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 [ 4:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (462)

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 [ 5:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (268)