See Also

Acadian

The Acadians are the descendants of the original French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 settlers of parts of the northeastern region of North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i] ... 

 comprising what is now the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province [i] located on Canada [i]'s southeastern coast. ... 

, New Brunswick New Brunswick

New Brunswick , is one of Canada's [i] three Maritime provinces [i], and the only officially bili ... 

 and Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian [i] province [i] coextensive with the island [i] ... 

. Although Acadians and Quebecers are both francophone Canadians, Acadia Acadia

Acadia was the name given by the French [i] to a colonial territory [i] i ... 

 was founded four years prior to the founding of Quebec Quebec

Quebec, or Qubec in French [i], In 1898, the Canadian Parliament passed the first ... 

 and in a geographically separate area. Furthermore, Acadians to a great extent hail from different parts of France than do Quebecers. Consequently, the two have formed distinct cultures. In the expulsion of 1755, Acadians were uprooted by the British; many later resettled in Louisiana Louisiana

cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> ... 

, where they became known as Cajuns Cajun

The Cajuns are an ethnic group [i] consisting of the descendants of Acadian [i] exiles and other peoples ... 

.

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Encyclopedia

The Acadians are the descendants of the original French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 settlers of parts of the northeastern region of North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i]... 

 comprising what is now the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province [i] located on Canada [i]'s southeastern coast. ... 

, New Brunswick New Brunswick

New Brunswick , is one of Canada's [i] three Maritime provinces [i], and the only officially bili... 

 and Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian [i] province [i] coextensive with the island [i]... 

. Although Acadians and Quebecers are both francophone Canadians, Acadia Acadia

Acadia was the name given by the French [i] to a colonial territory [i] i ... 

 was founded four years prior to the founding of Quebec Quebec

Quebec, or Qubec in French [i], In 1898, the Canadian Parliament passed the first ... 

 and in a geographically separate area. Furthermore, Acadians to a great extent hail from different parts of France than do Quebecers. Consequently, the two have formed distinct cultures.

In the expulsion of 1755, Acadians were uprooted by the British; many later resettled in Louisiana Louisiana

cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
... 

, where they became known as Cajuns Cajun

The Cajuns are an ethnic group [i] consisting of the descendants of Acadian [i] exiles and other peoples... 

.

History


In 1603 Henry IV Henry IV of France

Henry IV , was the first monarch of the Bourbon [i] dynasty in France [i].
... 

, the King of France List of French monarchs

The monarchs of France [i] ruled, first as kings [i] and later as emperors [i], from the Middle Ages [i] ... 

, granted Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts, the right to colonize lands in North America between 40º- 60º North latitude Latitude

Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter f [i] , gives the location of a place on ... 

. Arriving in 1604, the French settlers built a fort at the mouth of the St. Croix River which separates present day New Brunswick New Brunswick

New Brunswick , is one of Canada's [i] three Maritime provinces [i], and the only officially bili... 

 and Maine Maine

Maine is a U.S. state [i] in the New England [i] region of the northeastern United States [i]. ... 

, on a small island named Île-Ste-Croix Saint Croix Island, Maine

Saint Croix Island, or Dochet Island as it is called today, is a small uninhabited island in Maine [i] ... 

. The following spring, the settlers sailed across the bay to Port-Royal  in present day Nova Scotia Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province [i] located on Canada [i]'s southeastern coast. ... 

.

During the 17th century, about one hundred French families were established in Acadia. They developed friendly relations with the aboriginal Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaq

The Mi'kmaq are a First Nations [i] people, indigenous to northeastern New England [i], Canada [i]'s Atlantic Provinces [i] ... 

, learning their hunting and fishing techniques. The Acadians lived mainly in the coastal regions, farming land reclaimed from the sea through diking. Living on the frontier between French and British territories, the Acadians found themselves on the frontlines in each conflict between the powers. Acadia was passed repeatedly from one side to the other, and the Acadians learned to survive through an attitude of studied neutrality, refusing to take up arms for either side, and thus came to be referred to as the "French neutrals."



In the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, France ceded that portion of Acadia which is now Nova Scotia to the British for the last time. In 1754, the British government, no longer accepting the neutrality previously granted to the Acadians, demanded that they take an absolute oath of allegiance to the British monarch British monarchy

The British monarch or Sovereign is the head of state [i] of the United Kingdom [i] and in the British overseas territories [i] ... 

