There have been francophones living there for about 200 years. After 1904, though, the government began to prohibit the speaking and teaching of French under threat of corporal punishment. By 1984, no one under 20 could speak the mother tongue. It's only recently that attempts have been made to regain the French language and culture.
Music is central to that endeavour.
Until recently, Emile Benoit, one of the greatest traditional fiddlers in Canada's history, was the area's best known musical ambassador. With Emile's passing, the mantle is now on the shoulders of Bernard Felix and Norman Formanger. Bernard has been playing accordion since he was ten years old and the instrument has become a natural extension of his body. I didn't go to the teenage dances when I was growing up. I preferred to hang around the older crowd at the house parties, playing the accordion and drinking beer.