Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines

From: "Wes Walden"
Subject: Wow! What a great article.....Thanks!
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:00:24 -0600

Dear Mr. Leveillee,

I just wanted to thank you for having such a wonderful web site that has all these articles.

I used to live in Colorado and it is really nice to see an Internet web site have some real information on it.

I have a hard time finding information that comes from local people of Colorado then I found your site and I can tell it is real grass root information.

I especially enjoyed reading an article I found on your site. I enjoyed the style of writing that Mr. Payne used to describe his dog. I also loved the picture as I remember having a dog just like Molly when I was 7 years old. This story touched my heart as my dog that looked like Molly is the first and only dog I really had time with and was able to train myself. Anyway, just thought I would tell you Thank you for having this great site.

I found this information on your site at this location:

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 15:39:25 -0800 (PST)
From: lou & moe loumoe@swbell.net
Subject: Article

Oh my, it's just perfect! Thank you so much for accepting my ramblings.

I must tell you that, once again, your on-line magazine has led to new information for me. Suddenly last week I received an e-mail from a Maggie Philippon who lives near Phoeniz, AZ. She had "googled" Hector Philippon (my great-grandfather) and my article in ROOTS came up first. And what do you know...that Hector Philippon was her husband's great-grandather too. She had a photo of that ancestor that I'd never seen before, and I had pictures of her husband's grandfather for her. We've exchanged names and dates, and she had some that they found in France: marriage certificates signed with X's, yet!

Norm, you're a wonder with your magazine. How do I ever thank you enough?

Amities, Louise

Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 04:45:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Marie McClumpha tekleag@yahoo.com
Subject: November newsletter

Hi Norm,

Thanks for the newsletter.

I am so glad that Rick Payne contributes to your newsletter. He has such interesting things to say. I love the "Penny" story. Jim Carten brought me to the lake that early morning. I could hear the silence and the gradual awakening of the world around him. I have camped out in earlier days and know just exactly what Jim talked about. Thanks for such a pleasant start to my day.

Marie McClumpha

Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2005 10:18:24 -0500
From: Micheline Ford michelineford@globetrotter.net
Subject: Re: November issue Kessinnimek (12)

Bonjour Norm.

Trois fois bravo pour l'article "Sept premières années de ma vie". Je l'ai lu avec grand plaisir, c'est très touchant. Particulièrement je vous félicite (et vos parents) d'avoir conservé votre français! C'est un bon exemple pour les Américains de souche française et autres.

Micheline
à Québec

P.S. J'avais aussi un petit chien nommé Ted dans mon enfance, à la même époque que la vôtre!

From: Nancy nlecompte@adelphia.net
To: kessinnimek@leveillee.net
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 20:01:58 -0500
Subject: It's about time - Someone needed to say it!

Patricia Young MacDonald's reaction concerning the Metis issue was just wonderful. I agree with her totally. I too am mixed blood and I am very proud of all of my different heritages. I too believe that I have no RIGHT to special treatment by anyone. My Native Ancestors (both Mom's & Dad's lines) made a choice generations ago that affected how things would be for their descendants. I am the results of those choices. It is my DUTY to honor all my relations but it is not my RIGHT to be treated different than any other mixed race human being.

Thank you Patricia for your honesty on this tough topic. You will probably get lots of grief from some folks - but I admire you very much.

Nancy Lecompte

Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 13:23:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: Gail Wills gail4homes@yahoo.com
Subject: signing the guest book
To: kessinnimek@leveillee.net

Charles and Gail Wills

So much interested in our Native American Ancestry. The story and life of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is so inspiring and we plan to incorporate her in our lifestyle.

Thank you very much
God Bless

From: pqtritz@aol.com
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2005 09:21:43 EDT
Subject: Comment for your site
To: kessinnimek@leveillee.net

Good Morning, My name is Rita Roy Drouin of Quebec, Canada. E-mail pqtritz@aol.com I would love to hear from your readers anytime. Whenever I write for your website, it would be nice to get some constructive criticism.

I am always trying to improve.

When writers write for free, the only payback for some of them is a "comment".

Norm, you have always been so generous with yours. You make me think of Juliana L'Heureux who showers people with her words. Words can be quite soothing to anyone at any time for any reason and yet we can be so stingy with our words.

A day or so ago, 700 hits were recorded on this site for the month of October, which had just begun. Bravo Norm!!! I wonder who those people were? One of them was me and I thank you Norm for the availability of your site to me personally.

A la prochaine mon vieux,

Rita Roy Drouin

From: SharpWonderwoman@aol.com
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 12:32:29 EDT
Subject: Re: To be or not to be metis ?!!
To: trebore@globetrotter.net

Je vais vous repondre en Anglais car j'ai beaucoup obliée écrire en français!

So happy to hear from you. This is just my point that too many people want to become Metis for the wrong reasons however, I was under the impression that Metis people enjoy certain rights that non Metis do not have and justifiably so!

