Maine Humanities Council

The Voici the Valley Cultureway celebrates the places and culture of the St. John Valley, where the United States and Canada meet along the St. John River.

The St. John Valley is found at the top of the state of Maine with the neighboring province of New Brunswick. Fondly called “The Valley,” this international region is home to around 55,000 people, mostly of French heritage. The Voici the Valley Cultureway was created by Sheila Jans, Don Cyr, and Daniel Picard of CultureWorth to celebrate the places and culture of the Valley. Visitors can enhance their experience (and residents can deepen their understanding) of the region with the Voici the Valley Audio Story and Guide, available here for $15. The guide has maps and information about both sides of the international border. This podcast episode contains the introduction to the 80-minute Audio Story, which brings the region to life through stories, interviews, and traditional music.

This introduction to the St. John Valley is part of the Voici the Valley Cultureway Audio Story. We welcome your feedback on this Voici the Valley podcast. You can leave a comment below.

 

 Voici the Valley - Introduction [4:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (208)

The complete Voici the Valley Audio Story (available here) includes a thorough historical account of the deportation of the Acadian people from the Maritime Provinces in 1755, the territorial disputes that ensued, and the eventual settlement of the Valley in 1785 by Acadian refugees. This brief excerpt explains how, in the wake of the 1842 treaty that established the border, residents of the south side of the Valley—now a part of the United States—turned to the Catholic Church to provide social services, schools, and hospitals. The Church, rather than their new government, shaped their lives and culture. The photo at right by Don Cyr shows the angel on the tower of the former Catholic church, Notre Dame du Mont-Carmel, now the Musee culturel du Mont-Carmel in Lille, Maine.

 

 Alliances and Adversities: Shifting of Affairs [5:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (181)

Governments on both sides of the international border that runs through the Valley have made laws to regulate the crossing of people and goods. This segment offers a glimpse of how current residents feel about these laws and how their forebears got around them during Prohibition. At right: bagosse, which is homebrew or moonshine, depicted by Daniel Picard.

This recording is excerpted from the Voici the Valley Cultureway Audio Story. We welcome your feedback on this Voici the Valley podcast.

 

 Law of the Lands: Dividing the Valley [5:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (189)

This excerpt from the Voici the Valley Audio Story features Allagash resident Joe Kelly recalling his experiences as a logger and river driver in the time before the chain saw. You’ll also hear a French folk song about a river driver, performed by traditional singer Rachel LeBlanc. The photo at right by Daniel Picard shows a traditional “Connors” river driving batteau on the St. John River.

This recording is excerpted from the Voici the Valley Cultureway Audio Story. We welcome your feedback on this Voici the Valley podcast.

 

 Voici the Valley: Tales of Terrain: Shaping Land, Shaping People [5:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (150)

This portion of the Audio Story delves into the rich cultural life of the valley, including its language, idioms, pronunciation, music, and the traditional arts. The region’s French heritage is manifest in interviews with artists and folklorists, as well as traditional singing and instrumental music. Agriculture and cuisine also make an appearance in this excerpt. At right: view of the St. John River from Edmundston, NB toward Frenchville, ME, courtesy Daniel Picard.

This recording is excerpted from the Voici the Valley Cultureway Audio Story. We welcome your feedback on this Voici the Valley podcast.

 

 Character and Culture: Marking a Passage [29:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (180)