Acadian Redemption: From Beausoleil Broussard to the Queen’s Royal Proclamation.             For other reviews, consult BookReviews.

By Warren A. Perrin

 

Andrepont Publishing, L. L. C.  Opelousas, LA, 2005, 175 pp.  Flat Bound.  ISBN: 0-9704073-1-9. 

 

Beausoleil Broussard is the quintessential hero of Acadians and Cajuns.  Passing through the tiny town of Erath this past winter in the Cajun triangle area of Louisiana, my friend and this reviewer attempted to get into the Acadian Museum, which was closed.  We spoke French with the two bank tellers next door, but were still unable to gain entrance.  Peering inside the museum, I spotted Acadian Redemption.  The revolutionary face on its cover looked interesting, so I eventually wrote the publisher and received an examination copy. 

The first half of this book is devoted to the revolutionary figure Broussard, about whom little is actually known.  Indeed, there are no words of wisdom from him to quote.  The Acadians, as history goes, were given the choice of swearing allegiance to the Queen of England or leave their homes in Nova Scotia.  Acadia had switched hands from the French to the British at least eight times.  The latter were fearful that if war resumed with France, the Acadians would side with the French.  It is a sad story, one where whole families were forced to leave their farms and land they’d tamed and grown to love.  The Acadians had befriended the Mi’ Kmaq Indians, who became their allies and helped them survive.  They learned to build dykes and thus created many acres of the most fertile land in that part of Canada.  The British acquired those lands even though they did not have a legal basis for doing so.  Acadians were not French citizens, but rather British. 

The Grand Derangement, as the forced exile of Acadians (not all of them) is known, occurred from 1755 to 1763.  Thousands of Acadians died from disease and starvation during this forced trek.  What Beausoleil did was fight, as opposed to the passive acceptance of many of his compatriots, waging guerrilla warfare in an insurrection against the British in a number of skirmishes and minor battles.  The Mi’Kmaq had taught him, his brother, and other rebel Acadians vital battle tactics.  But Beausoleil would ultimately lose and find himself incarcerated until a deal was struck with the British enabling him to lead 193 Acadians to Louisiana. 

The second part of Acadian Redemption is the story of author Perrin’s petition to the Queen of England for an official apology, which eventually he obtains in the form of a Royal Proclamation.  Perrin is a lawyer and did not demand any financial compensation.  He notes the British had offered scholarships in an attempt to quiet his demands.  But he refused anything monetary and for this he should be given credit.  “National contrition teaches an important lesson to all and thus helps prevent future horrors,” he notes.  But does it?  Is it not an easy thing to say you’re sorry, especially when you personally had nothing at all to do with the wrong?  Interestingly and theoretically, Perrin notes that a Cajun visiting Nova Scotia prior to the Proclamation was actually committing a crime. 

 

Some of this book is tedious reading, especially the pages devoted to the author’s own genealogy.  Some of it is downright disappointing, especially the two pages devoted to praise of the author himself.  Much of the book reeks of patriotism and nationalism to the point of underscoring Einstein’s assertion:  “Nationalism is an infantile sickness.  It is the measles of the human race.”  Overall, however, Acadian Redemption, is quite informative and does include some interesting documents, maps and sketches.  Despite reservations, this reviewer recommends the book. 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                              —The Editor