The encroachment on Native and Metis people is a serious issue and it is for this reason that people like you should be protected from this kind of encroachment! You seem to live in peace and without help from the government which is always a good thing if it can be done because there are fishing and hunting rights given to Metis that other people cannot get and again justifiably so! What I was meaning is that people who claim Metis for the wrong reasons threaten the true Metis way of life!

I was very happy to hear from you and perhaps someone can elaborate on issues I may have missed in order to ensure the continued peace you seem to enjoy and not have to bother with outside interference which has become rather annoying and keeps the stereotypes alive instead of helping to ensure the future sovereignty of Metis organizations and tribes. Certainly there must be a place for Metis people who have no ties with organizations and tribes because they too feel an emptiness and a loss however, this is where the danger lies when people who want to be native find as a loophole to further their encroachment and this has now become a problem at least from my point of view and it hurts people deeply to be devalued in this manner because the result of this encroachment is that the real native and Metis people are not taken as seriously when these imitation natives come on the scene! Is not one of our problems recognition? Perhaps not everywhere but in many instances are Metis people not recognized in the world of Nations. These imitators detract from the real issues and could endanger Metis Nations in the future if the government decided to do away with Metis Nations altogether based on these reasons alone. There are bogus Sundance's held by people who have no right or permission to practice these Sacred Ceremonies and unfortunately have caused misinterpretation of these as well as misunderstanding and have caused the real Sundance ceremony to be undermined and disrespected . These things contribute to the "whole hurt " felt by Native and Metis alike.

I wish you well and continued harmony where you are and I thank you for your comments!

Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 21:20:43 -0400
From: Robert trebore@globetrotter.net
Subject: To be or not to be metis ?!!
To: SharpWonderwoman@aol.com

Bonjour madame Ethier,

J'ai lu votre article dans Sundance's corner et j'ai apprécié.Mais je dois aussi dire que le problème d'identité métis pourrait être très simple.Ici en Beauce, nous avons un clan, le clan du Chevreuil.Nous avons des Elders et nous consultons des medicine men qui sont reconnus chez les Indiens.La plupart d'entre nous avons des ancêtres autochtones.Nous sommes fiers de nos origines.Nous voulons l'unité parmi les Métis. Ce que nous ne voulons pas, ce sont les privilèges et l'argent qui pourraient accompagner une décision de la Cour Suprême qui reconnaîtrait les droits des Métis et avantagerait les descendants des Métis.Alors, tout le monde voudrait devenir Métis.etc...

Nous ne voulons pas vivre au crochet de l'État et dépendre des largesses du peuple.Nous avons tous un métier ou une profession .Nous sommes heureux d'être ce que nous sommes et voulons mettre des ponts entre les gens qu'ils soient autochtones ou non.Nous voulons retrouver les éléments de culture de nos ancêtres et apprendre les rituels qu'ils avaient car si nous ne le faisons pas, nous sentons un grand vide...Nous respectons les Indiens.Nous ne prétendons pas être ce que nous ne sommes pas. Nous agissons en toute honnêteté.Nous sommes heureux dans notre simplicité.Voilà, je vous remercie de m'avoir lu.

Kn'miôltsi !
Nagwiwi abazikok nolka wigit ! (Robert Larochelle)
Nolka Dôodam

From: "Debra Schapansky"
To: SharpWonderwoman@aol.com
Subject: What is Metis
Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2005 03:49:29 -0600

I loved your article in the August issue of Késsinnimek-Roots-Racines. You bring up very valid points and they cannot be ignored. I for one would love to see the end of white guilt, native racism, and general anger over who is what. Good story, excellent points and really loved the information on dreams, that so often gets overlooked even amoung the natives. Thanks for a great article. Debra

From: "janell norman"
To: sharpwonderwoman@aol.com
Subject: the Metis
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 22:29:27 +0000

Louise

That was really a good article you wrote in this month's e-zine "Racine." I live in Wisconsin and just say I am a mixed blood, because nobody up here knows the word "Metis." Even today, the aunts whisper the word "Ojibwe," just like you said.

I learned about Metis because I am on the Canadian Metis rootsweb listserv run by Paulette B. Gilbert. I have done some family history up at Winnipeg and St. Boniface also.

Are you Canadian? Do you live in Yuma year round? We are having a very hot summer here too for northern Wisconsin. It is over 90 every day and plenty of humidity......

Best Regards, Janell Norman

Date: Thu, 04 Aug 2005 07:41:07 -0400
From: "Lussier, Ray"
Subject: Beloved Old Friend
To: kessinnimek@leveillee.net

Hi Norm;

I enjoyed your piece on the passing of a beloved old friend. But I have an update to the obituary! Our beloved old friend did not die of natural causes. It was murder at the hands of a despicable culprit named Political Correctness. He is still on the lose. In fact, rather than being executed for his misdeeds, he is held in esteem by the masses.

