Dr. Patrick Lacroix, director of the Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, as well as a number of invited scholars, will teach a special six-week course, titled Acadian History: From Colonization to Reinvention starting on March 3rd and meeting on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. until April 14, 2022 (except for March 17th). Class participants have a choice of attending the class in-person on the UMFK campus or via Zoom.
This course is of special interest to anyone who wants a better understanding of Acadian history. Topics in the course include the challenges faced by French settlers in present day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; the relationship between Acadians and the First Nations of the Northeast; the factors that led to the Acadian Deportation, the economic mobility that helped shape the St. John Valley; the distinct experiences of Acadians in Northern Maine, and the transformation of Acadian ideology from survival to affirmation.
“Acadians and French Canadians have left an indelible mark, culturally, economically, and politically, on the development of Eastern Canada and Maine,” states Lacroix, “But this story remains little known to the wider public and is often misunderstood. With the help of prominent historians, we’ll navigate that rich, complex history and confront well-entrenched myths.”
Students may take the course as a non-credit class or choose to earn one CEU – Continuing Education Unit for the class. This class will provide guidance and support for teachers who wish to include Acadian History in their curriculum. The class and the free class materials for students is presented by the UMFK Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes and made possible by a grant from the Maine Acadian Heritage Council.
Those interested in registering for the course and/or the CEU should go to https://www.umfk.edu/archives/acadian-history/ [link no longer active]. An opportunity to pay online for the course and a CEU is also located at the web address. The cost for the course is $25, and those interested in earning a CEU will be charged an additional $50 CEU fee.
For more information, contact the UMFK Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes at 207-824-7536.