French language in Minnesota facts for kids

The French language has been spoken in Minnesota since the 1600s. It was the first European language brought to this area. French explorers and settlers played a big part in its early use.

French History in Minnesota

The story of French in Minnesota is tied to Canadian settlers. Explorers like Louis Hennepin and trappers like Pierre Parrant helped bring the language here very early on.

In the mid-1600s, French expeditions and settlements were already in the region. Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers likely reached Minnesota in 1654. They had explored Wisconsin before that.

Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant was one of the first settlers in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

A few years later, explorer Cavelier de la Salle mapped the Mississippi River. He traveled all the way to North Dakota. He called this region "L'étoile du Nord" (Star of the North). This phrase later became Minnesota's official motto.

The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota features the French motto "L'étoile du Nord."

Frontenac, the Governor of New France, encouraged exploring the northern lands. This included areas around the Great Lakes and Minnesota.

Many early European settlers in Minnesota came from Canada. One was Pierre Parrant, a fur trader born in Sault Ste. Marie in 1777.

The Red River Métis community also helped keep French alive in Minnesota. The Métis are a group of people with mixed Indigenous and European (often French) heritage.

Since 1858, when Minnesota became a state, its Great Seal has shown Cavelier de la Salle's French motto, "L'étoile du Nord."

French Influence in Arts and Architecture

French-speaking people have created many artworks, buildings, and music in Minnesota. For example, the St. Louis Parish was started in 1868 by French architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray.

Masqueray designed many grand homes and churches across Minnesota. He worked on about two dozen churches for Catholic and Protestant groups. Some of his famous works include:

• Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul (1904)
• Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis (1908)
• Incarnation Catholic Church in Minneapolis (1909)

In 1906, Masqueray opened his own design studio in St. Paul. He taught the "Beaux Arts" method of architecture there. One of his most famous students was Edwin Lundie.

Famous French Speakers in Minnesota

Irma LeVasseur was the first French-Canadian woman to become a doctor. She trained in French in Minnesota. This was because universities in Québec did not allow women to study medicine at the time. She practiced in the United States from 1900 to 1903. Later, she was allowed to practice in her home country. In 1907, LeVasseur helped found the Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montréal.

French Language in the 20th Century

The use of French in Minnesota dropped a lot in the 20th century. American states tried to make everyone speak English. For a while, teaching or speaking French in schools was even forbidden.

By 1980, only about 8.2% of Minnesota's population had French connections. This included people of French origin, other French speakers, and those born in France.

Places with French Names

The town of Gentilly was very important for French-Canadian immigrants. Its Catholic church is now a historical building. It was built in 1914 for the French community, many of whom came from Joliette, Quebec. Inside, the church's stained glass and "Way of the Cross" signs have only French words.

Other towns important to French-Canadian immigration include Terrebonne, Huot, Roseau, and St. Hilaire.

Many places in Minnesota still have French names. These names remind us of the state's French history. Some examples are:

• Mille Lacs County
• French River
• French Lake
• Roseau County
• St. Louis County
• Lac qui Parle County
• Hennepin County
• Le Sueur County
• Voyageurs National Park
• Lake Vermilion
• Grand Portage
• Belle Plaine
• Duluth
• Grand Marais
• Faribault
• Lake of the Woods
• Nicollet County

French Language Today

Today, French is kept alive in Minnesota through special programs. These include bilingual education and French classes in schools and universities. Local groups like AFRAN (Association des Français du Nord) also promote French. They support events like the Chautauqua Festival in Huot, which celebrates French heritage.

In 2012, a Franco-fête Festival was held in Minneapolis. Similar events happen every year across Minnesota.

Minnesota shares a border with French-speaking parts of Canada. This means French exchanges are still common. In 2004, about 35% of Minnesota's goods were sent to French-speaking countries. These included Canada, France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

International Connections

Two French-speaking consulates are active in Minnesota. These are the Belgian Consulate in Saint Paul and the Canadian Consulate in Minneapolis.

An Alliance Française and a branch of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) are also in Minneapolis. These groups help people learn and celebrate French culture.