Natalie Robichaud Clare, Nova Scotia
Stepping up to carry Acadian culture into the next generation
In Clare, Nova Scotia, Acadian culture comes alive in the sounds of fiddles, the steps of traditional dance, and the people who carry those traditions forward.
For Natalie Robichaud, Executive Director of the Société acadienne de Clare, growing up in this community meant being surrounded by music, language, and pride.
“At a very young age, we know that we’re Acadian,” she says. “Whether it’s costumes, music, dance, and activities, we grow up very proud of our culture.”
One way those traditions continue each year is through the Clare Acadian Festival, the oldest Acadian festival in the world. Now in its 70th year, the festival celebrates the region’s arts, language, and community spirit through food, a parade, exhibitions, and plenty of music and dance.
The festival is also where traditions like la danse callée continue to thrive. For the past decade, Natalie has helped revive Clare’s own local set of traditional square and circle dances called [insert name here] (known in English as the “French Eight”).
After slowly falling out of practice, the tradition was rebuilt piece by piece through research, workshops, and community memory. Today, Natalie is committed to keeping it alive by inspiring younger generations to learn it because they want to, not because they’re expected to.
As Natalie looks to the future, she already sees the next generation embracing their role. Sophie LeBlanc, a summer intern with the Société and a lifelong dancer, grew up surrounded by music. Her father played fiddle, and Sophie—who started dancing at age three—eventually joined La Baie en Joie, the same local troupe where Natalie once danced.
“Dance is a really big part of the Acadian culture down here,” she says. “It was always assumed that I would join because of my dad, and I ended up loving it.”
Sophie shares Natalie’s belief in creating spaces where young people genuinely want to use their French and take part in their heritage.
“You can’t really force younger generations to speak French—they have to want it,” she says. “It’s so important to foster these types of events where people can grow and enjoy themselves in French.”
Both Natalie and Sophie agree that reliable funding is essential to keeping these traditions accessible and vibrant for everyone—something Natalie sees as not only joyful, but as a necessity.
Since 2013, the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation has supported arts, culture, and heritage in communities across Nova Scotia through its Support4Culture program, funded by the proceeds from designated lottery products. To date, Nova Scotians have raised almost $42 million for Support4Culture.
“Things like halls, musicians, and insurance all cost money,” Natalie explains. “Support4Culture allows us to invest in our community and have events that are really important for the livelihood of our community and for the fostering of arts and culture.”