Sunday, September 12, 2004

Franco fests a great way to celebrate
by CHRIS CHURCHILL Staff Writer
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WATERVILLE --
Not so long ago, Franco-Americans in Maine mostly kept their culture and language shrouded, a logical response to the harsh bigotry they faced. Times have changed. Now Mainers with surnames such as Gagnon and Dion have taken the wraps off their cultural pride -- a renaissance best seen in the Franco festivals that occur in nearly every corner of the state. There is, for example, Festival de Joie in Lewiston. Or the Acadian Festival in Aroostook County and La Kermesse in Biddeford. Waterville takes its turn today, holding its second annual Franco-American Festival. Events begin at noon at Head of Falls, between the river and Front Street. "We need to promote ourselves, and festivals are the best way to do it," said Lionel Guay, director of Festival de Joie. "Everybody loves entertainment." Guay's comments came Saturday during a conference on Franco-American culture held at Colby College. Speakers marveled at a dramatic turnaround: In a state where French was scorned, where natives felt free to berate anyone speaking the language, it's now celebrated in festivals that draw thousands. "There has been a lot of silencing of our voices," said Susan Gagnon, an organizer with Terre pis Ciel, a Jay festival. Gagnon added that festivals are responsible for "an incredible generating of cultural pride." Some of the festivals are quite large: The Acadian Festival now ranks as the state's biggest cultural festival; nearly 18,000 people attended Lewiston's festival; and in Biddeford, La Kermesse is a four-day event that includes a boisterous parade that has residents lining the streets hours before the first band marches by. In contrast, the Waterville festival is small. It's a one-day affair featuring food, music and, of course, the beautiful French language. But organizers predict the second annual festival will get bigger as it matures. "The goal is to grow each year -- each year to be able to make it larger and larger," said Tracey Steuber, coordinator of both the conference and festival. Festivals were not the only topic discussed during Saturday's conference. The daylong event also included talks on Franco heritage, genealogy, art, literature and language. The goal of the conference, participants said, is to let the wider world know what Francos have always known: that the men and women who left Quebec for work in New England mills brought a rich and varied culture. "I think what we're doing here today is one of the best things Francos can do," Guay said. "Promoting our cause is important, and no one is going to do it for us."
Chris Churchill -- 861-9251 cchurchill@centralmaine.com