Explore the heritage and traditions of the Acadian people, a social legacy of

proud men and women.   Imagine traveling with them on what seemed to be an

endless ODYSSEY* and, witness the KNIT* between these brave exiles. Driven

from their Nova Scotia homes in 1604, they endured every imaginable hardship

 as they journeyed  to their ultimate homeland in south Louisiana.

    Of approximately 18,000 Acadians in Nova Scotia, as many as 6,000 had left

 the land between 1749 and 1752. Many more fled after 1752, and were continu-

 ing to flee even on the eve of their exile. 

    Governor Lawrence planned the Acadian deportation in 1754.  To accomplish

 the task, Lawrence asked Judge Mooris, the provincial surveyor, to prepare a re- 

 port on how to go about the exile. The request was made in 1755.  To accommo-

date the plan, Governor Shirley of Massachusetts promised enough ships to carry

 away the 7,000 Acadians remaining in Nova Scotia. 

    The Acadians in the Districts of Annapolis Royal, Mines and Pilliquid refusing

to take the oath of allegiance to the queen of England and renounce their Catholic

faith. Because of their refusal to take the mandatory allegiance they were ordered

to be removed from their native land at the earliest possible date. For this purpose,

orders were given to send  a sufficient number of transports up Chignecto Bay to 

board the exiles. The orders further stated that after the exiles were on board the   

vessels,particular instruction as to the manner of their disposition and  their des-

tination would be revealed. 

        On Friday September 5, 1755,  418 men and boys, ten years of age or older, 

were gathered at the Grand Pre church in old Acadie. At three o'clock in the after-

noon, when all of the men were in the church, the door was closed and locked.The

men were placed under arrest and told that their lands and goods were no longer    

theirs. They and their  families were to be put aboard ships and sent elsewhere. 

      The exile continued for years scattering the Acadians to all parts of the world,  

 many never finding a permanent home nor their family and friends. A large con-

 tingency of Acadians reached the great State of LOUISIANA when  

 France offered ships and Spain offered money, land, livestock and tools to relo-

 cate these settlers.  The quistadores (Spanish) were moving west in search of

 gold and silver and needed support for their troops.They knew the hard work

  the Acadians would produce abundant of goods to border with the Spanish.

       And so they came on ships with odd names such as: Le Bon Papa, La Bergere,

 Le Beaumont, Le St. Remi, La Caroline and l'Amistad D'arcangel. The came, they  

 stayed, established a new home and....ended  ODYSSEY.                                                                          

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