, which would require taking up arms. The Acadians did not want to take up arms against family members who were in French territory, and believed that the oath would compromise their Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church is the Christian [i] Church [i] ... 

 faith, and refused. Colonel Charles Lawrence ordered the mass deportation of the Acadians Great Upheaval

The Great Upheaval, also known as the Great Expulsion, The Deportation or the Acadian Exp... 

, without authority from London and despite earlier cautions from British authorities against drastic action. Historian John Mack Faragher has used the contemporary term, "ethnic cleansing," to describe the British actions.


In what is known as the Great Expulsion Great Upheaval

The Great Upheaval, also known as the Great Expulsion, The Deportation or the Acadian Exp... 

 , more than 12,000 Acadians were expelled, their homes burned and their lands confiscated. Families were split up, and the Acadians were dispersed throughout the British lands in North America; some were returned to France.

In 2003, at the request of Acadian representatives, a proclamation was issued in the name of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

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Elizabeth II is the Queen [i] of 16 independent sovereign [i] state [i] ... 

, acting as the Canadian monarch Monarchy in Canada

Canada [i] is a constitutional monarchy [i] and a Commonwealth Realm [i], with Queen Elizabeth II [i] ... 

, officially acknowledging the deportation and establishing July 28 as a day of commemoration. The day of commemoration is observed by the Government of Canada Government of Canada

The Government of Canada is the name of the federal government [i] of Canada [i]. ... 

, as the successor of the British Government.

Geography

The Acadians today predominantly inhabit the northern and eastern shores of New Brunswick, Miscou Island and Île Lamèque. Other groups of Acadians can be found in the Magdalen Islands Magdalen Islands

The Magdalen Islands form a small archipelago [i] in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence [i] with a land area of ... 

 and throughout other parts of Quebec, in Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian [i] province [i] coextensive with the island [i]... 

 and Nova Scotia such as Chéticamp and Clare. Still others can be found in the southern and western regions of New Brunswick and in New England. Many of these latter communities have faced varying degrees of assimilation. For many families in predominantly anglophone communities, French language attrition has occurred, particularly in younger generations. The Acadians who settled in Louisiana after 1764, known as Cajuns Cajun

The Cajuns are an ethnic group [i] consisting of the descendants of Acadian [i] exiles and other peoples... 

, have had a dominant cultural influence in many parishes, particularly in the southwestern area of Louisiana known as Acadiana.

Culture

Today Acadians are a vibrant minority, particularly in New Brunswick and Louisiana . Since 1994, Le Congrès Mondial Acadien has united Acadians of the Maritimes, New England, and Louisiana.

Notable Acadians in the Maritimes include singers Angèle Arsenault Angèle Arsenault

... 

 and Edith Butler, writer Antonine Maillet Antonine Maillet

Antonine Maillet, PC [i], CC [i], OQ [i] ... 

, boxer Yvon Durelle Yvon Durelle

Yvon Durelle, born October 14 [i], 1929 [i] in Baie-Ste-Anne [i], New Brunswick [i] ... 

, pitcher Rheal Cormier, former Governor General Governor General of Canada

The Governor General [i] of Canada [i] is the representative of the Canadian Monarch [i] ... 

 Roméo LeBlanc, former premier of Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian [i] province [i] coextensive with the island [i]... 

 Aubin-Edmond Arsenault, the first Acadian premier of any province and the first Acadian appointed to a provincial supreme court, his father, Joseph-Octave Arsenault, the first Acadian appointed to the Canadian Senate, and former New Brunswick premier Louis Robichaud Louis Robichaud

Louis Joseph Robichaud, PC [i] , CC [i] , QC [i]... 

, who was responsible for modernizing education and the government of New Brunswick in the mid-20th century 20th century

The 20th century started on 1 January [i] 1901 [i] and ended on 31 December [i] 2000 [i], according to t... 

.

August 15, the feast of the Assumption Assumption of Mary


According to Roman Catholic [i] doctrine and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church [i], th ... 

, is the national feast day of the Acadians. The national anthem of the Acadians is "Ave, maris stella". On that day, the Acadians celebrate by having the tintamarre which consists mainly of a big parade where people can dress up with the colours of Acadia and make a lot of noise.

Flags

The flag of the Acadians Flag of Acadia

The flag of Acadia was adopted on August 15, 1884, at the Acadian National Convention Miscouche by the Acadian [i] ... 

 is the French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 tricolour Tricolour

A tricolour is a flag [i] or banner [i] having three colour [i]s, usually in approximately equal size an ... 

 with a golden star in the blue field, which symbolizes the Our Lady of the Assumption Assumption of Mary


According to Roman Catholic [i] doctrine and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church [i], th ... 

