Collection:LPB

Genre: French

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-08-25

Duration: 00:54:42

Subjects: French language | Acadians | History

Contributors:

• Fontenot, James Host
• Leavitt, Mel Speaker
• Ramagosa, Elmo Speaker
• Breaux, Gerald Speaker
• Brown, Jim Speaker
• Boggs, Lindy Speaker
• Breaux, Lois Speaker
• Morial, Ernest "Dutch" Speaker
• Gregoire, Philippe Speaker
• Parellada, Juan Ramon Speaker
• Ullo, Chris Speaker
• Boese, Jean McGivney Speaker
• Robichaux, Al Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Hebert, Gary Guest
• Gauthreaux, Everett Guest

This episode of the series “En Francais” from August 25, 1985, features highlights from the July 28th event in New Orleans, Louisiana, commemorating the Acadian Odyssey Bicentennial. This historic anniversary marks the arrival of the first boat of Acadian exiles sent from France to their new homes in Spanish Louisiana. This episode includes the reenactment of the boat’s arrival in New Orleans and messages of welcome from Mel Leavitt as Governor Ansel Blanchard and Monsignor Elmo Ramagosa as Father Antoine de Sedella, the pastor of St. Louis Parish. It also includes highlights of the speeches given by: Gerald Breaux, the chairman of the Acadian Odyssey Bicentennial Commission; Louisiana Secretary of State Jim Brown; Congresswoman Lindy Boggs; Lois Breaux, the wife of Congressman John Breaux; New Orleans Mayor Ernest Morial; Counsel General Philippe Gregoire of France; Counsel General Juan Ramon Parellada of Spain; State Representative Chris Ullo; Louisiana Poet Laureate Jean McGivney Boese; Al Robichaux of the Acadian Odyssey Bicentennial Commission; and Governor Edwin Edwards. James Fontenot then interviews Gary Hebert and Everett Gauthreaux of the Acadian Odyssey Bicentennial Commission, who discuss the other upcoming events around the state marking this anniversary. This episode was preserved through a 2018 CLIR Recordings at Risk Grant.