All posts by Acadien Acadian Memorial

The Acadian Heritage and Culture Foundation Inc. and the Famille Beausoleil Association announce a new fundraising effort to support the New Acadia Project.

The New Acadia Project (NAP) is an archaeological and historical initiative lau nched in 2013, that aims to locate and study Nouvelle Acadie – the original 1765 settlements of the first large group of Acadian exiles in Louisiana. Their descendants today comprise over 500,000 Cajuns in Louisiana and throughout the world.

NAP is spearheaded by University of Louisiana at Lafayette archaeologist Dr. Mark Rees. Dr. Rees and his students conducted the 2003 Amand Broussard archaeology research project near Loreauville, Louisiana, where Acadian artifacts dating from the 1780s were unearthed. Amand Broussard was the son of Acadian hero and leader Joseph Broussard who was called Beausoleil.

The ultimate goal is to obtain recognition by UNESCO that Acadiana’s Cajun culture is deemed to be a part of the World Heritage Site–and have it linked to Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia,from where the Cajuns’ ancestors sought refuge from the ethnic cleansing begun by the British in 1755.

Join Ceci OKeefe Neustrom for a brief presentation of her Acadian Heritage paintings at the opening reception of the Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival in St. Martinville, LA on March 17, 2023 between 6-8 pm. Ceci tells the story of the Acadian diaspora through painting up-close and personal portraits of living descendants of the original Acadian settlers. Her visual depictions strive to share the personal story as well as the historical in highlighting Acadian strength and perseverance in face of extreme misfortune and persecution. The family names selected were included in a historical document from 1765, which appears to be the earliest known record with the names of the settlers. Neustrom outfits her descendants in period clothing and poses them in various classical positions. At the bottom of each oil portrait, she paints the family surname and crest. Please join us for the special viewing of these Acadian portraits.

Take part in the Acadian Memorial Foundation’s annual fundraiser. Tickets are $25. First, second and third place winners ($100, $50, and $25) will be pulled every month from March to November and all winning tickets are re-entered, so each ticket has many chances to win! Tickets are available through members of the Board or the day of the Acadian Memorial Festival. It’s a great gift and a great way to support the Acadian Memorial and the Foundation!!

We offer self-guided and guided educational tours of the Acadian Memorial and Museum and the African American Museum. Guided tours include the Bayou Teche, historic square and St. Martin De Tours Catholic Church. Call us at 337-394-2258 for info and for reservations!

Schedule for Acadian Memorial Genealogy Workshop

Our genealogy workshops are ongoing. Dates to be determined. Look for an update soon.