The Madawaska region has a rich heritage of Brayon-Acadian culture that spans for hundreds of years. Now, due to the areas dying economy and the desire of young people to be part of the “modern world”, the culture and history is dying along with the aging population. While early on just a safe-haven for Acadian’s fleeing British aggression and defectors of a New France, the geographic isolation of the region served to incubate a rich way of life unique from the rest of the continent. Through the centuries of surviving and entertaining themselves in One of America’s least habitable climates, this group developed unique food, art, dialect, music, dance, folklore, religion and common values, all underlined with a spirit of freedom, self government and independence. At one point to attempt to remain neutral from North American geo-politics the region even declared itself a separate nation entirely, and to this day the region still has an officially elected president of the Madawaska Republic, and flies the nations flag at the mayors office along with the flag of Acadia, the former independent nation destroyed by the British where many members of the region settled after fleeing from. I’m the first generation on my Mom’s side to grow up outside of this region but grew up surrounded by the culture both at home and in the frequent trips I have made to the area throughout my lifetime. The culture is part of who I am but very few people understand anything about it, it is very important to me that this heritage not only be preserved, but made accessible and exciting through a digital medium so that more people can learn about it, and maybe can even encourage it’s continued development through interest in the region. I would love to attempt to write a screenplay about one of the more thrilling periods of the regions history, bootlegging during the prohibition, and present the story in a way that is seeping with the unique culture and way of life as a backdrop. My focus will be on the folktales surrounding Maxime Albert, the regions most notorious figure during this period. I have not checked the genealogy but he is from the same parish with the same last name as my great-grandmother so I also like the potential local/personal aspect of his stories.

The biggest technical issue will be finding a time to go visit the archives up there this Spring, as well as translating the texts for my own use. It is at least 4 and a half hours from Waterville so I will need to make an extended trip, however my Mom has agreed to go up with me and help find and translate documents and we will stay at either my families camp or my Mémères, which is closer to the archives. Another issue may be finding authentic stories of this bootlegger, however there is plenty on the internet and I’m sure I can find more at the archives or through word of mouth. I will not be needing any resources for this project.

Overall, I think this project good bring a lot of well-needed attention to this beautiful but often-overlooked area. I am excited to begin working on it and see where the research takes me.