time they cleared and worked the land and established homes, families, parishes, communities, alongside the Mi'kmaq. They created a Iife for themselves in this new world and they did so believing in better things to come.

We, the people of Prince Edward lsland, can never forget how the deportation affected thousands ot our own, thousands. We must never forget how it destroyed families and effectiver wiped entire communities off the map. One can only imagine how this forced expulsion permeated the collective consciousness

ot the Acadian people. But from suffering cornes resilience and strength of character. And from adversity, values Iike courage and perseverance take root.

Aujourd’hui et tout au long de l’année, nous commémorons le 2509 anniversaire de la déportation des Acadiens etAcadiennes de I’Î/e. Cependant, nous célébrons également la vitalité de la communauté acadienne et francophone, sa culture et son patrimoine.

Today and throughout the year, we will be commemorating the 250m anniversary of the Deportation of lsland Acadians. But we'll also be celebrating the vitality of the Acadian and Francophone community, its culture and heritage.

Madame la Présidente, nous ne pouvons répéter assez souvent que la communauté acadienne et francophone fait partie intégrante du tissu social de notre province.

Madam Speaker, it cannot be said enough that the Acadian and Francophone community is an integral part of the social fabric ol our province.

Nos ancêtres — peu importe leurs origines ou leur langue — représentent les nombreux fils qui, une fois tissés ensemble, ont formé un tissu social don’t nous pouvons être fiers.

Our ancestors - whatever their origin or language may be - represent the many threads that once woven together, create this social fabric ol which we can proud.

Aujourd'hui, la communauté acadienne

et francophone se trouve principalement dans six régions, d’un bout a l’autre de l'Î/e: Prince-Ouest, Évangoline, Summerside, Rustico, le Grand Charlottetown et Kings- Est.

Today, the Acadian and Francophone

2008

community can be found mainly in six regions, from one end ofthe lsland to the other: West Prince, Evangeline, Summerside, Rustico, Greater Charlottetown and Eastern Kings.

lndividuals who have French as a first language represent close t0 5% of the population and almost a quarter ofthe entire lsland population is of Acadian descent. 0ur province, as a whole, has embraced the French language with 40% of our schools offering French immersion programs. In fact, PEl can boast of having the third most bilingual population in

the country. That is the social fabric we celebrate.

Ireferenced earlierthe Acadian culture and heritage. lt would be remiss of me ifl didn't acknowledge the Acadian Museum in Miscouche. The museum plays a leadership role in preserving and proudly displaying the history of lsland Acadians. The Acadian Museum was first opened in 1964. The original building made way for a brand new construction that was officially opened

in April 1992. The museum embraces its mission: t0 acquire, preserve, study, and interpret artifacts relating to the Island’s Acadian heritage from 1720 to the present.

The museum's popularity as well as its collection have grown overthe years, along with its involvement in fostering pride in the Acadian culture and heritage. The museum does more than catalogue artifacts and put on exhibits. Among other events, it routiner hosts public lectures that generate significant interest. The museum truly lives up to its objectives of raising awareness of the Acadian culture and heritage among Islanders. ln doing so, it also plays a notable role in not only the survival but the full development and enhancement of the Acadian and Francophone community of PEI.

For all those interested in learning more about their Acadian ancestry, the museum's genealogy centre contains a wealth of information on Acadian familles. The museum's permanent collection features six major paintings by artist Claude Picard that depict the adoption of the Acadian national symbols.

lt was actually in Miscouche that the second Acadian National Convention was held in 1884. Delegates lrom across the Maritimes attended. ltwas during this

LA PETITE SOUVENANCE

historic conference, right here on PEI, that the Acadian national symbols were chosen: the Acadian flag, anthem, emblem and motto.

Cette année, de juin à décembre, le Musée acadien présentera une exposition commémorant le 250e anniversaire de la déportation des Acadiens etAcadiennes de /’Î/e. L’exposition mettra en vedette

des costumes et des cartes historiques. L’une des cartes historiques affichera les peuplements acadiens selon les données du recensement de I752, le dernier recensement avant la Déportation.

This year, from June to December, the Acadian Museum will present an exhibit commemorating the 250‘h anniversary ofthe Deportation of lsland Acadians. This exhibit will include historical costumes and maps, one of which will feature the location of Acadian settlements on the lsland based on the 1752 census. This was the Iast census on record, priorto the Deportation.

L’exposition mettra également en vedette des artefacts datant du dix-huitième siec/e, des peuplements de Port La Joye et de Havre Saint-Pierre. Georges Arsenault qui est avec nous aujourd’hui, un historien insulaire bien connu et Lucie Bellemare, une artiste locale, ont contribué leurs talents et leurs expertises a l’élaboration de l’exposition.

The exhibit will also feature artifacts of the eighteenth century from the Port La Joye and Havre Saint-Pierre settlements. Georges Arsenault a well known lsland historien who is with us here today and Lucie Bellemare, a local artist, have contributed their talents and expertise t0 the development of the exhibit.

Another example of an institution that takes history and héritage very seriously is the Farmer's Bank located in Rustico, within my own riding. While the Evangeline region is sometimes referred to as the heart of

the Acadian and Francophone community, Rustico can be considered the cradle of l'Acadie on PEI.

Rustico was one of the first Acadian communities established after the Treaty

of Paris, in 1763, when Acadiens started trickling back to the lsland. ln tact,

Rustico is the oldestAcadian communin continuously inhabited by Acadiens on Prince Edwardlsland.Accordingtothe1798

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