The Acadians
The Acadians are a proud people living in North America, mainly in the Atlantic Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. They are the descendants of the first French settlers whom established in Acadia at the beginning of the 17th century. Acadian ancestors originate mainly from the regions of Poitou, Aunis, Saintonge and Angoumois, located in the western part of France. They are also listed coming from Bourgogne, Haute-Bretagne and neighbouring provinces like Touraine.
During the Deportation of the Acadians in 1755, considered as an ethnic cleansing, the Acadians are uprooted from their land by the British and deported to New England or the United Kingdom. After this deportation, the survivors return – sometimes several decades later – to Acadia or settled in different regions of the world, like France, the United Kingdom and even in Louisiana.
Today, there are at least 3.8 million descendants of these Acadians all around the world: 500,000 in the Atlantic Provinces, 1 million in Louisiana, 1 million in New England, 1 million in Quebec and approximately 300,000 in France.
During the Deportation of the Acadians in 1755, considered as an ethnic cleansing, the Acadians are uprooted from their land by the British and deported to New England or the United Kingdom. After this deportation, the survivors return – sometimes several decades later – to Acadia or settled in different regions of the world, like France, the United Kingdom and even in Louisiana.
Today, there are at least 3.8 million descendants of these Acadians all around the world: 500,000 in the Atlantic Provinces, 1 million in Louisiana, 1 million in New England, 1 million in Quebec and approximately 300,000 in France.
