Educational Series: French Canadian Identity in the Midwest

French Canadian Identity in the Midwest: A Four Session Fall 2012 Series
October 18, October 25, November 1, November 8, 2012
Room 614, Social Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
6:30pm-8:30pm
Cost: $40 (includes all materials and parking)

Session one of this series will provide a timeline and distinctions regarding French and French-Canadian heritages in the Midwest, as well as definitions of themes associated with ethnic identity. At the second session, participants will be encouraged to consider time, work, and resources in reporting on one or more of the following: family, individual or community history, possible interviews, readings, or helpful blog or web sites. In the third session, discussion will focus on why French-Canadian heritage was so "quiet" until the Quebec Quiet Revolution of the 1960s. The fourth session will discuss how to take part in the renaissance of French-Canadian and Quebec heritage in North America.


The facilitator, Virgil Benoit, professor of French & Founder & Director of Initiatives in French Midwest UND. He speaks, writes and consults about French-Canadian heritage. He is president and founder of AFRAN (l'Association des Français du Nord) and founder of Franco-Fête, an annual Midwest celebration.
This series is made possible through Initiatives in French Midwest (IFMidwest) of the Department of Languages and Literatures University of North Dakota in collaboration with the Institute for Global Studies and the European Studies Consortium at the University of Minnesota.
To register for the series please click here.
For more information please visit the IGS Professional Development web page.

Franco-Fête in the Twin Cities

The 2012 Franco-Fête
September 28 & 29, 2012
Minneapolis, St. Paul

The 2012 Franco Fête celebrates French heritage with a unique blend of cultural and academic events, including, music, dancing and food. For 35 years Dr. Virgil Benoit, professor, of French at the University of North Dakota and a lifelong member of the Red Lake Falls, MN community has organized this event. This is the first time the Fête is being held in the Twin Cities.

In addition to the festival the Institute for Global Studies and the European Studies Consortium will sponsor professional development for K-16 educators at DeLaSalle High School on September 29. A limited number of $25 scholarships are available. Scholarship recipients must agree to attend 2 educator breakout sessions on Saturday, September 29, 2012.

CEU's and resources will be available to participating educators.
To register and apply for the scholarship please click here.
The Franco Fête is open to the public. For information about the events, costs and directions please visit the 2012 Franco- Fête website.
Sponsored by the Institute for Global Studies (U of MN), the European Studies Consortium (U of MN) and the University of North Dakota.