Megan Wyatt

mbwyatt@theadvertiser.com

The New Acadia Project, or Projet Nouvelle-Acadie, received a $52,000 grant this week from the Coypu Foundation, founded by the estate of the late John S. McIlhenny.

The money will be used to purchase sensing equipment to identify areas of interest that may lead archaeologists to the original camp sites of the first Acadian settlers.

The grant comes at an opportune time, according to project chair and Loreauville Mayor Al Broussard, who said that archeological work on the project would have been limited this winter because of money constraints to purchase necessary equipment.

"It's very timely," Broussard said. "Plus getting this grant and the necessary equipment will spark new interest in the project."

Organizations, businesses, government entities and area residents have now donated about $200,000 toward the New Acadia Project, a long-term, multidisciplinary project that could set the record straight about Cajun heritage.

The money has helped the project move forward despite the Louisiana Board of Regents not recommending a different grant request earlier this year.

Mark Rees, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette professor of anthropology and archeology, led two research assistants in field work this summer and research has continued on the project this semester.

"We're just overwhelmed at the response we've gotten from the public and tourism agencies and government agencies," said Acadian historian and local attorney Warren Perrin. "They're really pulling through for us. This grant is the largest, representing a fourth of the money we've gotten. We hope it encourages more donations."

Oral tradition says descendents of Joseph Broussard — the Acadian freedom fighter more commonly known as Beausoleil — are buried along the Bayou Teche near Loreauville.

Al Broussard is not only excited for what the project could mean for tourism in his town, but also for what he could learn about his ancestors because he is a descendant of Beausoleil.

"The cultural tourism is very important not only to our town but also to all of Acadiana and the State of Louisiana," he said. "If we can prove that Acadians first settled here, it's very important."

Next year will be the 250th anniversary of the Acadians settling in the area. Plans are underway for a celebration that will include educational presentations and tours in the Loreauville area.

The New Acadia Project – which includes locating the original Acadian camp sites, uncovering artifacts, dating discoveries and determining how the relics fit into the Acadian story – launched more than a year ago and is expected to span three to five years.

"Now that this is properly funded, we'll have a greater chance of being successful in finding the grave site of the first Acadian settlers," Perrin said.