Regards
Ray Lussier

Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 17:32:00 -0500

From: Barbara De Mase

Subject: The French Canadian Textile Worker

I thoroughly enjoyed the "French Canadian Textile Worker". I was born in Cohoes, N.Y., a textile town, at one time famous for the Harmony Mills. I lived near the mill houses that were used by the mill workers. My neighborhood was French Canadian and many of the parents of the children I went to school with only spoke French. This article brought back many memories.

Barbara (Bissonnette) De Mase
Charlotte, N.C. (formerly of Cohoes, N.Y.)

From: "George W. Reilly, Secretary"
Organization: Cold Spring Properties Townhouse Association
Subject: Re: February issue Kessinnimek-Roots-Racines (F,K)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 7:22:25 -0500

Hi Norm,

Thanks for sending the latest online issue. I enjoyed reading your story about Fleur-de-la-Prairie and her strong Christian faith, hope and charity. Somehow the stereotype usually exists that we think of these early natives as savages, but nothing could be further from the truth. I wish someone in my family had taken the time to do something like this. Great job, as usual!

Thanks.
George

From: "Roseanne & Jeff"
Subject: Re: February issue Kessinnimek-Roots-Racines (5)
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 14:21:26 -0500

Norm,

I enjoy this month magazine immensely!! I send people to the site often to read the articles.

Rose

From: "Margaret Hobler"
Subject: LITTLEFIELD FAMILY
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004

The December issue of KESSINNIMEK was of great interest to me. It is always fun to find your surname in print.

Jim Carten wrote an excellent article about THE LITTLEFIELD SAGA. This is my family! He mentioned Marie-Josephe-Louise Littlefield married Nicolas Lague; and the execution of Jacques Bertault and Gillette Bonn.

I descend from Marie-Francoise Littlefield, a younger sister of Marie-Louise. Marie-Francoise married Charles Lague dit Sanscartier, a younger brother of Nicolas Lague dit Sanscartier. The Littlefield name didn't carry on in Quebec. Aaron Littlefield had one son, Francois, who had one son, Antoine, who had daughters.

I have often wondered why Jacques Bertault didn't go to the authorities about their son-in-law, Julien LaTouche; possibly the laws didn't protect his young wife.

Margaret LaGue-Hobler

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 14:10:44 -0800 (PST)
From: lou & moe
Subject: November issue

Salut, mon ami!

Again, I must tell you how much I enjoy reading every word in your publication, and I never fail to learn something new. It was interesting to learn the specifics of an ocean voyage in the 1700's, and I wonder if my early ancestor was nearly as comfortable when he was exiled to "New France" c. 1730. (More about him, perhaps, in another article).

I have forgotten how I found your site, and I suspect that a very distant relative, Jean Marie Picard, steered me in your direction. In any case, I am very happy to have made the connection and I look forward to a great many other issues.

Most sincerely, and merci bien
Louise Dubrule

Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2004
From: luanne
Subject: your online magazine

Hi Norm,
I have been reading your online magazine for about a year now, and I just wanted to tell you how much I look forward to reading it each month. I appreciate the fact that most of the articles appear in English as I do not read French. It is always interesting and I learn something new each time. You and the contributing authors do a great service. Thanks Norm.

Sincerely,
Luanne Hamel

Date: Fri, 08 Oct 2004 17:32:01 -0400 From: Bob Deguise Subject: Web Site

I kind of stumble onto your wonderful magazine.
I found two sisters of 10 grandmother; Marie Ann Morin who married my 10 grandfather, Guillaume Deguise.

Thank You,

Robert Deguise

From: "bmeunier"
Subject: What a treasure
Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2004

Dear Norm,

Although I had subscribed to Késsinnimek - Roots- Racines quite a while ago with the best of intentions of reading it when time permitted, the opportunity blessedly presented itself today. The better part of this rainy afternoon has been spent reading the latest issue as well as catching up on the past issues. What a treasure! And in spite of eye strain at this point, I feel so uplifted..... I would like your permission to include a link on our web site so that others can share in this trove.

Thanks so much...

Bernadette D. Meunier
Vice President
French Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut
www.fcgsc.org

From: "Mink"
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 22:33:27 -0400

Norm,

Thank you greatly for your websites! You have put in a huge amount of research and your work will continue to interest generations to come.

Thank you,
Mindy (Melinda)

From: "L'Heureux"
Subject: I love it
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 21:14:28 -0400

Cher Norm, this June issue of Roots is the best ever, keeps getting better and better. I love the comments from Jerry Collins and Herni Gosselin, always entertaining. What a great match-up, Henri Gosselin and Jerry Collins!

Juliana L'Heureux
e-mail: Juliana@MaineWriter.com
website: http:\\www.MaineWriter.com

From: "Elise Dallemagne"
Subject: Your newsletter
Date: Wed, 5 May 2004 17:01:50 -0400

Dear Norm -

Thank you for adding me to your distribution list. And congratulations! A great contribution that adds to our pride in being of Franco-American descent.

