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Archiver > GenChat > 1998-09 > 0904861455
From: <>
Subject: Re: [GenChat-L] RE:Family Stories
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 18:24:15 EDT
In a message dated 98-09-03 14:42:31 EDT, writes:
<< By the way, maybe one of you could answer the questions, why would she
be so shamed by being a French Canadian?
I hope I haven't stepped on toes because I truly don't understand. >>
Hi....I, too, have French Canadian ancestors who were not always
proud of their heritage. For what it's worth, I think the answer
might be two-fold: 1st, the very early French in this country were
trappers and many lived with the Indian tribes. They married
Indian women and had children - later called half-breeds by
others; and the 2nd reason might be because the French fought
with the Indians against the English first and then against the
new Americans during and after the Revolutionary War. The
French were trying to protect their lands and homes in the
midwest and along the Mississippi River. But since the French
were in such a minority, they eventually lost everything to the
Americans. They were arrested and exiled in some cases and
in other cases they were just shunned. This may have led to
the French Canadians keeping their pasts to themselves.
Just my .02 worth.
Bev Cronin
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