Acadie, Then and Now: a People's History

Book Review Acadie, Then and Now: A People’s History under the direction of Warren Perrin, Mary Broussard Perrin and Phil Comeau (published by Andrepont Publishing, L.L.C., Opelousas, La. 2014) Reviewed by W. Thomas Angers cadie, Then and Now: A Peo- a film director, writer and editor, was born As Mr. Perrin said, “I wanted to know ple’s History is a monumental in Nova Scotia and presently lives in Mon- why we have an Acadian flag and other event in publishing. Never has treal, Canada. remnants of Acadie, even though it ceased anyone sought to assemble The three compilers assembled the works to exist three centuries ago.” Mary Broussard Aall things Acadian in one place and one of authors from the United States, France and Perrin explained, “There is very little written volume, until now. Canada, from all regions settled by Acadians. about Louisiana — or any place. We had to This incomparable anthology of 470 They include professors, folklorists, histo- piece it together like a quilt.” pages, available in both French and English rians, broadcasters, lawyers, jurists, profes- Mr. Perrin discovered an Acadian com- editions, is a compilation of 65 scholarly sors of law, scientific advisers, musicians, munity near Montreal known as Lanaudiere essays written by 50 authors, all compiled producers, poets, playwrights, film directors that began about 1765 when his ancestor, by Warren A. and Mary Broussard Perrin and producers, Acadian museum directors, Joseph Broussard, arrived in Louisiana. “I and Phil Comeau. business persons, journalists, editors, com- thought I understood what Acadie meant, but Warren A. Perrin, a Lafayette lawyer munication educators, genealogists, policy I had no idea this region existed. It caused and current chair of the Louisiana State Bar analysts, Acadian and cultural activists, me to think, how many other places exist Association’s Francophone Section, has directors of Acadian associations, transla- and what does Acadie mean today?” So, long been active in the movement to pre- tors, and specialists from other disciplines. the seeds of this publishing journey were serve and promote Louisiana’s French and The compilers could never have assembled sown. The book addresses where the Aca- Acadian culture. He served as a long-time a more informed body of expertise on the dian people have gone, where they remain president of the Council for the Develop- subject. and their cultural and demographic history. ment of French in Louisiana and is a skills The word “Cajun” refers to persons Acadians today reside in the states of professor at Loyola University College of of Louisiana Acadian descent. The word Louisiana, Texas, Maine, Massachusetts Law. The author of six books dealing with “Acadian” was shortened to “Cadien” and and Michigan; in the Canadian provinces Louisiana culture and history, Perrin is also then to “Cajun.” But, Acadians have lived of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince well-known for filing a petition for an apol- and settled worldwide. Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec; ogy for the Acadian deportation, resulting The goals of the book, according to Mr. in the Caribbean; in South America and the in the famous Queen’s Proclamation signed Perrin, include identifying Acadian commu- Falkland Islands; and in the French regions on Dec. 9, 2003, wherein the British Crown nities existing today throughout the world, of Nantes, Poitou, Belle-Ile-en-Mer, Saint formally acknowledged tragic consequences identifying places where the Acadian exiles Pierre and Miquelon. The book reveals of the deportation, including deaths of the moved after the British expelled them from that the Acadian experience is truly a three- Acadian people and their trials and suffering the Canadian Maritime Provinces in 1755, continent phenomenon, but ultimately is from the expulsion from present-day Nova and identifying all things Acadian, com- worldwide in scope. Scotia, then known as Acadie. mencing with the settlement of Acadia in Like the Huguenot experience, also His wife, Mary Broussard Perrin, is a 1605 by French immigrants and continuing originating in repression, expulsion and mixed media artist and author. Phil Comeau, up to the present date. deportation, the Acadian experience has 438 April / May 2015 been characterized by cohesion and remark- designing the Acadian flag and Judge Allen able continued identity. To this day, certain Babineaux was a lifetime leader of the Loui- specific French names can be identified as siana Acadians and the French Renaissance Acadian or Huguenot after several centuries. movement who studied and made known The book also touches on historical and the history of the Acadian people. legal issues of ethnic cleansing, genocide and The first use of the Acadian flag in a systematic violation of human rights, which business and in print was by this author’s show that the Acadians are another element father, the late Robert J. (Bob) Angers, Jr., in the matrix of world citizens fleeing denial who founded Acadiana Profile Magazine