I am happy to report that my latest novel - "Marie Grandin - Sent by the King"- which is based on the life of my ancestors who came to Québec in 1664 - is now being translated into French by the l' Association des Familles Beaudet in Québec.

Hope to see you in Maine this summer.

Sincerely,
Elise Dallemagne Cookson
e-mail: Elise@Dallemagne-Cookson.com

From: "josh1935"
Subject: "Peggy-stick"
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 09:53:49 -0700

Dear Norm Léveillée,

I stumbled onto your site while searching for the a description of a game we played in North Providence back in the mid- to late-forty’s. We called the game "peggy" and as it turns out was a version of the game you described as "peggy-stick". The peg, bat and circle were as you described. But in our version of the game, you hit the peg as far as you could with the bat and your opponent won if he could get the peg back within the starting circle in three whacks or less using the bat in the same manner.

My father worked for the NY, New Haven, & Hartford Railroad and during this time we rented the second floor of large stucco home owned by a large Italian family. I was about 11 years old and was introduced to the game by the Italian boys. I’ve always thought it was originally an Italian game but perhaps I’m wrong on this.

While at your site I had the pleasure of reading reminisces of your early childhood in Rhode Island. Your experiences and recollections track very closely with my own. After about a year in North Providence we moved out to Harmony where we had a small farm. I finished up grammar school there and then traveled by bus to Burrilville High School. You may recall in those days Burrilville was a big hockey school with a lot of French-Canadian kids and the rivalry with LaSalle was legend. Tom Eggleston was the principal and coached the hockey and football teams. He later went on to coach the Providence College hockey team.

You remarked that the "good old days" mainly revolved around work. That was certainly true in my case too. But I have no regrets about that. The New England work ethic has served me well over my lifetime and I’m just glad to have had the opportunity to do all of the wonderful things we did as kids there – both in work and play.

We’ve raised our kids and helped with the grandkids out here in Arizona since the mid-sixty’s and I wouldn’t care to leave the desert. However, I will always look back fondly at the experiences of my early years in New England; whether it be sledding, catching bullheads (we also called them "horned pout"), weeding the garden or helping with the canning.

I wish you continued success with your magazine. I’ve saved your site address to my favorites list and plan to check in periodically.

John Shaw

From: Suzanne Boivin Sommerville
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 06:51:14 EST
Subject: Re: April Issue of Kessinnimek - Roots - Racines (k)

Another good issue, Norm. Your essay reminded me of my own school years at All Saints in Detroit, although I did not, unfortunately, have instruction in French there, only at home.

Like you, I walked to school most days, a mile in the morning to be at Mass at 8:00. When I was receiving Communion, I carried a breakfast with me, most often a hard boiled egg. Lunch (or diner) meant another mile walk home, where Mom often had hot barley soup. Then the mile back (often including games along the way) for the afternoon session, and the mile walk at the end of the school day. In winter we paused to make snow angels on the way, and in better weather, we played at the hill by the railroad viaduct. There were two abandoned and "haunted" houses we walked by very quickly, and, at the packing house, a goat we visited, one we later learned to our dismay was the Judas Goat who led the other animals to slaughter.

Twelve grades attended the school, with my first grade class the first to have a special room in the basement. Second to eighth grades were on the first floor and high school on the second, except for my twelfth grade class that was given a special class, again in the basement!

The memories I have of the good IHM, Immaculate Heart of Mary, sisters are part of my Family History.

Suzanne

Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 17:34:16 -0400
From: John Fisher
Subject: Re: April Issue of Kessinnimek - Roots - Racines (14-15)

Norm,

Many Thanks for the link to your website. I have looked it over and it looks very interesting. I have sent it to our Board members and I have also put it into our INTERNET LINKS page at our website.
http://www.vt-fcgs.org/links.html (Ed. Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society)

Great Effort! John

From: "Diane Szabo"
Subject: Re: [Q-R] April Issue of Kessinnimek - Roots - Racines
Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 11:38:01 -0700

Norm, what a wonderful issue this was for me to read. I found out that Suzanne's 10th great grandparents are also my 9th great grandparents.

And, being a voracious lover of all things Southwestern and Indian, I totally loved the article by Jean Quintal re the Dream Catcher. Had he not translated this into English I would not have had the joy of reading this wonderful legend and sharing it with others who share my interest.

Great job - I so look forward to your notice each month on the latest issue availability.

Diane Szabo

From: Brooks1934@aol.com
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 11:01:51 EST
Subject: Super issue
To: kessinnimek@leveillee.net

Just read the latest issue of your magazine on line. It is so wonderful to be able to get a taste of the life of our ancestors and how they lived "back then".

Thanks for the great work all your contributors do.
Judy

From: Henry Gosselin
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 12:30 PM
Subject: Roots - Racines - Késsinnimek

Dear Norm,

I am greatly impressed!

The February issue of Roots - Racines - Késsinnimek appeared on my computer screen, this morning! It is the first issue that I have been privileged to view and read. As a fellow-journalist who is retired after 42 years in that profession, I want you to know that I am impressed!

