Journal Entry #5

 

In her article Naomi Griffiths is primarily concerned with the identity of Acadians both before and after the deportation. She is interested in their strong sense of cultural identity and how that was established. She remarks that the Acadians went through a very prosperous age in 1713 she says that “The community was demographically self-generating and economically self-sufficient”[1] . She also goes on to say that their religious groups were thriving as well as their strong sense of community and family. Griffiths seems to be asserting that because of these strong cultural, economic, and religious bonds that Acadia stood outside of the others cultures that inhabited the area. One of the interesting effects of this cultural phenomenon is that they were able to use religious faiths like Catholicism to their own means. Because they felt no particular ties to France or England they “were neither controlled by the priests in their political life nor particularly obedient to the precepts of the church”[2]. So essentially Acadia picked and chose what ideals from the religious faiths they wanted to follow. This is a very modern take on religion that shows just how unique a place Acadia really was. Unfortunately this way of life was not to last for the English soon began to realize that the people of Acadia had to answer to their role. While Acadian people were not particularly against the idea they did want to reserve the right to “not be obliged to carry arms”[3]. It seems by making this clause that Acadia wanted to remain the peaceful, prosperous community they had become. However, this arrangement was not built to last the English demanded that the Acadians take up arms and of course Acadia stood its ground and declined. This is the event that led to the deportation of the Acadians. The British shipped the Acadians away on vessels by the thousands. The sad part of this event was that the deaths on the ship reached “50% and in most cases 30% of those embarked”[4]. Griffiths does not deny that this genocide did not break up their strong community. However, she argues that it did not break up the identity of the Acadian people. She says that despite the effort of the British government Nova Scotia “had never been entirely without them”[5]. This is a testament to just how strong the identity of the Acadians were. Even though they were deported and exiled a certain amount remained and others slowly made their way home. If there is one thing that can be said about Acadia and their people it is that they were an unwavering, unflinching community that would not let its cultural identity slip into the past.

 

Bibliography

Naomi E.S. Griffiths, “Acadian Identity: The Creation and Re-Creation of Community” Dalhousie Review. 73 (1993): 325-349.

 

[1] Naomi E.S. Griffiths, “Acadian Identity: The Creation and Re-Creation of Community” Dalhousie Review. 73 (1993): 330.

[2] Griffiths, “Acadian Identity,” 331.

[3] Griffiths, “Acadian Identity,” 333.

[4] Griffiths, “Acadian Identity,” 334.

[5] Griffiths, “Acadian Identity,” 335.