PREFACE

This book follows the evolution of the Acadian com- munity on Prince Edward Island over a period of 260 years. The Acadians form approximately twelve percent of the Island population and are located mainly in Prince County on the western end of the Island. As a result of various demographic, sociological and political factors, more than half of the Acadians on the Island no longer speak French, the language of their ancestors. Nevertheless, many English- speaking Acadians still identify with the Acadian community.

I have attempted throughout this book to study the phenomenon of cultural and linguistic survival in relation to the general context in which the Island Acadians have evolved. Contrary to what one might expect, the history of the Acadians is not the same throughout the Maritime Provinces. Each province has specific features. I have examined the history of the Acadians particularly with re- gard to settlement patterns, religion, education, politics and the economy in the smallest of the three provinces.

The origin of this publication dates back to 1979 when, in the employ of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Society (the society for Acadians on Prince Edward Island), I was invited to direct a project on Acadian history and culture. The aim of the project was to publish learning materials that would help promote the Acadian identity in the classroom. This project stimulated a considerable amount of research and resulted in numerous publications, including six thematic booklets on Acadian history published by the Saint Thomas Aquinas Society. These booklets, revised and enlarged, form the basis of this book.

The Island Acadians could not have been published without the support and financial assistance of numerous institutions. I am particularly grateful to the Saint Thomas Aquinas Society, the Secretary of State of Canada, the pro- vincial Department of Education, the University of Prince Edward Island and the Canada Council through its Explo-