Until the age of 9 there was no electricity in the community. We had oil lamps and wood stoves in the house. It was like thisexplains the resident of Cap Saint-Georges on the Port au Port peninsula.

” Entertainment was storytelling. I remember sitting on the floor and falling asleep listening to the stories. »

In Mark Cormier’s traditional stories, the hero is always called upon Jacka young poor but able to get by in the world as the former retired teacher explains. Tales might take two visitshe adds.

These stories have always stuck in my mind. These memories. When I started teaching in 1979, I started sharing these stories with students.

An oral tradition that is disappearing

If 60 years ago traditional stories were an integral part of peninsular cultural life, nowadays they have all but disappeared.

Mark Cormier, 69, thinks he’s the region’s last French Newfoundland storyteller. But he remains hopeful.

I have two goals [quand je conte]. Firstly, it should attract the attention of young people, and secondly, I always have this in mind that one day there will be a young person who will continue this tradition.he explains.

” It is so important. It’s part of our culture. I want it to continue, I don’t want it to be lost. And even more special, it’s in French! »

Looking for new storytellers

Mark Cormier gives workshops in French schools. He attends festivals and storytelling evenings, where he enjoys seeing the faces of young people as he tells stories where there is drama, action and sometimes scary.

Anne Godin, storyteller and former Radio-Canada presenter, attended a storytelling evening in Cap Saint-Georges last November where she was able to hear several stories interpreted by Mark Cormier.

She acknowledges that Francophones in the Atlantic provinces are hearing less and less of the traditional stories of their ancestors, but recalls that the people of the Port-au-Port peninsula value their culture and have already had to fight to preserve it.

Once upon a time there were many storytellers in Acadie. That was the hobby. We met in the kitchens, in the houses, everyone, the storyteller told the story and he went from village to village to tellShe says. There are many more. This tradition has been lost. Then that’s why it’s so valuable.

Mark Cormier points out that despite the lack of new storytellers, he has no intention of throwing in the towel. He hopes to record the stories to preserve them.

I’ll do it while I canhe is arguing. I have to do it as long as I can, as best I can, as long as my memory lasts.