FRENCH AMERICA The human adventure of French-speaking America It is a little known fact that, at the beginning of the 1990s, North America was home to some 19 million people of French origin, most of them living in the United States. The Musée de l'Amérique française invites you to come and discover this often unsuspected reality, by exploring a permanent exhibition entitled French America. Just as in any family gathering, the exhibition is characterized by emotion, collective memory, long-forgotten relationships and common origins. Although the motivation of those who have spread out through North America may have been quite different, depending on the period, all of them have carried French culture in their luggage, a culture to which they have remained attached. Tell me a story... An introduction to the exhibition gradually sets the mood for a journey into time, with a brief reminder of the mythical pictures of the New World that were circulated in Europe during the 16th century. Following the introduction, a movie presentation leads the visitor into the turbulent and sometimes tragic history of the men and women who have been the very core of French America for 400 years. The movie, produced by Jean-Claude Labrecque and told by Michel Faubert, is a colourful and touching story, strongly supported by an abundant documentation from the Séminaire de Québec archives. Further on, the exhibition is divided up into islands, each one presenting the past and present cultural identity of North America's seven major French-speaking communities, those of Acadia, Louisiana, Québec, Ontario, the Western provinces, the Métis Amerindians and New England. The past of these communities is seen through objects of their daily life and archive documents from the Museum collection. With regard to the present, contemporary witnesses and members of these communities reflect on the French presence in North America in general, as well as on their own particular culture. Visitors with an interest in genealogy will also have accesss to a 1,700 name file of the major French family names of America. This exhibition, with its numerous objects on display, provides the Museum with an exceptional opportunity to present undisclosed elements of its collections to the public. Among these, for instance, are the first editions of the Voyages of Cartier and Champlain; an account of daily life in New France by Pierre Boucher; ancient maps illustrating the explorations and population settlements in New France and Acadia, as well as newspaper articles bearing witness to the development of French culture in North America. The French America exhibition is an invitation to discover how French culture has set its roots and expanded thoughout North America. This is a fascinating journey that follows the evolution of French North America. Serge Poulin Issued: October 22, 1996, revised May 4, 1999

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