I.

Introduction

Acadia (French Acadie), French colony in northeastern North America between 1604 and 1713. The origins of the name Acadia have been traced to Mi’kmaq words and to the Latin word arcadia (a rustic paradise). Although France initially defined Acadia as reaching from Pennsylvania to Cape Breton Island, in practice the colonized area was smaller. At most, a French sphere of influence encompassed the present-day Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, as well as parts of eastern Québec and northeastern Maine.

The French coexisted with the more numerous Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, and Passamaquoddy, who also occupied the territory. The British took over the French claim to Acadia, which they called Nova Scotia, in 1713, and from 1755 to 1762 they deported most of the Acadian settlers from the territory. Despite the deportation, the Acadians retained a strong sense of cultural identity, and they continue to represent a significant French-speaking minority in the Maritime provinces, particularly New Brunswick.