les habitants newsletter

Les Habitants du Poste Vincennes 1732-1778

Newsletter February 14, 2003

(Note: due to weather and road conditions, this newsletter was delayed.)

Bonjour Mes Amis!!
I hope you are making it through the winter. Spring is not far ahead. And, we have an event scheduled for Saturday, March 1 that will help bring it in!
"Back in Time: French Colonial Indiana" is a joint effort between Les Habitants du PosteVincennes and the People of Ouiatenon (our friends in Lafayette.) Emily Bunyan, Director of the Knox County Public Library, is graciously allowing us to use library spaces for most of the event. Here is the schedule that the two groups have worked out for the day:

1:00      Michel Brouillet House (a.k.a. "Old French House")
             greeting People of Ouiatenon
             tour of French House and Indian Museum
2:30      Bloebaum-Fuller Annex (7th Street, across from public library)
             French Colonial presentation by People of Ouiatenon
             (topic to be announced)
4:00     Bloebaum-Fuller Annex
            Presentation on French Colonial gardens
            Les Habitants du Poste Vincennes
5:00     Bloebaum-Fuller Annex
            Pitch-in dinner for participants (bring table service)
6:00     Main floor of Knox County Public Library
            French Colonial Fashion Show*
            Les Habitants du Poste Vincennes and the People of Ouiatenon
*Fashion show may be followed by a French Colonial dance at the same location.
We'll be finished by 8:00 or 9:00 pm.

Please plan to attend all or some of the above. Spread the word, and bring friends! I have enclosed copies of flyers for the event. One lists all the day's programs, while the other emphasizes the Fashion Show/Dance. Please make copies and distribute them in your place of work, school, businesses you visit, doctors' offices, meetings you attend, church, etc. It would be great to have lots of people come to find out about this period of our local history and how the French and Indians lived here.
Also, of course, we need lots of help!! And there are plenty of ways to do so. I have also sent you a help-list with this mailing. PLEASE sign up for a job or more - the more helping, the merrier! Just mail your checklist to me. Or e-mail me. Or call me.

On the other side of the "Back in Time" help list there is another list, and here's the story behind it: Attendance at meetings has been dreadfully small the past several months. It looks like meetings are not gong to work for such a small organization. From now on, gatherings for a program or presentation will constitute "meetings." I will continue to keep communication going with newsletters. You are always welcome and encouraged to contribute news or articles to the newsletters.
Membership has expressed a strong interest in doing French Colonial presentations at schools and other places. It's time to focus on that and get it going. Thus the "Les Habitants Presentations" list. It is very general, and asks you what you are interested in doing and when you are usually available. From these, we will have list of people to call upon, and we can begin sending out letters to schools as well as inform area organizations about our programs. Respond soon, and we can start this spring!! If you are just starting out, you can still come along with others on a presentation and get your feet wet.
Some of you do not have appropriate clothing and may not know where to start. Indeed, this may seem daunting to some. However, you can start out with very simple clothing that can cost little or nothing. If you need clothing for "Back in Time" or other events, there is some available from the ample lending wardrobe of the George Rogers Clark Visitors Center. Let me know, and we can get you fixed up. "Back in Time" is a good opportunity to try on some historical clothing and get used to wearing it.
If you are interested in buying or making clothing and accoutrements, please refer to the Les Habitants web site: >   rking.vinu.edu/leshab.htm       <     It has a very large Resource List as well as a shorter "Where Do I Start?" resource list. Many resources, even some patterns, can be found locally.
Remember that there are other ways to help Les Habitants in our mission, as well as helping specifically at "Back in Time" on March 1, without historic clothing.
"Back in Time" will be a great opportunity to learn more about French Colonial clothing, lifestyle, culture and history, and will be good preparation for other presentations. Our friends from Lafayette are very experienced, knowledgeable and helpful.
Thank you for reading, and for responding soon to the "Back in Time" help list and the presentations list. I hope to see all of you on Saturday, March 1!! Tres bien! Merci beaucoup!

Terri Talarek King
5240 E. Stagecoach Rd.
Vincennes, IN 47591
812 726 4431
leapingfrog55 at yahoo.com

Upcoming Event:

The annual "Clark March", which retraces the last day of George Rogers Clark's march to Vincennes, is Sunday, February 23. Participants will gather at the George Rogers Clark Visitors Center by 10am. Carpools will be organized and groups will depart no later than 10:20 am. The march is just over 4 miles. Frank Doughman will talk about various historically significant locations along the way. The group will return to the park by approximately 1:00 pm. Following the walk there will be a hot meal and an awards program. People can attend the luncheon without being on the walk.
Those planning to walk MUST be appropriately clothed for February, 1779 (some leeway is allowed on footwear.) You MUST call ahead and make reservations. Call 882-1776: Frank Doughman, ext. 104 or Dennis Latta, ext. 107. Call and reserve no later than February 19.
This is another good opportunity to wear historic clothing, and to be with other people interested in local history.

Mission Statement of Les Habitants du Poste Vincennes, 1732-1778:

The mission of Les Habitants du Poste Vincennes, 1732-1778, is to study, gather information, interpret and bring to life the history and culture of the French and Piankeshaw inhabitants of Vincennes during the years 1732 to 1778 (from the founding of this post on the Ouabache River to just before the arrival of George Rogers Clark.)

"Back in Time: French Colonial Indiana"
Saturday, March 1, 2003
Help checklist

Please fill out the following information, check off the jobs you can help with and mail this in (or call, or e-mail):

Name:
Address:
Phone #:                                  Best times to call:                          E-mail:

I will:

____     Help contact media about the event

____     Copy and distribute flyers

____     Contact area clubs and organizations that may be interested in attending or
             participating

____    Greet People of Ouiatenon and other guests at the French House (period clothing)

____     Bring some refreshments to share at the French House

____     Help clean and set up the French House           (morning)

____     Help arrange tables and chairs in the Annex        (morning)

____     Help arrange tables and chairs on the main floor of the library for the fashion
             show            (before 6:00pm - can start as early as 5:00pm)

____     Greet public arriving for the fashion show (period clothing)

____     Do a clothing presentation for the fashion show (you may do more than one
             impression, if there is time)

____     Help clean up/rearrange French House, Annex and/or main library

Other:

Does anyone have a "boom box" that we might use?

Mail to or contact:     Terri Talarek King
                                   5240 E. Stagecoach Rd.   Vincennes, IN 47591
                                   812 726 4431
                                   leapingfrog55 at yahoo.com