History of AFRAN

 Annual poster: Chautauqua & French Festival Aug. 24, 25 & 26  

1982-2012 AFRAN 30th anniversary Performers: Asham Stompers; George Nelson Fur trade clerk portrayal; “Back 40” Band from Saint-Laurent, Manitoba. 

 Saturday, August 27 the poster of 2005 has a photo of Sierra Noble. The total program this particular year was only on Saturday. It was held at Old Crossing and Treaty Park and at the Spot in Red Lake Falls.    

She was known in Manitoba as the “15-year-old fiddling sensation”.

Chautauqua & French Festival August 22-24, 2003, Old Crossing and Treaty Park, Huot, Minnesota 

Metal button sold as entrance permit to Chautauqua 2002

Journal du Chautauqua is a 20-page booklet/guide to the Chautauqua and French Festival 2000. On page 2 there is a picture of the metal button for 2000, designed ty Kathy Umlaf of Crookston. 

Metal button sold as entrance permit to Chautauqua 1998

Postcard Chautauqua & French Festival Old Crossing & Treaty Park Huot, Minnesota

Artwork, by ben Brien, the front of this postcard includes the beloved cottonwood tree by the shore of the Red Lake River, a canoe, an oxcart and a teepee, a scene portraying a very historically divers view of history at this location.

Metal button sold as entrance permit to Chautauqua 1995. Picture of Pierre Bottineau on button. 

Letter dated March 6, 1990, Lowell Mercil to Lenis and Bea. 

Two Chautauqua formats, which were quite different from each other collaborated to present aspects of heritage and history of the region in 1989. The collaboration came about because a Valley Chautauqua program was organized to commemorate aspects of North Dakota heritage and history in this year of that State’s centennial.  

Guest book Inside photo is taken from a mural painted by Brenda Harmon. Mural portrays one oxcart traversing the Red Lake River at Old Crossing. Mural is kept in two crates at Virgil Benoit’s. It has never been exhibited. 

French Club there is a detailed description of the symbols in the AFRAN logo.