Acadian Memorial Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 379 AMF * 121 S. New Market St. * St. Martinville, LA 70582 * (337) 394-2258
St. Martinville, le 13 avril 2016
Cher Chief Chrétien,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you and the Atakapas Ishak Nation for the seventh time to the 13th annual Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival and Wooden Boat Congrès.
The First Nations people in Acadie, the Mi’qmaq, helped our ancestors survive and prosper. We carry their blood through intermarriage. It is right that those ties continue with all Native American peoples.
Thanks to you and your people for continuing to come to support our Festival and share your cultural traditions and participate in our reenactment activities. Sharing your stories, your traditions and your dancing helps all of us to better understand the native peoples.
The symbolism of your people welcoming my people on the shores where your people lived and hunted is special to all of us. You may not have intended to say it in that particular way but you said and rightly so that it is an honor for us to have you at the Festival.
My hope is that we will continue to work together to strengthen our ties for many years to come.
Amitiés,
Elaine F. Clément
Conservatrice/Directrice
Curator/Director