University of Southern Maine

Northern Appalachian Geographic and Archeological Survey

[version française]

The Northern Appalachian Geographic and Archeological Survey (NAGAS) is a cooperative venture between faculty at the University of Southern Maine, Université Laval, the Collège Mérici, and the Franco-American Consortium. Our objective is to establish an international and intercultural field school, initially linking two states/provinces (Maine and Quebec) and three

Kennebec River, Carrying Place, Maine, 2002. Kenai Rodrigue, Québec, and Jean Morisset, Montréal,  in foreground; Unidentified U.S. Forest Service Surveyor, Barry Rodrigue, Québec, Kenneth White, Paris,  & Eric Waddell, Québec,  in background

cultures (Wabanaki, English, and French) in a programme of international education based on learning through fieldwork and organised around the unifying geographical and historical reality of the Old Canada Road, linking Augusta (Maine) and Québec (Québec). It will be an integrally bilingual institution (English-French), with the languages placed on an equal footing with respect to signage, all written and spoken communication, and the content of its educational programmes.

We are also seeking to establish an interpretative center (museum, permanent & temporary exhibitions), a laboratory and storage space for a field school, and a bunkhouse to accommodate up to ten students and two leaders. A part-time coordinator will be sought to establish the Interpretation Center and develop an initial programme of activities and grant proposals in consultation with the several members of the Survey. Such a position would ideally be offered to a college or university student seeking relevant professional experience or engaged in a research programme. The coordinator will assume a crucial bridging and communication role and be crucial to the long-term success of the initiative.

Cultural geography field trip, Kennebec River, Embden, Maine, 1996. Kenneth White, Québec,  Jean Morisset, Montréal,  Eric Waddell, Québec,  Kenai Rodrigue, Québec,  André Gladu, Montréal. Barry Rodrigue, Jackman, Maine, 1997

The Northern Appalachian Geographic and Archeological Survey will be responsible for developing a programme of activities for the Field Centre, establishing an academic clientele, and seeking long-term funding to cover all running costs for the Field Centre. In this capacity it will provide information and knowledge, a skill base, and human resources to develop the field school, as well as exhibition materials for a museum and expertise to conserve them. It will provide short courses in a broad range of relevant topics, to include cultural fieldwork, natural history, ecology, French and Native America, intercultural understanding, adventure and eco-tourism, community history, primary resource management, etc. It is intended that at least some of these courses will be accredited by the members' parent institutions (University of Southern Maine, Université Laval, College Mérici) in the context of existing programmes. Some may also fulfill Continuing Education credits, while others may be non-credit courses. Workshops will also be offered and these may likewise be linked with existing programs, e.g. archival and photograph conservation offered by the Maine State Museum. Training for tour guides and other tourist industry-related personnel could also be provided. Students will be recruited initially from member institutions. But it is intended to progressively enlarge the catchments to include a broad range of clientele on both sides of the international border, as well as general visitors to Northern Outdoors: Elder Hostel, high schools, CEGEPS/colleges, and universities, etc.

Historical geography field trip, Campsite on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, Sandy Bay, Maine, 1995. Louise Blouin, François Plamondon, Marc Hébert, Linda Villeneuve, Edith James, Serge Courville, Pierre Poulin, Barry Rodrigue, Unidentified Photographer, Kenai Rodrigue, from Laval University, Québec.

Historical geography field trip, Fort Halifax, Winslow, Maine, 1995. Marc Hébert, Louise Blouin, Linda Villeneuve, Pierre Poulin, Serge Courville, Barry Rodrigue, François Plamondon, Jean Pierre Labadie, Edith James, Kenai Rodrigue (in window), from Laval University, Québec.