday at the Chassell Centennial Park on Pike Bay, Adventure Day featuring

      Demos of traditional logging techniques by the MTU Forestry Club

      Biking and kayaking demos by local businesses, Cross Country Sports and Down Wind Sports

      Summer training techniques demonstrated by MTU Nordic Ski Team

      Sled dog mushing with Truman Obermeyer and street skiing with MTU Nordic Ski Team

      Rowing demos by MTU Rowing Team and Portage Lake Rowing Club

      Dinghy Sailing by Onigaming Yacht Club

      Stories for children and Traditions Alive supervising vintage children’s games by local youth dressed in period costume 

      Open microphone for local musicians at the park pavilion throughout the day

      Traditional French Canadian pea soup and poutine available for lunch

Saturday Evening Soiree at the park pavilion featuring De Temps Antan, 7:00 pm; Admission:  Adults $15  Students $10

      Great traditional French-Canadian music and dance

      Soft drinks and favorite traditional French Canadian foods, including Pork Pie and Sugar Tarts, available for purchase

      Pavilion seating; bring lawn chairs or lawn blankets, if you’d like

Aug. 31.  Sunday Morning:  Gathering at the Grotto at 8:45 am in downtown Chassell and procession to 9:00 Mass at St. Anne’s    Catholic Church, originally a French parish.  Music will include traditional hymns and chant in Latin and French, and well-known favorites in English.

Contacts: David Bezotte, Festival Chairman at dbezotte@yahoo.com & Nancy Leonard, Festival Events Coordinator    nancy@einerlei.com.

Proceeds from the French-Canadian Festival will go to the Chassell Heritage Center’s handicapped access project. 

SUPPORTERS OF FESTIVAL JOIE DE VIVRE

The Festival Steering Committee of the French-Canadian Festival and the members of the sponsoring organization, the Chassell Historical Organization, sincerely thank the following organizations and businesses. Without their overwhelming generosity, the Festival would have never become a reality.

KEWEENAW NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
4TH THURSDAY IN HISTORY

Thursday, August 28^th, 7:00 pm

Chassell Heritage Center

The Friends of Fashion present  "A New Life in a New Land:  The French Canadians Come to the Keweenaw."  Fashions will be showcased along with the culture and traditions of the French-Canadian immigrants.  Models in vintage clothing, along with narrative and vintage photographs help to tell the compelling stories of those who came before us.  Traditional music will be presented by the Maple Sugar Folk Ensemble and delicious French-Canadian desserts will be provided and served by the Friends of Fashion and members of the Chassell Historical Organization. 

This is the kick-off event for Festival Joie de Vivre

FRENCH-CANADIAN EXHIBITS

New temporary exhibits showcasing the French-Canadian cultural presence in the Keweenaw have been designed and installed in the Chassell Heritage Center.  Many visitors may find it surprising to learn that the French Canadians were the first European-descent ethnic group to settle in the Chassell area.  A photographic display of Chassell's French-Canadian families will grow throughout the summer season as the photographs become available. 

If you have a photograph of your own family to contribute, please contact David Bezotte debezotte@yahoo.com, Judy Evert njevert@aol.com or Luanne Hamel luahamel@up.net

DOCUMENTARIES: LEARN AND ENJOY

Five documentaries on various aspects French-Canadian and Franco-American culture will be shown and the Chassell Heritage Center during the festival. 

Réveil: Waking Up French  (Ben Levine) - 81 min.

Showing Friday 3:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m.

Réveil-Waking Up French is relevant to everyone. As the melting pot attitude and globalization threatens diversity and the heritage of so many cultures, Réveil explores the struggle for cultural survival in the very heart of American monoculture. It reveals the importance of history and heritage understanding and demonstrates how languages can be reacquired for personal and community renewal that is truly inspiring. 

Audience Response:

"Awestruck. I never knew the story, the history, the depth of our culture and people.
 "It got to me very deeply. I had to let the tears flow."

"I'm not French, I'm Irish. I found your wonderful film extremely motivational to track my own roots and share my heritage with my family."

"The film showed a unity in feelings about being Franco-American - feelings that were deep and that were kept to oneself for many years."

