The Heberts from many locations gathered at Vermilionville Park on Saturday, March 6 and let the good times roll. About 100 people with Hebert family name connections gathered to reunite or become acquainted for the first time. Ed and Woody Hebert had their computers with the 28,000 Hebert relatives database available so participants could determine if the person next to them was their fourth cousin-fifth removed!

Many attendees were discussing the upcoming worldwide Acadian family reunions to be held in Nova Scotia, Canada. This is going to be a BIG event with 250,000 people expected from all over the world.

People are getting nervous, especially those who have procrastinated and have not yet made travel plans. The association invited a number of travel agents who have tours arranged. These agents presented details of their arrangements and interesting things to prepare for before and during the trip

FYI: Below Are Listed Three Travel Agencies With Tours To Nova Scotia

Vermilion Cajun Tours, Inc.
337-893-2663
A bus tour - August 2-21
Lafayette,LA…Virginia…Connecticut…Maine…New Brunswick…Prince Edward Island…Nova Scotia…Connecticut…Virginia…North Carolina…Mobile…Lafayette.

Branson & Beyond Tours
337-896-8645
Air to Canada-bus in Canada - August 12-19
Can fly out of Lafayette, New Orleans or Houston
All flights go to Moncton then bus tour:Moncton…Amherst…Grand Pre…Halifax…Yarmouth…Digby…Port Royal…Grand Pre…Moncton…USA

The Life Of The Cajun Tours
 985-537-3179
Air to Canada-bus in Canada - August 12-19
Tour only for Hebert and Bourgeois family.
Fly out of New Orleans and into Moncton.
Moncton…Amherst…Grand Pre…Digby…Church Point…Halifax…New Orleans

Some people are traveling by road and others by air. Many are traveling in small RV groups. Many have met their Canadian cousins during previous reunions and are staying with them in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. Many plan to visit sites where their ancestors lived almost 400 years ago!

The late Dr. Joe Hebert wrote an article in the September 2002, volume 2002, issue 2 of this newsletter titled Walking in their footsteps. He and his wife Barbara, our Le Coin Francais writer, traveled over the lands where your ancestors lived many years ago.

In August 2000, Kathy and I found the Hebert land by accident when we found a map showing the locations of the lands of many of the Acadians in which the family names are printed.

The Heberts had their land next to Bloody Creek as it crosses under a bridge of present day Highway 201 northeast of Annapolis Royal. There is a plaque embedded in a stone pylon near the property that refers to the Battle of Bloody Creek – one of the battles of the French and Indian War. You can tell people that this fierce battle was fought on the property of your ancestors, probably while they were living there! The Acadians won this battle but lost the war.

You can and should try to visit this site if at all possible. Standing on this land where my grandparents of 10 generations lived brought strong emotions that still affect me. There is an old gravesite near the property that may be above where our ancestors were buried. Grave crosses in those days were made of wood and have long since deteriorated. The cement markers are not Hebert.

You might try to bring home a souvenir of the soil but pray tell that no Hebert ghost returns with you. If all Heberts visiting take a soil sample, Bloody Creek will become much larger.

Another site of our Hebert ancestor’s land in Joe and Barbara’s visit was near Muddy Creek. By coincidence (?), Kathy and I currently live next to a stream called Muddy Creek in Prairieville!

Le samedi, 6 mars L'association des Hébert du Monde s'est réunie à Vermilionville, à Lafayette. Quelle belle journée!! Le cousins et cousines se sont très bien amusés. Le temps étaient magnifique et nous avons eu beaucoup de plaisir en marchant parmi les belles vielles maisons qui nous parlent de la vie acadienne des années passées. Le printemps étaient bien en evidence: les arbres et les fleurs commençaient juste à fleurir.

On pouvait acheter des T-Shirt ou des livres ou bien se grouper autour les ordinateurs avec Edwin et Woody Hébert et faire de la généalogie pour découvrir un peu plus sur la famille ou faire des connections. Il y avait des livres par Shelia Hébert Collins, qui écrit des contes de fées charmants. Ils sont basés sur les contes traditionnels, mais avec un accent décidément Cajun. Parmi ses oeuvres sont: Blanchette et les Sept Petits Cajuns, (Cajun Snow White; 'T Pousette et 'T Poulette, (Hansel and Gretel); Cendrillon, (Cinderella); et un des plus charmant encore, Jean-Paul Hebért était là. Vous voyez le grand dérangement, ou l'explusion des Acadiens à travers les yeux d'un petit garçon de l'époque.

Le déjeuner était trés bon, et c'était agréable de partager ce bon repas avec des amis et les members de L'Association.

Aprés le repas notre president, Charles Hébert nous a parlé et il a présenté les agents de voyage qui ont donné des renseignements sur le voyage à La Nouvelle Ecosse pour la grand réunion en 2004, en Août. Les possibilitiés sont par le bus ou bien en avion. Mais il faut faire vite, parce que les places seront peut-être difficile à obtenir. Les Hébert vont se réunir à Amherst, et il y aura aussi d'autres familles. Si vous pensez y aller, le temps est arrivés de faire vos reservations.

Alors, c'était une réunion bien réussi, avec une centaine de personnes qui ont participé.

Belle journée.

A la prochaine, Barbara H.