French-canadian Legacy Podcast

This week we're joined by Lise Veronneau. Lise is the Director of community relations and international affairs for Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain region and earlier this year she was knighted by the government of France and joined the French National Order of Merit. She also talks to Jesse about the Sister City Project between Burlington VT and Honfleur, which she’s the chair. Sister City Charter Signing Ceremony - https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/sister-city-charter-signing-honfleur-france Vermont's French Connection Article - https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2017/03/05/history-space-vermonts-french-connection/98739474/ Things you didn't know about Lise Veronneau - https://www.aflcr.org/lise-veronneau/

This week we try something a little different. You'll still get the preview of next week's episode but Jesse will also talk about Events, Blogs and other news going on in the French-Canadian world. Next week we’re honored to have on a member of the French National Order of Merit. Lise Veronneau is the Director of community relations and international affairs for Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain region. She’ll tell Jesse what that experience was like and you’ll learn about Burlington Vermont and it’s sister city Honfleur. Links that Jesse Mentioned - Query the Past, Finding Francos in Le Forum (1975) http://querythepast.com/finding-francos-forum-1975/ Franco-American News and Culture, How the Salem Witch Trials ended - an unlikely French connection https://francoamerican.bangordailynews.com/2019/10/31/franco-american-news-and-culture/how-the-salem-witch-trials-ended-an-unlikely-french-connection/ Parlez-Vous American?, The Haunting of French Louis https://myall.bangordailynews.com/2019/10/31/

Jason Newton, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Labor Relations, Law and History at Cornell, joins us to discuss his article “These French Canadian of the Woods are Half-Wild Folk": Wilderness, Whiteness, and Work in North America, 1840–1955. The article is available online so check it out and then join us for an interesting discussion about the history of French-Canadians and the Logging industry. Read the Article Online - https://www.academia.edu/25472306/_These_French_Canadian_of_the_Woods_are_Half-Wild_Folk_Wilderness_Whiteness_and_Work_in_North_America_1840_1955 Other Articles by Jason - https://cornell.academia.edu/JasonNewton Cornell Staff Bio - https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/people/jason-newton

Jason Newton, a Visiting Assistant Professor of Labor Relations, Law and History at Cornell, joins us next week to discuss his article “These French Canadian of the Woods are Half-Wild Folk": Wilderness, Whiteness, and Work in North America, 1840–1955. The article is available online so check it out and check back next week for an interesting article about the history of French-Canadians and the Logging industry. The Article (Scroll down to read) - https://www.academia.edu/25472306/_These_French_Canadian_of_the_Woods_are_Half-Wild_Folk_Wilderness_Whiteness_and_Work_in_North_America_1840_1955 Other Articles by Jason - https://cornell.academia.edu/JasonNewton Jason's Staff Bio - https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/people/jason-newton

This week Jesse is joined by Lise Pelletier and they discuss Acadian History. Lise is the director of the Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent and even though she grew up with no knowledge of Acadian history she’ll discuss how she learned about it through literature. This week's episode deals with some difficult topics, but they are stories that are very important to tell. Online Acadian Archives - www.umfk.edu/archives/ Lise Staff Bio - www.umfk.edu/directory/bio/lise-m-pelletier/

Lise Pelletier joins us next week to discuss Acadian history. Lise is the director of the Acadian Archives at the University of Maine at Fort Kent and even though she grew up with no knowledge of Acadian history she’ll discuss how she learned about it through literature. Next week's episode deals with some difficult topics, but they are stories that are very important to tell. Online Acadian Archives - https://www.umfk.edu/archives/ Lise Staff Bio - https://www.umfk.edu/directory/bio/lise-m-pelletier/

Our guest this week is Steven Riel. We were lucky enough to meet him at the Rassemblement in Orono and knew right away we wanted him on the show. Steven is a poet and the author of Fellow Odd Fellow his first full collection of poetry. His third Chapbook, Postcard from P-town was the runner-up for the inaugural Robin Becker Chapbook Prize. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Franco-American literary e-journal Résonance. Résonance Website - https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/resonance/ Steven's Website - https://www.stevenriel.com/ Fellow Odd Fellow - https://www.amazon.com/Fellow-Odd-Steven-Riel/dp/0985529237

