MI'KMAQ FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS

MI'KMAQ FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS
Continuation; of, PORT- LA- JOYE- FORT AMHERST

The Mi'Kmaq moved seasonally and their territory stretched from Cape Breton Island to the Gaspe Peninsula, including Prince Edward Island, Nova-Scotia, and much of New-Brunswick, As friends and allies to the French, the Mi'kmaq helped the early settlers adjust to the harsh winters and to withstand British Attacks.
Under French influence, some Mi'kmaq established a permanent village at Malpeque ( Malpec ) on the north west coast of the Island.

Each year during the French regime, there was an annual gathering of the Mi'kmaq at Port la Joye, Leaders and Elders came from parts of what are now Nova-Scotia and New- Brunswick, as well as from the Island, to renew their alliance with the French,.
Part of the gathering included a gift exchange as the French officials recognized the help the Mi'kmaq were providing,

Today there is still a Mi'kamq community at Rocky Point, adjacent to Port-la-Joye-Fort Amherst. National Historic Site.

THE STRUGGLE FOR POSSESION
After the fall of Fortress of Louisbourg in June of 1745 by New-Englanders, they arrived to take possession of the Island,,, burning Trois Rivieres and Port la Joye.
Between 1745 and 1748 Isle Saint Jean was nominally under British rule. With the treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle, the Island was returned to French rule, and the next decade was a time of rebuilding.

During this time, Isle Saint Jean received many refugee Acadians from the mainland, increasing the Island's population to an estimated 4000. in 1758, the British took possession of Isle Saint Jean for the last time, and the British regime began.

FORT AMHERST
In 1758, Colonel Lord Andrew Rollo arrived at Port la Joye to issue terms of the take-over to the French Commandant.
A fort was erected on the same bluff as the former French capital and named Fort Amherst after Major General Lord Jeffery Amherst, commander of the British Forces in North America.
Following the British take over, Lord Rollo used part of his force of 500 to collect an estimated 3,500 Acadians and bring them to Port la Joye to be deported "Back" to France ( Many of these Acadians had never known France to be their home ) Some Acadian families, as in the past, received help from the native Mi'kmaq to escape the deportation. Others escaped the deportation by fleeing to the mainland, Many of the Acadians living on the Island today descend from those Acadians who fled but came back in the years that followed ( 1760 to 1790s )

TODAY,

Although the earthworks are the only visible reminder of the struggles of the past,
Port la Joye- Fort Amherst National Historic site remains a special place where one can feel the courageous and determined spirits of our ancestors.

May They All Rest In Peace.

PORT- la-JOYE- FORT AMHERST

Port-la - Joye-Fort Amherst, National Historic Site of Canada.
Designated a national historic site in 1967, Port- la - Joye--Fort Amherst
Is part of one of the largest systems of national parks and national historic sites in the world.

Located on route 19 near Rocky Point, Prince Edward Island,
Port-la Joye-Fort Amherst is a special place because of the important role the site played in the colonization and growth of Prince Edward Island

European settlement of Prince Edward Island, then called Isle Saint Jean, began in 1720 and was marked by the conflict between France and Great Britain, for control of North America, while Aboriginal occupation and use date back thousand of
Years.
Three cultures played a role at this site, French, British, and Mi'Kmaq, The conflicts and alliances set the stage for what Prince Edward Island was to become.

PORT-la-JOYE.

In August of 1720 three ships owned by the Compagnie de l'Isle Saint Jean and carrying 300 passenger, arrived at Isle Saint Jean. These travellers began the construction of one of the Island's first permanent European settlement at Port-la-Joye.
Immediately after, Michel Hache dit Gallant came from Beaubassin to Port la Joye with his family, becoming one of the first Acadian families to settle on Isle Saint Jean.
Officials of the Compagnie hoped the efforts of these and other settlers would produce a thriving agricultural community capable of supplying French centres such as Louisbourg.

Port la Joye's first inhabitants erected suitable structures to accomodate the garrison and civil authorities - such as a chapel, store-house, bakery, forge, powder magazine, barracks and the commandant's lodgings.
Michel Hache dit Gallant established himself between the French outpost and the creek flowing into the cove. That area developed as the core of the Port la Joye civilian community.
Remnants of a building were uncovered in an archaeological dig and the site is marked with an interpretive panel.

