APeriod ofTransition 101

CHANGING CULTURAL VALUES

Important changes took place in the Acadian community on Prince Edward Island between 1860 and 1890. These years coincide with a period of Acadian renewal which expressed itself throughout the Maritime Provinces. Saint Joseph College, the first Acadian post- secondary institution, was founded in Memramcook (New Brunswick) in 1864, and the Moniteur Acadien, the first French-language newspaper was published in Shediac (New Brunswick) in 1867. In the years that followed, other Acadian newspapers and colleges were founded, as well as several convents. It was during this period that Acadians gradu- ally began to enter politics, business and the professions. In 1880, the Acadian patriot, Pascal Poirier, described the awakening of the Acadians in the following manner:

If, until now, they have played an insignificant role in the political life of the country, it is because they were isolated and had no higher education what- soever; now that they have educational establishments, they can learn their history; now that they are getting to know themselves, they are rising from the lower ranks and advancing boldly toward the higher ones. (TR)!

The first three national conventions of the Acadians also took place during this period: in Memramcook (1881), Miscouche (1884) and Church Point (1890). These important conventions dealt with ways to promote the advancement of the Acadian people and the preservation of their culture.

On Prince Edward Island during these years a small, relatively well-educated Acadian governing class was developing under the strong influence of the Catholic clergy. The leaders of this new gener- ation no longer accepted that the Acadian people remain isolated and disadvantaged. Hence they took on the task of elevating Acadians to the same rank held by English-speaking Islanders in social, economic and political spheres. In 1870, an Acadian from Tignish writing in The Summerside Journal in French made a vibrant appeal to his compatriots for the revival of the Acadian “race”:

Sirs,—I have been considering for some time our position in relation to the other races on the Island and I note that we lag behind in many respects. As the oldest inhabitants of the Island, we do not occupy the position in society that we should. We have to borrow from others almost all our public figures.