My heart-felt thanks for publishing the article about my maternal ancestor, Eustache Lambert, of whom I am justifiably proud. In a future issue, you may consider publishing a thrilling account of an unprecedented event in the history of the ministry provided to the Huron Natives.

From: Terri Gilmore
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines

Thanks Jim...unfortunately, I cannot read the French entries, but those in English were very enjoyable. My ancestors...the wife and daughter of Gilles Bacon were professed (after Gilles death), and worked at the Hotel Dieu.

My grandfather was supposedly a very good ball player and so was my uncle "Chick" Chapron. My dad played "pick up" ball for teams who were short a player. Perhaps Norm may have even seen them play as a child...or maybe that was before his time......not sure how old a gentleman he is or if the teams from Ashton, Berkeley villages would have played against his hometown team. My mom was also a pitcher on a ladies softball league that played in Berkeley, RI...Unfortunately, I never got to see any of them play as I was but a twinkle in my father's eye...I spent a lot of time playing catch with my parents...mostly my mom...but the few times I played baseball with a group from our church that a local priest had put together for fun..I was mostly noted for giving the poor, good father bruises on his leg from throwing the bat after hitting the ball...needless to say, my career was short lived...LOL

Terri

Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 11:49:34 -0500
From: Jacques Dunant
To: kessinnimek@leveillee.net
Subject: [Fwd: Kessinnimek]

Monsieur Norm Leveillée Vous trouverez ci dessous un message pour Suzanne Boivin Somerville ainsi que pour vous. Félicitations et amitiés Jacques Dunant

Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 17:06:45 -0500
From: Jacques Dunant
To: Jean Quintal
Subject: Kessinnimek

Bonsoir monsieur Jean,
Comme je vous l'avais écrit il y a quelque temps, je me décide à vous envoyer quelques pensées pour vos commentaires avant de les faire parvenir aux intéressés Norm Leveillée et Suzanne Boivin Somerville,

Kessinnimek m'apporte chaque mois des nouvelles et des articles passionnants sur l'histoire et la généalogie et je tiens à vous transmettre mes sincères félicitations pour tout ce travail que vous livrez généreusement au public. Les articles en particulier sur la famille Couc descendant du pionnier Jacques Ménard devraient peut être faire l'objet d'un tiré à part. Plusieurs personnages mentionnés viennent ou ont des contacts avec Boucherville, où je réside depuis quarante ans. Tout ce qui touche à Boucherville me touche et en particulier la famille du fondateur Pierre Boucher, sieur de Grosbois. C'est peu après notre arrivée ici que je me suis intéressé à la généalogie alors que la S.H.B. se préparait à fêter le tricentenaire de cette ville en 1967. J'ai travaillé durant quelques années sur la famille Bachand dit Vertefeuille jusqu'à la publication d'un article dans les Mémoires de la S.G.C.F. en 1973. La personne qui était chargée de la famille Boucher est malheureusement décédée peu après et je me suis offert pour continuer le travail. Si Suzanne Boivin Somerville avait besoin de collaboration sur ce sujet, je suis bien prêt à lui offrir mes modestes services

Je suis sans doute un peu présomptueux en présentant cette offre car vous travaillez avec tant de sérieux et de rigueur. Veuillez croire Madame, Monsieur à ma très grande considération
Qu'en pensez-vous, Monsieur Jean ?

S.H.B.=Société Historique de Boucherville
S.G.C.H.= Société généalogique Canadienne-Française

From: "Mary Anne Smith"
To: "'Norm Leveillee'"
Subject: RE: [Q-R] Kesssinnimek-Roots-Racines (RW)
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 01:18:16 -0500

Hi, Norm,

I am happy to be on your list of recipients who receive notice that you have published another issue of Kessinnimek-Roots-Racines, etc........ I enjoy all the articles very much and have gotten a lot of great information from them.

Mary Anne Smith
masmith@pathwaynet.com

Subject: [Friends-L] Best wishes!
To: Norm Léveillée

Norm,

As the retired editor of several Maine weeklies over a 42-year period, I want to congratulate you and your associates regarding the fine work you are doing with "Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines".

I am the author of two books about relatives who were prominent citizens of New France (Canada) in the 17th and 18th centuries.

"Eustache Lambert, Donné Extraordinaire" describes the valiant service my maternal ancestor performed as an unpaid volunteer to the Jesuit missionaries in 1644-50 as they were ministering to the Huron People in what is now Ontario.

"George Washington's French-Canadian Spy" reveals the role that French-Canadians played in the war that assured the independence of the United States, from 1775 through 1781. Major Clement Gosselin, a great-grandson of my paternal ancestor, served as a spy for General George Washington. and was wounded at Yorktown, on Oct. 13, 1781, while commanding a group of French-Canadians against the English in the final campaign of the war.

Both books were written in English - then translated to French by my respective family associations in Canada, both of which I am a faithful member.

