How Acadians Became Cajuns

A vital part of Cajun heritage is the history of Acadia and its people. French-Acadian refugees survived the hardships of exile and formed an admirable legacy of ethnic tradition for their Cajun descendants. The tragic saga of the Acadian expulsion was romantically described in Longfellow's fictional epic "Evangeline" and the story continues to be commemorated in parts of Canada and south Louisiana. The Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville, LA, features multimedia historical archives, beautiful mural depictions, and the ancestral Wall of Names.

L'Acadie was an early 17th century colony founded by France in the Atlantic Maritime region of Canada. Approximately 300 French Catholics, uneducated but industrious peasant farming families, settled around Port Royal in 1632. Their frontier community was increased by a few other immigrants of Belgian, English, Irish, Scottish, and Spanish origins. For nearly a century, generations of kindhearted Acadians lived in peaceful simplicity on isolated farms and in fishing villages. Historical records indicate almost no crime or neglect among the deeply moral and self-sufficient Acadian people who were devoted to their families, worked hard, and shared the joyful spirit of a kindred community.

Circumstances changed when France ceded a large portion of the colony (including Nova Scotia where most Acadians lived) to England in 1713. Maintaining their French loyalties, the Acadians faced unjust accusations of inciting trouble with the Indians. At the approach of another French-English military conflict in 1755, the population of Acadia numbered over 13,000 and was detrimentally viewed by English authorities. When Acadian men refused British oaths of allegiance, arrest orders were issued and their properties were confiscated. Some Acadians avoided detention by escaping to other parts of Canada, but many families and friends became permanently separated during the mass deportations. The forced exile of the Acadians became known as Le Grande Derangement and "The Great Disturbance" nearly ended their ethnic identity. Over an eight-year period from 1755 to 1763, more than 6000 Acadians were banished to the British colonies in America, among several island colonies of France, and in Europe. Many died due to malnutrition, shock, disease, and unseaworthy vessels (two ships sank with 650 deportees aboard and only 27 survived; one of those fortunate few is listed in my own genealogy).

Displaced Acadians often suffered years of wandering and misery before a permanent new homeland was found. Having few material possessions and constantly searching for lost relatives or friends, the exiles were often scorned and mistreated; their strength was in the spiritual comfort of faith, memories, traditions, and hope. Some prayers were answered when land grants became available in the Spanish-ruled, but primarily French-speaking, territory called Louisiana. Beginning in 1765, small groups of exiles made their way to the opportunities of a possible New Acadia there. The first arrivals were twenty members of four families from New York who set up farm homes along the Mississippi River (the St. James Parish area became known as the Acadian Coast. Soon another group of about 200 exiles came from Halifax in Canada via Santo Domingo; these Acadians were sent inland to the Attakapas prairie region (near present-day Opelousas and St. Martinville) where they eventally succeeded at raising cattle. By 1768, there were about 1000 Acadians who had gratefully found refuge in Louisiana.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic