What does it mean to be a Maine Acadian? That question has many answers. Knowing the deportation story of French ancestors. Being Catholic. Living along the Canadian border. Passing on the ways of the Valley in work, stories, music, and dance. Potatoes and ployes.
Maine Acadians share beliefs and experiences tying them to a river, the land, their families, and to their common religion, languages, and history. The land borders the St. John River, flowing between the United States and Canada, and extends away from the river to the "back settlements." Here people speak Valley French, a mixture that includes old French, Quebecois, and English terms—sometimes mixed within a sentence.
Maine Acadians' French ancestors settled during the 1600s in what is now the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, and Maine. Saint Croix International Historic Site Both France and England claimed this territory. In 1755 the English government deported thousands of French neutrals from present-day Nova Scotia, then known as Acadia. Spurred by the Acadians' refusal to strengthen their pledge of allegiance to the British Crown, the authorities shipped most of them to British colonies. Some fled to Quebec. Others, today's Cajuns, sought a new start in Louisiana. John Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve The majority maintained their Acadian identity. During the 1780s Acadians settled Malecite homelands in the Saint John Valley, and here they were joined by settlers from the St. Lawrence River valley.
Vist other sites in Canada at: Parks Canada.
Maine Acadian culture is dynamic and evolving, though community traditions persist. For instance, yellow buckwheat pancakes called ployes may not be the daily staple they once were in many homes, but they endure—like potato farming and Valley French— as one of many symbols of life in the Saint John Valley. The Saint John Valley is not only "home" to residents, but also to family groups who moved over the years to Connecticut, Montana, and elsewhere.
The National Park Service aids local efforts at cultural conservation in the Saint John Valley as people come together to perpetuate Maine Acadian culture.
Many sites are open only during summer months. Check locally for visiting hours or the times of scheduled events. Chambers of commerce provide travel information for Fort Kent 800 SEE-FKME, Madawaska (207) 728-7000, and Van Buren (207) 868-5059.
The Acadian Landing Site on the banks of the St. John River in Madawaska commemorates the first Acadian settlers in the Saint John Valley. The site is part of the Tante Blanche museum complex, which includes artifact displays, a one-room schoolhouse, and a house built with square-sawn logs more than 100 years ago.
The Acadian Village in Van Buren consists of more than a dozen buildings in traditional styles including three square-hewn log houses (two with ships knees in the attic), a barn, and a schoolhouse. Artifacts are on display throughout the Village, where cultural events and changing exhibits are also presented.
The Acadian Archives/Archives Acadiennes houses materials about regional folklore, history, and folklife. It sponsors research projects and cultural events, and assists individuals and groups. The University of Maine at Fort Kent provides a home for the archives and offers a variety of courses in keeping with its bilingual and multi-cultural mission.
Several railroad-related sites are maintained by Valley historical societies. The Green Water Tank in Frenchville, where steam locomotives once replenished their water supplies, is adjacent to the Bangor & Aroostook caboose where the historical society displays artifacts and books. The Fort Kent Railroad Station houses the local historical society's museum about the Fish River and Bangor & Aroostook railroads. The railroad turnstile marks the end of the line in St. Francis, along Route 161.
The scenic environment of the St. John Valley is accessible year-round. A trail system, primarily for snowmobiles, connects communities on both sides of the international border. Public landings provide access to the St. John River and the Fish River chain of lakes, popular with salmon and trout anglers for generations. The Allagash Historical Society Museum on Route 16 displays historical logging tools which give the flavor of work in nearby woods, both by Maine Acadians and the area's Scots-Irish population
Notre-Dame-du-Mont Carmel, a former church in the village of Lille, is being restored as a setting for cultural performances and to interpret the influence of religion in the Valley. St. David Catholic Church in Madawaska marks the continuity of Catholic traditions in Valley life. Here, in 1871, local residents succeeded in having their first parish and priest on the Maine side of the river. Some Masses are held in French, as they are in several other active Valley churches.
The Pelletier-Marquis house is located on Maine Route 162 in St. Agatha. Visitors often use the local historical society's photo albums and other collections to explore family histories. Family reunions are held each year in the Valley, some associated with annual festivals. Additional resources related to genealogy include public libraries in Van Buren and Madawaska; historical society materials in Madawaska and Frenchville; the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes; and numerous local cemeteries. The Fort Kent Registry of Deeds provides information about land ownership and settlement patterns.
Fort Kent State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark, is a two-story cedar log blockhouse at the confluence of the Fish River and St. John River. The blockhouse, built after the Aroostook War of 1839, remains as evidence of the border dispute between the United States and Great Britain.
Interested in Valley French? Club Français and the group Save our French hold regular events. Several schools have bilingual programs that welcome volunteer help. Many businesses in the Valley conduct transactions in French, especially on Wednesdays, "French day."
Additional resources and sites are located across the St. John River in New Brunswick. For more information visit other Parks Canada sites.
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