So I fully appreciate the historical elements of your online magazine. And as the former editor (26 years) of Maine's Catholic weekly, the Church World, I would like to meet Monsieur l'abbé Owen Taggart some day! And Juliana L'Heureux of MaineWriter.com, who introduced me to Késsinnimek, is a personal friend.

Henri-Vincent Gosselin
Brunswick, Maine U.S.A. 04011
hgosseli@gwi.net

Readers from the November/December 2003 Issue
Nos Lecteurs des publications novembre/décember 2003

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 13:00:02 -0500
Subject: Acadian Ancestors

Dear Norm,
Firstly,I think your on-line magazine is awesome!!!!!!!!!I have been reading all the articles back to the beginning. My Acadian ancestors are new to me and it seems a very small group. Thanks to all the hard work done by others (especially on gencircles.com)I have been able to trace one line back to the first Frenchman - Pierre Lejeune. He married a MicMac woman and had a daughter Edm4éee Lejeune. If this was indeed a "marriage" what are the chances there would be a marriage certificate(abt.1622) and how would I go about getting it? I would love to know her name. Also,could you recommend a comprehensive book on the MicMac peoples.Are the Acadian census' on-line? Other Acadians in my line are : Gaudreault (Gautrot), Theriault, Hebert, Gaudet. Many thanks for any help you can give me.

Kathey

Readers from the September 2003 Issue
Nos Lecteurs des publications septembre 2003

Date: Sat, 06 Sep 2003 16:17:38 -0400
From: "Jacques L'Heureux" http://www.happyOnes.com/
Subject: Writings by Juliana L'Heureux

Norm,

Just to let you know that you are doing a terrific job with your monthly Roots magazine. It is certainly not easy to have a new issue out the door every month. On Juliana's webpage at
http://www.mainewriter.com/writings.html#roots
I have added links to every one of her writings as well as a link to the main page of your magazine.

Keep up the good work.
Jacques

From: SharpWonderwoman@aol.com
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 17:16:45 EDT
Subject: Le Temps par Jean Quintal

Kwai et Salut mon cher Cousin

I very much enjoyed Jean's article on Le Temps. Trully something to think about......then there's the temps which is the weather. Le beau temps d'avril for example or il ya eu du beau temps pour la vacance. etc. What is time? Time is now...everything is either passed or not here yet...an eternal moment as I see it that can change in suspension by movement. Time is a dance between light and darkness...that may or not be perpetual as our creator wills it...and then time, I think may be the expression of our creator's great achievements in the creation for it is said, God has always been and will always be. Time therefore, is a measure of that. No beginning no end. Timelessness hence being stillness and in life there is always movement.Breathng in, breathng out.....So what is time? I think time is life.

Thank you Jean for reminding us of time.

From: "Diane Szabo"
Subject: Re: [Q-R] September Issue of Roots-Racines-Kessinnimek
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2003 05:43:51 -0700

Norm, one more thing I should mention. When I went into your site, I first visited the "contributors" and read with interest the bio on each one. Father Taggart's caught my eye, because I recognized an ancestor name and, sure enough, this ancestor turned out to be my 8th great grandaunt. So, I have your wonderful site to thank for putting me in touch with yet another cousin!

Diane

From: "Diane Szabo"
Subject: Re: [Q-R] September Issue of Roots-Racines-Kessinnimek
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2003 08:33:52 -0700

Norm, what a wonderful site. So much information to read and share. I especially loved "The Old Man of the Mountains" articles as I am originally from Manchester, New Hampshire and visited "The Old Man" frequently. Great job - keep up the good work.

Diane Szabo

Readers from the August 2003 Issue
Nos Lecteurs des publications aôut 2003

From: "Lorraine"
To:
Subject: Roots,
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 19:09:57 -0700

What a wonderful resource you have created! Please tell me how to subscribe to this monthly online magazine? I originally discovered it when Jacque LaHeureux sent the address in his Baril mail list.
Thank you,
Lorraine Busch

Date: Sun, 03 Aug 2003 11:55:32 -0400
From: RichardPSloan@netscape.net
To: normlev@normlev.net
Subject: [FWD: August Issue of Roots - Racines - Kessinnimke]

All I can say is "Merci beaucoup pour Racines"! The article on Chief Oren Lyons was exemplary. The Old Man was very good. I also liked the Louisianna territory because I could visualize most of it because of visiting part of that country. Again, thanks for the memories

Rita

From: "Jeannine Quintal" j.quintal@sympatico.ca
To: kessinnimek@normlev.net
Subject: réflexions
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2003 07:40:20 -0400

Bonjour monsieur Léveillée. Je me présente, je suis soeur d'un grand frère Jean bien-aimé. Un jour, il m'a gratifiée d'un jardin Zen qui maintenant m'accompagne à tout instant du jour. Un seul clin d'oeil vers cette source grandissante de réflexologie suscite en moi un élan d'énergie lorsque le besoin se fait sentir. Autrement dit, il est mon soleil en permanence.

