By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
VAN BUREN — Now that the St. John Valley Cultural Byway — also known as La Route Culturelle de la Vallee St-Jean —has been formally dedicated during a small ceremony on Sept. 9 at the historic Acadian Village in Van Buren, the word is getting out about exactly what northern Maine has to offer.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
The Acadian Village visitor center is located about five miles north of Van Buren, right off of the St. John Valley Cultural Byway; it’s an excellent stop along a cultural drive through Aroostook County and will play an important role in the 2014 World Acadian Congress.
“[The new cultural byway] is giving away our secret — no one really knew just what we had to offer, but now the word it out,” said Dan LaPointe president of the Maine Acadian Heritage Council.
“It’s the French Acadian culture that makes this area unique,” said Fred Michaud, Maine Department of Transportation Coordinator of Scenic Byways (who has Acadian roots himself). The St. John Valley Cultural Byway may be lucky number thirteen on the list of Maine’s Scenic Byways, but it’s number one when it comes to francophones, Acadian pride and, of course, ployes.
“This byway will allow us to showcase our rich culture to the world and help attract visitors to the area. This will help promote economic development in the region as well as an increased understanding of our cultural diversity and history,” Congressman Michaud wrote. “I am particularly excited that this will further promote and celebrate the region on a grander scale when the St. John Valley region, along with the Temiscouata region of Quebec and northwestern New Brunswick, hosts the 2014 World Acadian Congress.”
“This is an important piece for the valley,” agreed President of the Van Buren Historical Society and Director of the Acadian Village Anne Roy, “it will open the area up a whole new tourist group.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Fred Michaud, Maine Department of Transportation coordinator of scenic byways, spoke to a very Acadian crowd during the formal dedication of the new St. John Valley Cultural Byway on Sept. 9 at the Acadian Village in Van Buren.
It’s no question that the 92 miles of the St. John Valley Cultural Byway will draw tourism to the region, but what specifically will they be surprised to find when they get here?
“I think tourists will be surprised to find that we can speak French,” Roy said. From Fort Kent to Caribou, it’s common place to hear neighbors speaking fluent French particularly in the 40-and-up crowd, Roy added.
With the impending 2014 World Acadian Congress coming to the region, Acadian culture has found it’s way into the lime light, which could mean an increased interest in younger generation of Acadian to take a greater involvement in their heritage.
“We’re hoping it awakens a pride for their heritage and a desire to learn the French language,” Roy said.
LaPointe may have been right when he said that the Byway was giving away the Valley’s secret, but as secrets don’t make friends and the Valley is looking to make thousands upon thousands of friends in the coming pre-congress years.
