MAHC, in partnership with the National Park Service, annually provides the following grant opportunities to qualified groups or individuals: Preservation funds are used to preserve and protect historic buildings, documents, and objects; Trail Guide funds are used to hire and train employees as guides at local historic sites and museums; Speakers and Performers funds are used for experts in specific fields related to Acadian culture; Educational Resources funds are used for the study of Acadian history and culture, for the purchase of teaching materials, and for special projects.
MAHC has also sponsored the following eight publications: St. John Valley Welcome Guide (1999); St. John Valley Cultural Directory (2000); Traditions d’icitte (2002);Heritage Sites of the St. John Valley (2007); Voici theValley Cultureway (2007); Revue de la Société historique du Madawaska (2008);The Land In Between (2009); Destination Madawaska (2009).
President - Lise Pelletier, Town of Ft. Kent
Vice President - Anne Roy, Le Club Français
Secretary - Susan Tardie, Greater Area Fort Kent Chamber
Treasurer -
Lorraine Marston- Madawaska Chamber of Commerce
Allen Jackson - Allagash Historical Society
Patrick Lacroix - Acadian Archives/acadiennes
Lisa Michaud - Centre Franco Américain UMO
Alice Carpenter - Frenchville Historical Society
Don Raymond - Town of New Canada
Frances Gendreau - Madawaska Historical Society
Ken Theriault Jr - Town of Madawaska
Don Cyr - Assoc. culturelle et historique du Mont Carmel
Nancy Troeger - Van Buren Area Chamber of Commerce
Gerald Soucy - Grand Isle Area Historical Society
Diane Castonguay- Ste Agathe Historical Society
James Thibodeau - Ft. Kent Historical Society
John Pluto - Acadian Village L'Héritage Vivant
Maine Acadian Heritage Coucil
Conseil d'héritage
acadien du Maine
Preserving Acadian Culture, Language, and History in the St. John Valley
Pour préserver la culture, la langue, et l'histoire des Acadiennes et Acadiens de la vallée du
Haut St-Jean
What We Do
MAHC gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support of our partner
In 1990, the United States Congress passed the Maine Acadian Culture Preservation Act establishing a role for the National Park Service to recognize the important contribution to American culture and history by the Acadians in Maine. In 1991, the Maine Acadian Culture Preservation Commission, led by Senators George Mitchell and Bill Cohen, and Maine Speaker of the House John Martin, was developed to provide advice on the selection of sites for interpretation and preservation. In 1997, the National Park Service implemented the Maine Acadian Heritage Council as an umbrella organization coordinating the regional network of partnerships by which Maine Acadian culture is to be preserved and interpreted.
Since 1998, the MAHC has been fortunate to receive financial support from the National Park Service (NPS) on an annual basis, allowing the people of the St. John Valley to continue their work in preserving and promoting the Maine Acadian culture and its historic treasures.
The Maine Acadian Heritage Council is a regional organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Acadian culture, language, and history throughout Northern Maine’s St. John Valley. Its members include representatives of: all the municipalities, chambers of commerce, historical and cultural societies, and sponsors of the Upper St. John Valley. It also includes a representative of: the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, the University of Maine System, Congressman Bruce Poliquin, and Senators Susan Collins and Angus King.
Who We Are
Betty Dumond - Portage Historical Society
Wayne LeBrun- St. Francis Historical Society
Trisha House - Senator Susan Collins Rep.
Dr. Paul Buck - UMFK
Sharon Campbell - Senator Angus King Rep.
Barbara Hayslett - Congressman Jared Golden
Dan Nicolas - Maliseet Nation of Viger
Michael Zwelling - National Park Service
Scott Thompson - Aroostook State Park