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Franco-Americans: We Remember (Barbara Coles & Kevin Tierney, New Hampshire Public Television) - 60 min.

Showing Friday 12:00 p.m. and Saturday 1:30 p.m.
Hosted by Tom Bergeron, this documentary explores the culture of the French-Canadians who settled in New England. "Follow the rivers of New England and there you'll find the Franco-Americans." They came to New England for the promise of a better life. They brought with them a commitment to their faith, their family and their community. They were at the heart of New England industry. Their beautiful churches grace the cities and mill towns where they worked, and their rich cultural traditions are bright strands woven into the fabric of New England life.

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Medicine Fiddle - (Michael Luokinen of Northern Michigan University) - 81 min.

Showing Friday 1:30 p.m. and Saturday 12:00 p.m.

This award-winning film explores the fiddle traditions of Native and Métis families in the northern U.S. and Canada, featuring fiddle players from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Ontario, and Manitoba. It examines the influence of European music and dance on Native Americans beginning in the 17th and 18th centuries.  The film weaves tunes, dance, and oral history to join our minds and hearts and to make us aware of our connection to a much older and broader version of American.

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J'ai Été au Bal: I Went to the Dance (Les Blank, Chris Strachwitz, Maureen Gosling) - 84 min.

Showing Friday 10:30 a.m. and Saturday 3:00 p.m.

A documentary on the Cajun and Zydeco music of Louisiana inspired by Ann Savoy's book, "Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People".

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Soirée Canadienne (With Louis Bilodeau) – 165 min.

Showing Thursday 4:15 p.m., Friday 5:30 p.m., and Saturday 5:30 p.m.
Best moments from the "Soirée Canadienne" television broadcasts popular in Quebec from 1960-1983. Each week, singers, dancers and musicians from a different region of Quebec were featured in an old-time soirée, allowing viewers to discover the cultural characteristics of the area.  Narrated in French, but consists primarily of singing and dancing.

WORKSHOPS ON MUSIC, GENEALOGY AND DANCE

Music Workshops by De Temps Antan - André Brunet on Fiddle, Éric Beaudry on Guitar and Pierre-Luc Dupuis on Harmonica, all experienced musicians and teachers, will teach selections from the repertoire of Quebecois music on their respective instruments.  Music will be taught by ear, so participants are encouraged to bring battery operated recorders.  In the Fiddle workshop, learn selections from the repertoire of Quebecois fiddle tunes.  Techniques include bowing ornamentation to bring flexibility and fluidity in tunes.  Guitar workshop includes techniques on accompanying French-Canadian dance music;  Guitar & Fiddle workshops include instruction in foot percussion.

French-Canadian Songs - David Bezotte has had the opportunity to experience the music and culture of Quebec at family gatherings in Chassell and in St-Cuthbert , Quebec over the last forty years, which has given him a passion for sharing his French-Canadian heritage with the local community.   Dave will teach some of the best-known “response” songs, along with a couple of De Temps Antan’s songs so participants can sing along at the Saturday Soirée. Basic knowledge of French pronunciation helpful.

French-Canadian Genealogy

Luanne Hamel, amateur genealogist and family historian, with the help of her two sisters, Lynne Palo and Lisa Kemppainen, and Elaine Chaput will conduct this two-hour genealogy workshop.

This will not be a lecture, but rather a “hands-on" research opportunity that allows participants, aided by this team, to search for their ancestors using Luanne’s personal collection of French-Canadian Genealogy Resources. Please note the dates of the resources. The participants should already have a connection made back to the province of Quebec up to that time period in order for the resources to be useful.  Participants should bring paper and pencil (no pen or markers, please) for their own use.

A team of translators will be available to help translate French language documents. The Friends of Fashion will also be on hand to date photographs using their expertise on clothing and hairstyles as clues.

