Commemoration

Port-Royal Journal 40

Erasing the geography

Parks Canada’s Melanson Settlement National Historic Site commemorates the existence and history of Melanson Village. This community existed from the mid-1600s until its destruction by the British during the Deportation. Important information about the daily life of Acadians has been discovered at this location by archaeologists.

Acadians called the area Pointe-aux-Chesnes, or Oak Point. The marsh that the Melanson and the Guilbeaux families dyked was called the Saint-Charles Marsh.

Map: “Plan du Port Royal dans l'Acadie”, Jacques Nicholas Bellin, 1764

When the English conquered Acadia they burnt the houses and deported the people. They also changed the names of most places. So Acadie became Nova Scotia. Port-Royal became Annapolis Royal. Saint-Charles Marsh became Queen Anne Marsh. Village Melanson and its inhabitants disappeared.

The geography of Acadie was erased.

But, of course, Europeans also did this with the Mi’kmaq place names. The area around the French Habitation at Port-Royal was called Nme’juaqnek – the place of bountiful fish. Remembering the names that people give to places is another way to celebrate their lives and not forget.

The Port Royal Journal is a series dedicated to revealing the stories of everyday life in the community.

Story maps depicting Acadian settlement and history in Annapolis County may be found at Mapannapolis.ca here, here, here, and here.