Along with settlers who arrived to colonize the Island, came fishermen to take part in the aready established lucrative fishing industry.
The fisherman continued along the North-East River, ( Today the Hillsborough Heritage River ) to Havre Saint Pierre, named after the patron saint of the founder of the Compagnie de l'Isle Saint Jean, the Compte de Saint Pierre, The North-East River became the main waterway connecting Port la Joye to Havre Saint Pierre, ( later known as Saint-Pierre-du-Nord)

To be continued.

LA GRANDE FAMILLE ACADIENNE SE REUNIT CET ETE!

Il ne reste maintenant que 80 jours avant la tenu du quatrieme congres mondial acadien (CMA), qui se deroule cette annee dans la Peninsule Acadienne, du 7 au 23 aout.
Des milliers d'acadiens disperses un peut partout dans le monde
Se rencontreront l'espace d'un moment pour faire revivre la grande famille acadienne et celebrer son histoire commune.
Le CMA, dont la mission est de developper des liens plus etroits entre les Acadiens de partout dans le monde, a lieu a tous les cinq ans.
L'idee meme d'un projet de cette envergure a pris form en 1988. Ce n'est toutefois que six ans plus tard qu'a lieu le tout premier rassemblement, celui de 1994, qui s'est tenu dans le Sud-Est dela province.
La Louisiane reprenait le flambeau en 1999, tandis que la Nouvelle-Ecosse presentait le troisieme CMA en 2004, Les congres Mondiaux sont des occasions de feter, bien sur, mais aussie de se reunir entre familles ( plus de 85 familles francophones ont deja confirme leur presence pour l'edition de cette annee), d'echanger des idees sur des sujets et interets communs de faire rayonner la culture acadienne ici et ailleurs
Si vous prevoyer visiter la region cet ete, prenez note de ces evenements-phares a ne pas manquer; les celebrations d'ouverture, le 7 aout, dans la region de Shippagan/Lameque/Miscou; le 15 aout, les celebrations de la fete national des Acadiens, soulignees de belle facon dans la grande region de Caraquet; et bien sur les ceremonies de cloture, le 23 aout, Tracadie-Sheila/ Neguac, En outre, du 16 au 22 aout, sur les terrains de l'ecole La Riviere de Pokemouche, vous pourre visiter <<>>, un regroupment d'espaces et de pavillons metant en valeur les familles acadienne les produits et les services illustrant l'innovation, la creativite et le savoire faire de l' Acadie et de la Francophonie.

Rappelons qu'il n'est pas necessaire d'etre une famille souche pour participer aux celebrations.
En fait, toutes les familles interessees par l'Acadie sont les bienvenues, Tout le monde sera sur la Peninsule cet ete, meme le president de la France, Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy, a ete invite
Il ne manque plus que vous pour gros les rangs de la grande famille acadienne 2009.
Pour plus d'information vous pouvez consulter le site internet officiel, www.cma2009.ca

WHOLE ACADIAN FAMILY COMING TOGETHER THIS SUMMER

There are only 80 days left until the fourth congres mondial acadien ( CMA- Acadian world congress ) which will take place on
The Acadian Peninsula, from Aug 7 to 23. Thousands of Acadians from around the world will come together in a family reunion like no other, to celebrate their common history.
The CMA is held every five years and its goal is to tighten the bond between Acadian world wide.
Despite coming to light in 1988, this idea didn't fully materialize until six years later, in 1994, when it was held in southeastern, NB.
Honours went to Louisiana for the 1999 celebrations and to Nova-Scotia for the third CMA in 2004, The congres, in addition to being a time of great festivities, is also a time for families to come together, ( more than 85 Francophone families have already indicated their participation for this year )
For the exchange of ideas and opinions on subjects of common interest, and for show-casing Acadian culture, both at home and abroad.
If you are planning to visit the region this summer, take note of these headline events;
The opening ceremonies on Aug, 7 in the Shippagan, Lameque, Miscou area; Celebrations surrounding the Fete nationale des Acadiens on Aug 15, given to great pomp in the greater Caraquet area; and of course, the closing ceremonies on Aug 23 in Tracadie-Sheila, Neguac, Otherwise, between Aug 16 and 22 you'll want to head up to the school grounds a l'ecole, La Riviere in Pokemouche for a visit to the Espace neuf; a collection of pavilions and open air space
highlighting Acadian family life, innovative products and services , and the renowned creative knack of Acadians and members of the wider Francophonie.
You don't have to have Acadian roots to take part in the festivities; indeed all families interested in Acadians, Acadian history and Acadia in general are most welcome.
Everyone will be on the Acadian Peninsula this summer, even French President Nicolas Sarkozy
has been invited, for more information visit the CMA's official website.
http://www.cma2009.ca

I will post it in French,