' Georges

23,0003 names in it. Almost totally Acadian and mostly from the Prin—

É ce County area of Prince Edward v Island.

I really want to thank the people who are responsible for my being

here in Miscouche today at this

forum on «Acadian history and

, genealogy». First, an interesting lady

from Maryland, Lucie Consentino,

z who has a very large and fantastic

website on Acadia (www.acadian-

l home.org). She asked me via the

Internet t0 write an article on Island Acadians for her Internet newsletter. Because of that article, Arsenault contacted me and through emails, he asked

‘ me t0 participate here today. A

couple of weeks ago, I met them

‘L both here at the museum. So I also î wish to thank him for the opportu-

nity t0 express my ideas in a public

forum. Lastly, I would like to thank

the members of the Sister Antoinette DesRoches Historical Committee. I think Sister Antoinette would have been very happy with what you

' are accomplishing here. l found the

topics and articles regarding the forum last spring very interesting

and informative, and this forum is the same. My patemal grandfather John B. Perry and Sister Antoinette were first cousins. Sister Antoinette told me many things about my grandfather and his family, which I had not known. She was a great wornan and an Acadian patriot. I am not sure she would have approved of the name of the com— mittee though, for she was a very humble servant of the Lord. But she is not here, physically, only in spirit, and I think it is very fitting that you would honor her memory by using her name in the committee’s designation.

I would like to close now with a quote that I find very suitable. It is from Antonine Maillet’s Classic novel Pélagie—La-Charrette. The sea captain Beausoleil counsels Celina :

From here on it’s in thefuture one must lookfor roots. And it’s my thinking that t0 count thcm all will need lengthy journeyings far north andfar south.

3 Now in 2004, there are over 30,000 names in the database.

PAGE 43

(Sistèr Antoinette DesRoches) was a great woman and an Acadian

patriot.

I am not sure

ÿ she would have

Lapproved of

‘ the name of the committee though, for she was a. very humble servant

of the Lord. Û

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