Do you have Franco American heritage of Québec or Acadien (Maritime Provinces) origin? Join Jeanne Douillard as she presents a unique approach to a relatively unknown tale. In her talk, “Silent Presence The French in New England,” she weaves together her personal narrative with the historical story, attempting in its essence to get at the heart of a people. She believes the past is important. “We are the heirs of our ancestors’ journeys. History matters. It shapes us. We carry these stories within us even if the narrative has been lost to us,” she says. The results of her research and personal reflections offer unique insights into the story of an “invisible” people. With compassion and understanding, she unravels a long and complex history in an attempt to make it understandable for all. Even if you are not French, you are sure to gain a greater understanding of American history.

Jeanne Douillard is an independent scholar specializing in the story of the French in the Americas. She is one of the major contributors to the book Building a Better Life – The French-Canadians in Western Massachusetts published by the Republican newspaper in Springfield, MA. Her narrative poem, Not So Much The Same Place, is found in the anthology, Heliotrope and a recently published poem, pain, can be found in the online publication, Résonance. And finally, Jeanne has published her own book under the auspices of Swamp Press of Northfield, MA.

In her book, I Remember… Je Me Souviens… she presents in greater detail the story of the French in the Americas. She also shares the story of her travels to France in 2014 and 2015 when she and her husband, Armand Proulx went off in search of their ancestral villages. There will be a book signing after her talk.