French-Canadian Genealogy Resources

General Quebec Resources-Baptisms, Burials, and Marriages

Dictionaire Généalogique des families du Québec des origins à 1730 by René Jetté
(marriages, baptisms and burials from the beginning of colonization of Quebec in the 1600’s to 1730)    

Dictionnaire Généalogique des Familles Canadiennes  7 volumes by Cyprien Tanguay (marriages, baptisms and burials from the beginning of colonization of Quebec to approximately 1790’s)

Complément au Dictionnaire Généalogique Tanguay (Corrections and Additions to the Tanguay Dictionary) by J. Arthur Leboeuf

Parish Record Reportoires
Lachine, Quebec-marriages 1676-1970
Repentigny, Quebec- marriages 1669-1970, baptisms 1679-1880, burials 1679-1980
St-Charles de Lachenaie, Quebec-baptisms, burials, marriages 1681-1899
St-Paul l’Ermite, Quebec-baptisms, burials, marriages 1857-1994
St-Sulpice, Quebec-baptisms, burials, and marriages 1706-1980

French Canadian Biography Resources
Our French-Canadian Ancestors by Thomas J. Laforest 30 volumes (the English version of Nos Anĉestres, a series of biographies of the oldest of the French Canadian families)
Généalogie Portraits de Familles Pionnières by Robert Prévost (biographies of some of the pioneer familes of Quebec) in French
Dictionary of Canadian Biography Volume 1 1000-1700 printed by the University of Toronto Press
 

Acadian Resources
Acadian Exiles in the Colonies by Janet Jehn (information on the Acadians that were exiled to New England including some lists of exiles)
Acadian Genealogy Exchange 7 issues 1993-1994
 

Other Resources
The Genealogist- The Official Journal of the American-Canadian Genealogical Society-Issues from 1975-1991 and the year 1997. Index for 1975-1988.
Town and Parish Histories
Histore de Saint-Paul L’Ermite Le Gardeur-(in French) Includes a history of properties and homes and lists the property owners through the years and includes many family and historic photographs.
La Paroisse de Saint Cuthbert 1765-1980-(in French) Includes a history and historic   photographs.
Gentilly 1676-1976-(in French) Includes history and photographs.
Parish Record Reportoires
St-Cuthbert, Quebec-Marriages 1770-1883
St-Cuthbert, Quebec-Baptisms and Deaths 1770-1825
Ile Dupas, Quebec-Baptisms, Deaths, Marriages 1804-1989
Berthier, Quebec-Baptisms, Deaths, Marriages 1727-1900
St-Thomas, Quebec-Baptisms, Deaths, Marriages 1841-1992
Lanoraie, Quebec-Baptisms, Deaths-1732-1899

Other Resources
King's Daughters and Founding Mothers: The Filles du Roi, 1663-1673 (Vol. 1 & 2); by Peter J. Gagné
 Before the King's Daughters: The Filles à Marier, 1634-1662; by  Peter J. Gagné
 The Good Regiment: The  Carignan-Salières Regiment in Canada, 1663-1668, by Jack Verney

"Genealogy 101" – Peg Niedholdt is a registered genealogist and a member of the Houghton – Keweenaw Genealogy Society and the Association of Professional Genealogists.  She has been actively involved in genealogy for over 30 years.  Learn how to get started with your family tree, obtain information from your home and relatives,  develop good  interviewing techniques, and find other sources for research.

French-Canadian Folk Dance – Hester Butler, folk dancer, teacher, and student of folk dance, has been interested in folk dance since she was a Girl Scout, and that interest has developed in to a life-long hobby that she has shared with many through dancing and teaching.  She and her husband Bob have been attending folk dance workshops regularly for over thirty years.  Hester will teach a mixture of circle dances, mixers, long way dances, and possibly some simple set dances suitable for either experienced dancers or inexperienced dancers and children.  Beginners welcome.

French-Canadian Jig - Donna Armistead recently celebrated her 50^th year in dance.  She is a former principal dancer with the Buffalo Ballet Theatre and former owner/director of the Superior School of Dance, where she still teaches part-time.  Donna will teach a jig, Gigue de Lille, and a typical waltz clog.  No experience necessary. 

GUIDED HISTORICAL TROLLEY BUS TOURS

On Friday afternoon, August 29^th, take a Guided Tour on a Trolley Bus and visit the places in Chassell and the surrounding countryside where the French Canadians settled.  One hour tours will run from the Chassell Heritage Center, from 1:00 to 7:00 pm.  Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the point of departure.

