THE ACADIAN STORY

Photo by Theresa Hardy

Nova Scotia Map (Wikipedia

About sixty French families were established in this area during the seventeenth century. The group learned about hunting and fishing techniques from the Aboriginal Mi'kmaq. (Native American people who lived around Canada's Atlantic Providence) Wikipedia Photo

For the most part, the Acadians lived mainly in the coastal regions. Farming and fishing were important to the Acadians. Acadians often found themselves on the front lines in conflict between French and British powers who were fighting for control of North America.

Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum.

The Joseph Beausoleil Broussard Portrait was painted by Robert Dafford. Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum.Robert Dafford

 Le Grand Dérangement dispersed the Acadians to British colonies along North America’s eastern coast. Some groups refused to receive them and they were sent to England.

Acadian families were separated and shipped to various destinations including seven British American colonies: Acadian families were separated and shipped to various destinations including seven British American colonies:  Connecticut  New York  Pennsylvania  Maryland  Massachusetts  South Carolina  Georgia After the war, some were sent to French Caribbean (Antilles, Martinique, St. Domingue), while others went back to France. After the war, some were sent to French Caribbean (Antilles, Martinique, St. Domingue), while others went back to France. Map from Wikipedia

Exiled Acadians numbered more than 12,000. Some historians estimate that close of fifty percent of these people died as a direct consequence of the expulsion, also called the Diaspora.

 St. John Parish  St. James Parish  Attakapas region (St. Martin Parish)  St. Gabriel, Louisiana  Vidalia (old location)  Natchitoches (settlers relocated to Opelousas) relocated to Opelousas)  Bayou Lafourche area

St. James Parish St. Martin Parish (Attakapas Region) St. John Parish Bayou Lafourche Natchitoches Natchitoches Relocated to Opelousas Opelousas Opelousas St. Landry Parish St. Gabriel Early Acadian Settlement in Louisiana

 Spanish land grants along the Mississippi River were the first settlements for the Acadians in Louisiana  Later Acadian arrivals were given land on Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Teche  These Acadians used the rich soil for farming cotton as a cash crop

 Lived on swamp levees like in the Atachafalaya River basin  Made a living by hunting and fishing; eventually lived on house boats  In the marshes Acadians realized they could graze cattle in the winter months

Once settled, Acadians picked up their former life styles. They farmed, fished, built self-sufficient homes, retained their French language. Many lived in the bayou country where they hunted, fished, trapped, and lived off the Mississippi River. Photo courtesy of the Acadian Museum.

Wikipedia Photo

 Developed in two areas differently  Eastern Lifestyle - the rich soil supported crops (cotton was the main cash crop) and the area quickly became densely settled  Western Lifestyle - was at first characterized by small towns and cattle ranches  Life changed in the western prairies with the introduction of the railroad, rice farming, the discovery of oil, and agricultural mechanization

Alexander Mouton Wikipedia Photo

Photo by Theresa Hardy

Alexandria Cameron Bayou Lafourche Acadian Triangle This map represents the area of Louisiana with the largest concentration of Acadian settlements and their living descendents. The area is officially designated as the Acadian Triangle and has its own Acadian flag.

The gold castle (or tower) on the red field represents the Spanish kingdom, who allowed and even assisted the Acadians in settling their new homeland. The three fleur-de- lis on the blue field represent the French heritage. The fleur- de-lis is a symbol of the kings of France. The gold star on the white background represents the Virgin Mary, (Our Lady of Assumption), Patroness of the Acadians. This represented their Catholic faith. Another interpretation is that the star is a reminder of the efforts of the Acadian volunteers in removing British from areas adjacent to the Spanish Louisiana boarder (Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola) under Louisiana Governor Galvez.

Language Difficulties 1915 – Banned French to be spoken 1918 – German could not be spoken 1921 – All languages except English was prohibited 1955 – Language acts repealed

In 1990, Warren Perrin, a Louisiana Attorney and a Cajun descendant of Acadian exiles, delivered a petition to the British government seeking from Queen Elizabeth II an official apology for what had been done to the Acadians. After 13 years of negotiations, on December 9, 2003, the Royal Proclamation was singed, an official acknowledgment of responsibility by the Crown of England. In 1990, Warren Perrin, a Louisiana Attorney and a Cajun descendant of Acadian exiles, delivered a petition to the British government seeking from Queen Elizabeth II an official apology for what had been done to the Acadians. After 13 years of negotiations, on December 9, 2003, the Royal Proclamation was singed, an official acknowledgment of responsibility by the Crown of England. Photo from The Acadian Museum in Erath, Louisiana

Photo by Theresa Hardy

Acadiana Region in Louisiana (Wikipedia Map)

Acadians resettled in small numbers in cities across the Eastern seaboard, and Evangeline searches each for her love. She eventually gives up, settles in Philadelphia, becomes a nun and works at a hospital. After many years, she finally encounters Gabriel once again—now a sick old man. He dies in her arms, she soon follows him to the grave.

A Mrs. Voorheis said that she was the adoptive mother of a girl named Emmeline Labiche – whose story that Longfellow heard, and who renamed her Evangeline, presumably for creative effect. In his version, the lovers reunite not in Philadelphia but in St. Martinville, under a Live Oak tree that stretches its branches towards the chocolate brown waters of the Bayou Teche. They embrace passionately and all was well until Gabriel (actual name: Louis) suddenly remembered that he had remarried in the years that passed. Evangeline later goes insane and dies.