of personal and political freedom and seek- in 1968, using the image of the Acadian ing escape from repressive governmental flag on the cover. Artist Al Esteve reduced conduct. the image to print with the first rendering The book is divided into five sections of it on paper. titled “World Acadie,” “Cultures of Acadie,” In the book’s epilogue, Mr. Perrin relates “Remarkable Acadie,” “Dignity of a People” extensive details of his personal journey in and “Acadian Regional Histories.” exploring the physical and cultural Aca- The “World Acadie” section includes dian world, which underscores his motive essays on the Acadian demographic his- in producing the book. He emerges as a tory, contemporary effects of the Acadian freedom fighter personality, fighting for the Diaspora, and the French language and the rights, liberties, dignity and vindication of Acadians in North America. The “Cultures the Western Hemisphere and Europe, even his beloved Acadian people so the world of Acadie” section covers the topics of including certain verified historical migra- will know the pain, struggles, progress and Acadian and Cajun cultural tourism, Cajun tions of Acadians returning from France to continued viability of the Acadians. music, Acadian cinema in Canada, Cajuns the Western world. In the end, Acadie, Then and Now is a in film, Cajun cuisine, and the Métis of Illustrating the “Visual Arts of the Cajuns journal of the lives of Warren and Mary Mi’kmaq Indians and their connections of South Louisiana” essay by Mary Brous- Perrin over many decades, as they attempt with Acadians. The “Remarkable Acadie” sard Perrin are images of George Rodrigue’s to discover and redeem the Acadian people. section includes essays on “The Landscape “The Aioli Dinner” and a photograph of The Perrins seek the ultimate redemption, of Grand Pre” and “Evangeline: The Icon Rodrigue in his studio with a canvas depict- vindication, dignity and promotion of the Who Just Won’t Die.” In the “Dignity of a ing the iconic Blue Dog; photography by Acadian people, and, in a superb way, they People” section, articles discuss John Win- Debbie Fleming Caffery, a Louisiana artist have succeeded magnificently with this slow, the British officer who masterminded with works published by The Smithsonian; volume. the deportation, “The Protection of Minority and works by artists Elemore Morgan, Jr., The book is available for purchase online Rights in Canada” and “Acadian Refugees Troy Dugas, Mary Beyt, Lou Blackwell, via Amazon, www.amazon.com, or online at or Prisoners in Acadie: 1755-1765.” The Megan Barra and Camille Comeaux. the Acadian Museum (Erath, La.) boutique, “Acadian Regional Histories” section con- Illustrating the essay “The Acadian Aboi- www.acadianmuseum.com/boutique.html. tains essays on Acadians living in more than teau: A Cultural and Economic Keystone” W. Thomas Angers, a La- 15 places in the world. by Dr. Whitney P. Broussard III are images Through this extraordinary assortment fayette attorney, practices in depicting marsh reclamation started in Port the areas of personal injury, of articles and images, the authors carefully Royal, Acadia’s first permanent settlement, environmental damages and weave a volume which fully explores the marsh reclamation at the village of Grand BP claims. He serves on the board of the Louisiana physical, cultural, multi-ethnic, culinary, Pre and a portrait of an Acadian community legal and political history of the Acadian Center for Law and Civic repairing an aboiteau, a dike-and-sluice Education. He is a member people, and provides much imagery confirm- structure that made agriculture possible in of the Louisiana State Bar ing their journey. the marshland environment. Association’s Francophone Section. He is a former In addition to many fascinating and It is noteworthy from an economic his- well-written essays, the book also appeals member of the Lafayette tory point of view that the Acadians dealt Bar Association’s board of to the visual-minded with superior maps, with marsh reclamation and farming in a directors. He is an author and president of Beau Bayou illustrations and photographs. marsh environment, both in Acadie and in Publishing Co., a book publisher. He is co-author of My Wars: Nazis, Mobsters, Gambling and Corrup- The map indexing is divided into “then” south Louisiana. maps and “now” maps. In the “now” maps tion, Colonel Francis C. Grevemberg Remembers, The essay titled “The Cajuns in Louisi- the biography of former Louisiana Superintendent section, locations of Acadians in Atlantic ana” by Warren Perrin includes photographs of State Police, Francis C. Grevemberg, who fought Canada, Louisiana, Texas, Quebec, Maine of iconic Louisiana Cajuns, among them, mob-controlled illegal gambling, public corruption and vice, and who signed an affidavit before Angers and France are identified. One two-page map Dr. Thomas Arceneaux, former Louisiana (pages 16-17) titled “Acadian Migrations confirming specific details of a cover-up, public corrup- State Comptroller Roy Theriot, Sr.

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