DE TEMP ANTANS

Pierre-Luc Dupuis plays accordion, harmonica, and vocal and is a native of Louiseville, Quebec.  He sang with his family at a very young age, and began learning accordion at the age of eighteen.   This dynamic performer must have learned very quickly, because he formed a musical group the very next year, and released a CD shortly after.

André Brunet (fiddle, guitar, vocal and foot percussion) began learning violin at the age of nine and his first musical group was created with his brother, Réjean.  André continues to be very active in the traditional music scene of Quebec and also plays in the world-famous Celtic group “The Celtic Fiddle Festival.”

Éric Beaudry (guitar, bouzouki, vocal, and foot percussion) comes from from St-Côme, a rural town known for it’s tradition of singing.  He was greatly influenced by his musical family and began playing guitar at the age of ten.  He has played and recorded with several musical groups during his musical career.  Éric has a bachelor’s degree in pop guitar and jazz, and teaches traditional music at the Cégep Régional de Lanaudière, a community college in Joliette, Québec.  Éric and André have organized and will teach at the first “Violon Trad Québec” fiddle camp July 20-25, 2008 at Rawdon, Québec.

Their CD, released earlier this year, is available for $20 at Good Times Music in Houghton and will be available at the band’s performances in Chassell.  To find out more about the group or to sample their music, visit their website at http://www.detempsantan.qc.ca/ or search “De Temps Antan” on YouTube.com.

You’ll have the opportunity to welcome and meet them in person at a Party/Reception at the Chassell VFW Hall on Friday the 29^th at 8:00 p.m.   The band will perform for an hour, food will be available for purchase, and there will be a cash bar.

Workshops led by each band member on his instrument of choice will be held on Saturday.  See information on the REGISTRATION FORM.PDF

These three talented musicians are exploding with “joie de vivre”…and it is contagious! Don’t miss them!

ADVENTURE DAY IN THE PARK

 SATURDAY, AUGUST 30^th
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Free to the public.

Adventure Day will feature free fun outdoor activities at the Centennial Park on beautiful Pike Bay in Chassell. 

·        The MTU Forestry Club will demonstrate their prowess at traditional lumber jack skills, testing their strength, stamina and courage.  Techniques include the famous axe throw, hearty log chop, skilled crosscut sawing, and tobacco spitting.

·        Local musicians will perform at an open microphone in the park pavilion throughout the day.

·        Downwind Sports of Houghton will showcase the sport of kayaking.

·        Cross Country Sports of Calumet and Houghton will demo biking.

·        The MTU Nordic Ski Team will demonstrate summer training techniques.

·        The MTU Rowing Team and the Portage Lake Rowing Club will showcase the sport of rowing.

·        Onigaming Yacht will be sailing dinghies on the bay.

·        Truman Obermeyer will have his sled dogs on hand to demonstrate summer training for mushing.  

·        There will be story time for the children, and youth from Traditions Alive, dressed in period costume, will supervise children’s games. 

·        Favorite traditional French Canadian pea soup Poutine (French Fries with melted cheese and gravy) and other refreshments will be available for lunchtime purchase.

·        Everything but the food and beverages is free! 

SATURDAY EVENING SOIREE IN THE PARK

August 30, 2008.

Gates open at 7:00 pm   Admission:  $15/adult  $10/student

Join us for the crowning event of Festival Joie de Vivre!  Liven up your evening at our traditional Saturday evening French-Canadian Soiree.  Put to good use those new found skills learned in the day's workshops.  Listen to fun-loving traditional Quebecois music with the three-member band, DeTemps Antan, straight from Quebec.  The music starts at 8:00pm.

   Great traditional French-Canadian music and dance

   Soft drinks and favorite traditional French Canadian foods, including Pork Pie and Sugar Tarts, available for purchase

   Pavilion seating; bring lawn chairs or lawn blankets, if you wish

This is the major fundraising event of Festival Joie de Vivre.  All proceeds benefit the handicapped accessibility project at the Chassell Heritage Center.