Steven Riel is joining us next week. We were lucky enough to meet him at the Rassemblement in Orono and knew right away we wanted him on the show. Steven is a poet and the author of Fellow Odd Fellow his first full collection of poetry. His third Chapbook, Postcard from P-town was the runner-up for the inaugural Robin Becker Chapbook Prize. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Franco-American literary e-journal Résonance*. Steven's Website - https://www.stevenriel.com/ Résonance - https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/resonance/ Fellow Odd Fellow on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Fellow-Odd-Steven-Riel/dp/0985529237 * I'd like to apologize for how I pronounce Résonance in the episode. I tried my best and still struck out hard.

This week’s guest is considered by many to be the greatest Franco-American storyteller in New Hampshire. Robert Perreault is an Author, Historian and Professor and he was nice enough to sit down with us at the Rassemblement in Orono. Jesse talks to Robert about growing up in Manchester, some of the work he did after college and they’ll talk about the Irish vs the French in Manchester. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do! New Hampshire Humanities Bio - www.nhhumanities.org/presenters/robert-b-perreault Amazon Author's Page - www.amazon.com/Robert-B-Perreault/e/B001H6IKNK New Hampshire Humanities Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/newhampshirehumanities/

This week’s guest is considered by many to be the greatest Franco-American storyteller in New Hampshire. Robert Perreault is an Author, Historian and Professor and he was nice enough to sit down with us at the Rassemblement in Orono. Jesse talks to Robert about growing up in Manchester, some of the work he did after college and they’ll talk about the Irish vs the French in Manchester. Please join us next week for this fantastic episode. New Hampshire Humanities Bio - https://www.nhhumanities.org/presenters/robert-b-perreault Amazon Author's Page - https://www.amazon.com/Robert-B-Perreault/e/B001H6IKNK New Hampshire Humanities Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/newhampshirehumanities/

Our guest this week is John Tousignant, the Executive Director of the Franco-American Centre in Manchester, NH. For years he’s been working day in and day out helping to promote the Franco culture, so we wanted to have him on to tell his story. Some of the things Jesse and John talk about are how John grew up in a house that didn’t speak French and you’ll learn about all the non-profits he’s worked with through the years. We hope you enjoy the episode. Franco-American Centre Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/centrefrancoamerican Franco-American Centre Website - https://www.facnh.com/

From the first episode Jesse has been saying there’s been a renaissance happening in the Franco-American scene in the Manchester area. Next week’s guest is one of the people responsible for that. John Tousignant is the Executive Director of the Franco-American Centre in Manchester, NH and works day in and day out helping to promote the Franco culture. They’ll talk about everything from how John grew up in Concord, NH in a non-French speaking household and you’ll find out about all of the important non-profits he’s worked with in the past. Franco-American Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/centrefrancoamerican Franco-American Website - https://www.facnh.com/

This week’s episode is our first roundtable film discussion. We have Tonya and Ray Shevenell on to talk about the documentary The Home Road. Tonya directed the film and Ray is the “Star”. The film is about how Ray retraced his Great Great Grandfather’s trip from Compton, Quebec to Biddeford, Maine. The Film is an exploration of family, history and family - and how a journey into the unexpected inevitably leads to home. Tonya also talks about her upcoming projects, including an exclusive announcement of an upcoming book. Since we have two guest this week, Jesse welcomes Mike to the co-host chair. We hope you enjoy the discussion about this important documentary. The Home Road Website - https://www.thehomeroad.com/ Watch The Home Road Online - https://www.thehomeroad.com/see-the-film Malibu Maine Website - https://www.malibumaine.com/ Shape of Love: 200 Years in Maine - https://shapeoflove.me/

Next week’s episode is going to be a fun one for a couple of reasons. It’ll be the first time we’ll have two guests and so it’d only make sense to have two hosts. Jesse will share hosting duties with Mike and they’ll welcome Tonya and Ray Shevenell to the show. Tonya is the director of the documentary The Home Road and Ray, her father, is the self-described “Star”. The short description of The Home Road is, A 74-year-old Maine man retraces the journey of his pioneering, 19-year-old great-great-grandfather, who left his home in Canada in 1845. Join us next week as we talked to Tonya and Ray all about this amazing film and how the story still resonates today. Tonya has recently made The Home Road free to watch online. So please visit the links below where you can also order the DVD. The Home Road Website - https://www.thehomeroad.com/ Watch The Home Road Online - https://www.thehomeroad.com/see-the-film