Voilà les mots généreux qui m'habitent. Il est vrai que je ne suis pas encore au niveau spirituel de Jean mais j'espère y arriver un jour. "L'espoir est le moteur du désir..." dixit Jeany. Merci pour moi et pour ceux que vous avez inspirés au fil de nos journées de bonheur.

En toute amitié, Jeannine Quintal, Sorel-Tracy.

From: "Germain Bourret" germain.bourret@dr.cgocable.ca
Subject: Jardin de Zen
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 22:25:32 -0400

Le jardin de Zen écrit par Jean est très beau.Pour le premier jardin il représente pour moi la vie qui s'éveille en nous lorsqu'on est jeune. Le deuxième c'est la mort. Dans la vie on nait, on grandit et on vieillit, puis graduellement notre corps nous abandonne, comme l'herbe qui s'en va au vent. Notre corps nous laisse mais notre âme reste vivante comme l'herbe qui reprend vie après l'hiver passé.

From: "Mary Anne Smith"
To: Norm Leveillee
Subject: The Old Man of the Mountain
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 23:24:00 -0400

Hi, Norm,

Thanks for publishing that article and the photos of "Him" this month. I grew up in Massachusetts, just off the New Hampshire state line........and this Old Man was an old pal of mine. I always looked for him out the window of the car when we went that way. I felt very sad when I heard of his recent death. So, I really enjoyed reading this article.

Mary Anne Smith

From: Laurent Houde
To: Jean Quintal
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: JOSEPH

Bonsoir,

Je viens de visiter ton Jardin Mini-TRIANGLE, où seuls demeurent sable et rocher.
La brièveté du vivant ! Nous passons.

IL ÉTAIT UN VIEIL ARBRE...

Le viel arbre est penché près du chemin ancien,
Plus de fleurs à ses branches, des herbes à son pied.
Les passants n'ont pas vu l'arbre dans sa jeunesse
Mais l'arbre les a tous vu vieillir peu à peu.

Hsu Ning, Chine, IXième siècle

DÉJÀ LE ROSSIGNOL CHANTE
Déjà, dans le prunier, chante le rossignol,
Mais dans l'éclat du printemps la neige tourbillonne...
Mon âme aspire aux fleurs printannières.
Pareille aux fleurs, la neige couvre encor les branches.
Merveilleuse prairie du printemps ! sur la branche verte
La rosée enfilera ses perles étincelantes.
Lorsque les oiseaux chantent, le printemps rajeunit tout.
Moi seul, chaque année je vieillis.
On dit les feuilles insensibles et pourtant,
Fidèles, elles vous attendaient, vous qui venez si rarement.
Si vous dites aux fleurs: Attendez, ne tombez pas de l'arbre !
Où seraient donc les fruits, si elles écoutaient ?

Ah ! la vie sur terre est comme une fleur,
Au moment même où je l'admire, elle passe.

Japonais inconnu, VIIIième siècle

Ton ami, Laurent

Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 14:07:03 -0400
From: Jacques Dunant
To: Jean Quintal
CC: Norm Leveillee
Subject: Avant-projet

La re-lecture du Jardin ZEN de Jean Quintalm'a ramené aux débuts de ma carrière en architecture Mes deux patrons d'alors parlaient souvent et surtout au début d'un projet d'aller respirer the spirit of Zen. C'était au moment ou l'étude d'un avant-projet devait déterminer quel serait le parti adopté. C'était du chinois pour moi, jusqu'à ce que je comprenne mieux le sens de "méditation"

En réalité ils allaient sur le terrain projeté pour observer les éléments naturels, la topographie des leux, l'ensoleillement et l'écoulement des eaux de pluie. Aujourd'hui cela me paraît tout ce qu'il y a de plus normal et plein de bon sens. Voilà mes premières pensées, Jean.

et mes amitiés Zobi widobaid
Jacques

Readers from the July 2003 Issue
Nos Lecteurs des publications juillet 2003

From: Louise-Andrée Éthier aka Sundance Aquero Sharp
Date: July 10, 2003
Re: Article on Blessed Kateri

Regarding Norm Léveillée's July article on Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, here's my reaction.

From: "Patricia Bazinet"
To: normlev@normlev.net
Subject: For your guest book
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 11:23:21 -0400

My name is Patricia Bazinet of Clayton, NY on the beautiful St. Lawrence River. I have had a devotion to Blessed Kateri for several years. I send cards to my friends and relatives in need of prayers for health with a graphic of Kateri and prayer for her intercession-which I know to be powerful. When I walk along the St. Lawrence, I often think that I may be walking where her blessed feet may have walked and it gives me great comfort and joy to know her spirit in such a personal way. Your website is wonderful, I will visit it often, now that I have found it. God Bless.

Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 09:35:06 +0800 (PHT)
Subject: Greetings from Philippines
From: john mark libarnes
E-Mail:libarnes.ja@cite.edu.ph
City: Cebu
State: Cebu
Country: Philippines

Your Comment: hello brothers and sisters in Christ, I just want to greet Blessed Kateri a happy birthday! ..God bless :)

Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 14:43:44 -0500 (Central Daylight Time)
From: "John T. Brown"
Subject: thank you all

Fr. John Brown
idacath@octm.com
Idabel, Oklahoma USA

Thanks for the devotion to spreading the love of the divine spouse of St. Kateri!
God bless you.

 

Date: Thu, 03 Jul 2003 21:39:05 -0400
To: normlev@normlev.net
From: "Mel. Lineberry" whtbufwmn@i-plus.net
Subject: Bl. Kateri Tekawitha

O Si' Yo, Greetings, I am a Native Spirit and want to share my experience with Bl. Kateri.

I was raised in the United Methodist Faith and about 7 years ago found my way onto The Red Road. I have Nez Pearse, Shawnee, and Cherokee in my heritage along with German and Scot-Irish.

2 Octobers ago I was at a Native American Pow Wow, I had paid the Drum an Honor Dance for the birthday of a friend. While we were dancing in the Sacred Circle I noticed one of my Spirit Guides walking out of the woods adjacent to the Circle. I'm used to seeing them, so I wasn't surprised. I continued dancing around the Circle. As I rounded the Circle my Guide was standing beside the Circle in civilian clothes. He crooked his finger at me, motioning me over. He held out his heart hand (left), I held out mine, he placed an object in my hand, closed my hand around it, turned me around and gave me a push to continue on dancing. I continued dancing and then the next 2 intertribal dances. When I exited the Circle and sat down my hand became warm. I then noticed a State Trooper go up to the microphone and then a cold shiver went down my and my girlfriends spine. He asked for John Shopland the husband of a best friend of ours who had a heart transplant that of an 18 yr. old boy. Betty and I numbly went to the Trooper to lead him to John. Patty had been killed in an auto accident on her way back to the Pow Wow. My hand went warm again, I realized that I hadn't opened my hand. When I did, I found a pendant of the Bl. Kateri there. Through my tears I saw my Guide now back in Native Regalia smile and then re-enter the woods. When I went to the hospital and found out the time of Patty's death, it was the exact time that my Guide had "gifted" me with the pendant. It was Patty's way of telling me not to worry, that she'd always be there. She, Bl.Kateri and her favorite yellow butterflies. No one had seen my guide or had even seen me stop dancing to go over to the side of the Circle. Now, when I feel low or alone, I hold the pendant, walk into the woods, and see yellow butterflies. I also fashion a cross of wood and place it in honor of Bl. Kateri and my friend Patty in the spot where the yellow butterflies circle.

Blessed Kateri, pray for us. Melissa Lineberry

From: DESBLOSSOM@aol.com
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 17:49:28 EDT Subject: Re: July Issue or Roots-Racines-Kessinnimek
To: kessinnimek@normlev.net

Dear Norm:

I just finished your July Issue and for some reason I feel that I must share with you my experience with Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha,

I was born and raised a Roman Catholic and a student in a Catholic School and in the fourth grade we did a composition on BlessedKateri Tekakwitha. I never forgot that and I believe it was 50 years ago. All during my youth I always loved movies and stories about Native Americans. I had no idea why this was, I do not have a Native American ancestry, my ancestry is Irish and Scottish.

After moving to Long Island New York I attended a POW Wow and felt totally at home. The music, drums, flutes, etc., seem to get into my blood and I was never the same after that. My sister told me that she found a Shrine upstate NY close to where she lived. I went to Auriesville and as we were walking along the grounds I heard the church bells ring. For a minute I listened and recalled the tune and I started singing the hymn in Latin. I sang Latin hymns in the choir as a child.

All of a sudden I felt as if Kateri entered my soul through the top of my head. I stopped singing and walking and immediately got a thought in my head which said "Please don't blame the Indians for killing the white man, they were only protecting their children" I will never ever forget those words......TheIndians fear the tall thin black robed men with hair on their face.

Then everyone else stopped walking, turned around, and asked me what was the matter. I couldn't talk, I was so deep in thought. This is my story about my introduction to Kateri. I am totally devoted to her. She is part of my life and the lives of everyone I meet.

God Bless Helen

Readers from the April 2003 Issue
Nos Lecteurs des publications avril 2003

Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 16:21:15 -0500
From: micheline ford
Subject: Dolores
To: kessinnimek@normlev.net

Bonjour Dolores.

J'ai bien aimé votre article de recettes anciennes. La bannique est souvent utilisée de nos jours par les scouts en camping, j'en fait moi-même de temps en temps. Pour ce qui est du petit-caribou, je ne manque pas d'en préparer au carnaval.Quant au porc-épic, j'ai déjà lu qu'on pouvait le faire cuire enveloppés de boue qui se cassait une fois l'animal cuit! Jamais essayé.

Très intéressante revue. Bravo à Norm.

Micheline

                   
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