Louisiana

There has been some question as to whether the word, “apology” should be used in connection with the royal proclamation issued by the British government concerning the expulsion of the Acadians from what is now known as Nova Scotia, then called Acadie.

Although the proclamation does not contain the word “apology,” one must consider not the letter, but the spirit of the proclamation. The document’s language is clearly very remorseful, particularly these words by the Queen:

“Whereas on 28 July, 1755, the Crown, in the course of administering the affairs of the British colony of Nova Scotia, made the decision to deport the Acadian people …”

It alsoacknowledges the Great Upheaval “had tragic consequences, including the deaths of many thousands of Acadians – from disease, in shipwrecks, in their places of refuge and in prison camps …”

My “Petition for an Apology for the Acadian Deportation” requested: 1) restoration of the status of “French neutrals;” 2) an inquiry into the deportation; 3) officially ending the Acadian exile by a declaration annulling the order of deportation;” 4) an acknowledgment that tragedies occurred which were contrary to existing law and 5) a symbolic gesture to memorialize the “end of the exile.”

When first contacted. the British, through their Houston attorney, offered a settlement: They would pay $1 million to fund an endowed professorship at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. It was rejected, because they attached a condition that the deal would remain confidential.

However, they did indeed acknowledge the historical misdeed.

Importantly, the proclamation declared closed the century-long debate over whether the Deportation was “justified.” Tellingly, no one now argues that the instance of ethnic cleansing was “unfortunate but necessary,” as British defenders had argued for centuries. The salient point: The Acadians were vindicated.

The proclamation’s expression of regret completely satisfied one of my primary demands. It also included something significant: The Queen established July 28 as an annual Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval.

Our negotiations did not achieve all of my demands. But the best solutions are often the ones in which both sides make concessions.

With the critical help of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, the terms of the petition were finally approved by Adrian Clarkson, the governor general of Canada – the Queen’s representative. This occurred with give and take by all parties, and I am proud of the results, as can be all descendants of the Acadian exiles.

— Warren Perrin is a Lafayette attorney, curator of the Acadian Museum in Erath and the former president of CODOFIL.