This week's guest is Paul Marion. He's a poet and community leader from Lowell Massachusetts, who was heavily involved in the formation of the Lowell National Historical Park which he will discuss with Jesse. They also talk about Paul's childhood in Lowell and what the French-Canadian culture is like there today. Jesse also talks to Paul about his book Union River, which is a collection of poems about his life as a French-Canadian. We hope you enjoy this episode. Loom Press Author Page - http://www.loompress.com/authors-paul-marion Union River Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/Union-River-Sketches-Paul-Marion/dp/1946741000 Information about Lowell National Historical Park - https://www.nps.gov/lowe/index.htm

Paul Marion is a Poet and Community Leader from Lowell, Massachusetts who was nice enough to sit down with us and talk about his life and career. He grew up in Lowell and was instrumental to helping create the Lowell National Park. Tune in next week to hear Jesse and Paul talk about all things Lowell and also about Paul’s book Union River. Loom Press Author Page - http://www.loompress.com/authors-paul-marion Union River Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/Union-River-Sketches-Paul-Marion/dp/1946741000 Information about Lowell National Historical Park - https://www.nps.gov/lowe/index.htm

We were lucky to meet this week’s guest at the Rassemblement in Orono and knew we had to have her on the show. Dr. Chelsea Ray is an Associate Professor of French Language and Literature at Umaine-Augusta. Every year she helps put together a French Immersion Weekend where students and people of any age can spend a weekend at Blueberry Cove Camp in Tenants Harbor, Maine and participate in various activities all while speaking only French. Jesse also asks Dr. Ray about growing up in California and how she ended up in Maine, what it’s like taking 20 college students to France for two weeks and how some of her classes might relate to our show. French Immersion weekend - https://www.uma.edu/academics/programs/french/events/ Chelsea Ray info - https://www.uma.edu/directory/staff/chelsea-d-ray/ French Program - https://www.uma.edu/academics/programs/french/

Dr. Chelsea Ray is an Associate Professor of French Language and Literature at UMaine Augusta. Dr. Ray will be our guest next week to talk about a very interesting project she helps put together each year. We met her at the Rassemblement in Orono, Maine in April and wanted to have her on the show to talk about the French Immersion Weekend at Blueberry Cove Camp in Tenants Harbor, Maine. This year’s event takes place September 27th through the 29th. Join us next week for the full interview to learn more about this fantastic weekend to experience the French language and much more. French Immersion Weekend Info - https://www.uma.edu/academics/programs/french/events/ Dr. Ray UMaine Bio - https://www.uma.edu/directory/staff/chelsea-d-ray/ French Language Program at UMaine Augusta - https://www.uma.edu/academics/programs/french/

This week’s guest is a French-Canadian Hall of Fame Musician, host of Bonjour a French Language talk show that aired over 500 episodes, she’s performed all over the world and she was kind enough to let us use her fantastic song “French in America” to start and end our show each week. Josée Vachon sits down with Jesse to talk about all that and she’ll discuss how she was introduced to music and talk about some of her favorite songs. Josée Vachon Website - http://www.joseevachon.com/ Josée Vachon CD Baby Page - https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/JoseeVachon Foot Tapping Lesson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whQbiofXc8s

Next week’s guest has been involved with every episode of the French-Canadian Legacy and we’re very excited we got to sit down with her. Josée Vachon is a French-Canadian Hall of Fame musician who allows us to use her song ‘French in America’ every week. Jesse and Josée discuss her childhood in Maine, when she discovered her love of music and they’ll discuss the origin of a few of her songs. Make sure you keep listening after the bonus question because you’ll hear the full version of French in America. Josée Vachon Website - http://www.joseevachon.com/ Josée Vachon CD Baby Page - https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/JoseeVachon Foot Tapping Lesson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whQbiofXc8s