picture credit: http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/gazrr/gazrr180.htm
The People of New Brunswick
- We have been learning about the people who live in the province of New Brunswick and as we learn we have taken a glimpse into our rich past to see how various cultures have come to call New Brunswick their home.
We have been adding to our travel books with this new information. We have been learning many research techniques such as visual literacy, reading pictures and exploring artifacts, as well as highlighting and taking key information from books and web sites. We have also been practicing how to make jot notes and then make them into sentences that are in our own words.
Below you will find some interesting web sites, videos and photos that will help you learn more about the people of New Brunswick also. These groups of people have made us what we are today!
First Nations
There are more than 10 000 First Nation people in New Brunswick, mostly Mi'kmaq and Maliseet. Indigenous peoples have been present in the area since about 7000 BC. Although these tribes did not leave a written record, their language is present in many place names, such as Aroostook, Bouctouche, Petitcodiac, Quispamsis, and Shediac.
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Acadians
Established by the French at Port-Royal (today Annapolis Royal), Acadia developed on the territory of today's Nova Scotia by Samuel de Champlain in 1605. Choosing a neutral position with regard to the ongoing wars between France and England, the little colony saw itself alternately subjected to one or the other of these European powers, until the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, gave it up to the English.
The relative period of peace that followed, saw Acadia prosper and expand, creating villages in the Mines Basin and as far as Southeastern New Brunswick. But in 1755, the little community was dismembered by a decree of the British authorities, confiscating (taking claim) the occupants' possessions and condemning them to deportation.
Outlawed and driven out of the province, the Acadians were forced to live in secret. They remained silent for long years; but then, timidly at first, and more and more openly, they made themselves a place to live on the ruins of ancient Acadia. Their original lands no longer belonged to them, but they spread out in corners overlooked by the new masters and little by little recreated a living Acadia, which has no official status, but proclaims its existence in an even more determined voice. By 1770, the Acadian people began to re- establish themselves in New Brunswick.
This resettlement period is what the Acadian Village has recreated. "Within the realm of what was possible, what we chose to illustrate was the sparse life of those difficult times. This very condition seemed like a motive for pride, since it bears witness to the courage and perseverance our ancestors had to muster in order to maintain, despite the hardships of their fate, their identity, their language and their customs."
Information credit to http://www.villagehistoriqueacadien.com/acadie_en.cfm
The relative period of peace that followed, saw Acadia prosper and expand, creating villages in the Mines Basin and as far as Southeastern New Brunswick. But in 1755, the little community was dismembered by a decree of the British authorities, confiscating (taking claim) the occupants' possessions and condemning them to deportation.
Outlawed and driven out of the province, the Acadians were forced to live in secret. They remained silent for long years; but then, timidly at first, and more and more openly, they made themselves a place to live on the ruins of ancient Acadia. Their original lands no longer belonged to them, but they spread out in corners overlooked by the new masters and little by little recreated a living Acadia, which has no official status, but proclaims its existence in an even more determined voice. By 1770, the Acadian people began to re- establish themselves in New Brunswick.
This resettlement period is what the Acadian Village has recreated. "Within the realm of what was possible, what we chose to illustrate was the sparse life of those difficult times. This very condition seemed like a motive for pride, since it bears witness to the courage and perseverance our ancestors had to muster in order to maintain, despite the hardships of their fate, their identity, their language and their customs."
Information credit to http://www.villagehistoriqueacadien.com/acadie_en.cfm
Loyalists
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, that began as a conflict between Great Britain and its Thirteen Colonies, which declared independence as the United States.
In 1783, when the American War of Independence started, many Loyalists who considered themselves to be American and British, felt "loyal" to the British government. Due to their alliance to King George III and would not fight for the American side of the war, they had to flee America and leave immediately to survive. They boarded ships, taking what belongings they could and arrived on the banks of Saint John, which was known as Nova Scotia (New Brunswick was named in 1784.) The tiny community grew into to two bustling towns know as Parrtown and Carleton, which eventually incorporated to the city of Saint John, the first city in Canada. Information was taken from: Loyalist Settlements in New Brunswick, an article written by Linda Hansen Squires.
In 1783, when the American War of Independence started, many Loyalists who considered themselves to be American and British, felt "loyal" to the British government. Due to their alliance to King George III and would not fight for the American side of the war, they had to flee America and leave immediately to survive. They boarded ships, taking what belongings they could and arrived on the banks of Saint John, which was known as Nova Scotia (New Brunswick was named in 1784.) The tiny community grew into to two bustling towns know as Parrtown and Carleton, which eventually incorporated to the city of Saint John, the first city in Canada. Information was taken from: Loyalist Settlements in New Brunswick, an article written by Linda Hansen Squires.
Loyalists arriving in Saint John, NB
Photo credit; http://www.uelac-nb.ca/Saint%20John%20225%20Conference/Hilton%20Reservation.htm |
Loyalist Burial Grounds in Saint John, NB Photo credit; https://lavenderbay.wordpress.com/tag/saint-john-new-brunswick/
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Irish
The port of Saint John became a major point of immigration during the century following the founding of the city. By 1847, over 15 000 Irish immigrants arrived in Saint John. Many of these people where famine stricken, diseased and of the peasant class. Interesting to note that the Irish immigrants wanted to name the new British North American province, New Ireland. There were three waves of Irish immigrants; before 1828, the second around 1828, during and immediately and following the Irish potato famines in 1840.The first group were mostly Protestant Irish and brought money with them allowing them to buy property.
The second group of Irish immigrants caused a great deal of upset to the way social and economic status was already established in New Brunswick, especially in the city of Saint John. Many were semi-skilled, skilled and white collar labor, such as grocers and teachers. The third group that flooded New Brunswick were arriving due to the potato famine. Many of the port areas were overwhelmed with what to do with all of the people. Sailing to Saint John was very much less expensive than sailing to Boston and New York. Many of the Irish immigrants were sick and many souls (1196) were lost on Partridge Island, which was used as a quarantine station in Canada. The first hospital built on the island was built in 1830. During the famine, some 30 000 immigrants were processes by the island's visiting and resident physicians. Information taken from wikipedia.org
The second group of Irish immigrants caused a great deal of upset to the way social and economic status was already established in New Brunswick, especially in the city of Saint John. Many were semi-skilled, skilled and white collar labor, such as grocers and teachers. The third group that flooded New Brunswick were arriving due to the potato famine. Many of the port areas were overwhelmed with what to do with all of the people. Sailing to Saint John was very much less expensive than sailing to Boston and New York. Many of the Irish immigrants were sick and many souls (1196) were lost on Partridge Island, which was used as a quarantine station in Canada. The first hospital built on the island was built in 1830. During the famine, some 30 000 immigrants were processes by the island's visiting and resident physicians. Information taken from wikipedia.org
To learn more about Partridge Island; simply click on the words!
The Irish Potato Famine occurred between 1845 and 1852. It caused mass starvation, disease and emigration. During this time, a million people died and over a million emigrated out of Ireland. Click on the potato to read more!