, patron saint of the Acadians and the "Star of the Sea". This flag was adopted in 1884 at the Acadian National Congress in Miscouche, PEI.

Acadians in the diaspora have adopted other symbols. The flag of Acadians in Louisiana, known as Cajuns Cajun

The Cajuns are an ethnic group [i] consisting of the descendants of Acadian [i] exiles and other peoples... 

, was designed by Thomas J. Arceneaux of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a coeducational public research university also known as UL... 

, and adopted by the Louisiana legislature as the official emblem of the Acadiana Acadiana

Acadiana, also called Cajun Country, is the official name given to the traditional 22-parish [i] ... 

 region in . A group of New England Acadians attending Le Congrès Mondial Acadien in Nova Scotia in 2004, endorsed a design for a by William Cork, and are advocating for its wider acceptance.




Flag of Acadiana Acadiana

Acadiana, also called Cajun Country, is the official name given to the traditional 22-parish [i] ... 

 region of Louisiana



Flag of New England New England

New England is a region of the United States [i] located in the northeastern corner of the country. ... 

 Acadians

Language

Acadians speak a dialect of French called Acadian French. Many of those in the Moncton area speak Chiac and English English language

English is a widely distributed language that originated in England [i] but is now the primary language ... 

. The Louisiana Cajun descendants mostly speak English American English

American English is the dialect [i] of the English language [i] used mostly in the United States of America [i] ... 

 but many still speak Cajun French Cajun French

Cajun French is a variety [i] or dialect [i] of the French language [i] spoken primarily in the ... 

.

Tributes to The Expulsion

In 1847, an epic poem by American writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an America [i]n poet [i] who wrote many works that are sti ... 

, Evangeline Evangeline

Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie is a poem [i] by the American [i] poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [i]... 

, was loosely based on the events surrounding the 1755 deportation. The poem became an American classic, and also contributed to a rebirth of Acadian identity in both Maritime Canada and in Louisiana.

Robbie Robertson Robbie Robertson

Jaime Robert Robertson is a songwriter [i], guitar [i]ist and singer, probably best known for his member ... 

 wrote a popular song based on the Acadian Expulsion titled Acadian Driftwood that appeared on The Band The Band

The Band was an influential Canadian [i]-American [i] rock and roll [i] group of th ... 

's 1975 album, Northern Lights - Southern Cross Northern Lights - Southern Cross

Northern Lights - Southern Cross was the seventh album by Canadian [i]-American [i] ... 

.

Antonine Maillet Antonine Maillet

Antonine Maillet, PC [i], CC [i], OQ [i] ... 

's Pélagie-la-charette concerns the return voyage to Acadia of several deported families starting 15 years after the Great Expulsion Great Upheaval

The Great Upheaval, also known as the Great Expulsion, The Deportation or the Acadian Exp... 

.

Legend

The American folklore hero, Paul Bunyan Paul Bunyan

Paul Bunyan is a myth [i]ical lumberjack [i] in tall tale [i]s. ... 

, is believed by some to have been influenced if not inspired by Acadian stories about lumberjack Lumberjack

A lumberjack is a tradesman [i] in the logging [i] industry, who performs the initial harvest [i]ing of... 

s.

See also

  • Acadia Acadia

    Acadia was the name given by the French [i] to a colonial territory [i] i ... 

  • List of Acadians
  • Cajuns Cajun

    The Cajuns are an ethnic group [i] consisting of the descendants of Acadian [i] exiles and other peoples... 

  • New France New France

    New France describes the area colonized [i] by France [i] in North America [i] during a period extending ... 

  • French Canadian

References

Sources
  • Dupont, Jean-Claude . Héritage d'Acadie. Montreal: Éditions Leméac.
  • Faragher, John Mack . A Great and Noble Scheme: The Tragic Story of the Expulsion of the French Acadians from their American Homeland. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
  • Frink, Tim . New Brunswick, A Short History. Summerville, N.B.: Stonington Books.


Notes

1
. Rather than go by self-identification, many would instead define an Acadian as a French speaking person living in the Maritime provinces of Canada; which according to the same 2001 census, was 276,355 .


2
An exhibit by the Massachusetts State Archives in conjunction with the Commonwealth Museum, made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Further reading

  • James Laxer, The Acadians: In Search of a Homeland, Doubleday Canada, October 2006 ISBN 0-385-66108-8.

External links

  • - Acadian history and genealogy storehouse
  • - Acadians in New England.
  • from - the Rosetta Edition