• Family affair: Acadians begin their celebration 
• Friendly people make heat more bearable
• Canadians make trek to Louisiana
• Oh, Canada! 
• Acadians rediscover 'cousins' at Mass 
• Acadians honor Native Americans who helped them 
• Congrès spirit not dampened
• Congrès Mondial Acadien - Day 2
• Acadian fest ties threads of history

Like their ancestors 200 years earlier, a group of French-speaking Canadians arrived in Southeast Louisiana, weary after the long trek from one corner of the continent to the other.

Unlike their ancestors, the travelers arrived in Winnebagos, minivans, and other recreational vehicles, and were met with warm smiles and hospitality, rather than the harsh environment their forefathers encountered when they carved out a section of wilderness to create their homes here two centuries ago.

Stepping out of his air-conditioned motorhome into the hot, humid weather, Yvon Cyr squinted from the
relentless sun that pushed the temperatures into the upper 90s at the small crowd of people welcoming them at the Raceland Welcome Center.

"Fait chaud," (It's hot), he exclaimed, walking out of the RV, and stretching his legs. Meanwhile, several other vehicles pulled in behind him, escorted by a pair of motorcycle police from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.

While the travelers poured out of their vehicles, they were greeted by a small group of locals, some who spoke to them in French.

The travelers arrived to participate in Congres' Mondial Acadian, a series of "family reunions" of families reunited after their relatives were exiled from what is present day Nova Scotia two centuries ago. While the families traveled down from various provinces together, they would divide from Raceland, traveling to different parishes to get their own experiences of the two-week celebration.

Although the travelers had not yet spent much time in Louisiana, many had already formed an impression of the region.

"It's hot here," Cyr, who lives in Toronto, said. "There was a heat wave right before we left, but it's much more humid here."

Cyr said that there aren't many of his family down in Louisiana. Most of his kin fled up the St. John River to New Brunswick when the rest were deported.

Like the others, Cyr said that talking to some of the people here came about very naturally, like conversing with old friends.

"It's a very friendly culture here," he said. "I think we have that in our blood."

Georgette Thibodeau echoed Cyr's sentiments.

"It's wonderful, the friendliness here," she said. "It's the very same culture, there are strong resemblances."

Thibodeau said she would be staying in the area for the two weeks, attending the reunion of the Martin family in Charenton later during the week.

The caravan's organizer, Jean Gaudet, decided to travel down to South Louisiana after attending the first
Congres' Mondial in Canada six years ago.

"After the first Congres, I worked hard to go to this one, to invest the time to meet people and learn some of the history," he said.

Like the others, Gaudet was genuinely impressed with the warmth of the people who he met.

"I feel like their cousins already," he said. "People you meet, you just feel so much at ease around them."

Edward Guidry is a staff writer for the Daily Comet. He can be reached at 448-7646 or by e-mail at
eguidry@dailycomet.com.