07/21 - Acadia and the Acadians.

 07/21 - Acadia and the Acadians. 

We were off to an early start this morning because we had a 2 Hour drive to our first site. We made our way over the Annapolis river and down to the Annapolis Vally. It was a truly lovely drive.

Our first stop was at Fort Anne. It was a contentious military site that was tradeded back-and-forth between the French and the British numerous times. One of the most striking displays in the interpretation centre was a gigantic tapestry. The tapestry was huge! It was four panels and each one showed different elements of the history of the fort as well as the surrounding community.

We walked the grounds and took in the view. Emma, of course, did the Explorer program booklet and collected her park souvenir. She has been collecting Parks Canada dog tags for many years. We also purchased a sticker for the baby trailer.

Many of us have rolled down a hill as a child. This family was prepared. They brought black garbage bags that the children sat in and then slid down the grass ramparts of the fort. it was not far to our next historic site. Next up was a visit to habitation designed and described by Samuel de Champlain at the beginning of the 1600s. It is a reconstruction built on a piece of land that is believed to have been the site of the previous habitation or within several kilometres at such.

We learned that the habitation at Port-Royal was built as am initial step prior to settlement. The purpose was to bring Christianity to the Mi’ kma people and to establish a community of artisans and workers. This would enable development of the community in this space. Unfortunately, the habitation was burned to the ground and never rebuilt. So the idea of creating a community in that space was never possible. Instead, a second community was re-designed for the space near Fort Anne. The gentleman assigned as the Governor of this attempt was the son of the first Governor (from the burned and abounded Fort-Royale.

pew pew, pew pew We have spotted a lot of this green glazed pottery in the Parks Canada historic sites.  This particular mug was huge.  A definite two-hander!

The views along the coast are simply incredible.  The Bay of Fundy plays a role here in the Annapolis Bay. While the tides do not seem as varied as the coast in New Brunswick, it is simply a view that I could never tire of….

Today was a scorcher.  There was little to no breeze and I am definitely preparing for the temperatures in India.we’ve learned that a number of historic sites now offer equipped camping (cabins, period canvas tents orRoofed shelters. Next time Grand Pre, next time. We have done a lot of learning about the Acadians on this trip. Originally from France, they carved out a life as farmers who reclaimed fertile soil around the Bay of Fundy using dykes to their benefit.  They developed their own culture and considered themselves neutral in their relationships with the British, the French and the Mi’maq.

By 1755 the British were no longer prepared for their lack of fidelity and so the Acadians were deported to English colonies throughout the (now) USA, sent to England or France. They remained in exile for 8+ years. 

Grand Pre is a site of one of the largest deportation efforts. There are memorials and exhibits to tell the sad tale of our past.  

I had not realized the poem Evangeline was written by Wordsworth was about the Acadians.

I pieced together the history and connections between the deported Acadians and the Cajun connections in Nee Orleans. The short version…deported Acadians were “French”/Catholic.  They did not find a warm reception in the English/Protestant colonies along the eastern seaboard.  However, the Spanish/Catholic community in Louisiana was seeking new settlers and preferred French/Catholic individuals to English/Protestants.  The Acadian knowledge of agriculture, dykes and irrigation made them suitable.  Hence, the French influences and the development of the Cajun culture.