A New Brunswick news release by the Canadian Press, dated February 17, 2025, carried the sad news: "Antonine Maillet, author and proud raconteur of the Acadian people, dead at 95."

Reading further, I came across the following statement about the author, and one of her most famous works: "Her play “La Sagouine,” first performed in 1971 with Viola Leger in the title role, was a massive success, helping to instil pride in Acadians and contribute to a cultural revival."

A quote from the author, dating back to 2010, revealed much about her tenacity as a writer and her commitment to authenticity: "... Maillet spoke about overcoming a “triple handicap” in literature: being a woman, Acadian, and of short stature. “Being short, that amuses me! But if I have one claim to fame, it’s that I took the Acadian language from oral tradition to the written word.”

A comment: The chapter, "On the Census," from La Sagouine is a must-read for anyone with Acadian lines or an interest in how Acadians came to be in North America.  I read "On the Census" when I was coming to terms with my own family roots as a family researcher and found the author's humorous, if not sardonic, treatment of the often delicate topic of Acadian "nationality," as portrayed by census takers of the time, a healing balm of a sort.

Maillet truly "hit the mark" when she observed:

Sources and references:

• Originally posted: https://dna-genealogy-history.com/travel-by-ancestry/antonine-maillet-famed-author-of-la-sagouine-has-passed-away-at-age-95-february-17-2025
  
• See news release: https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/new-brunswick/article/antonine-maillet-author-and-proud-raconteur-of-the-acadian-people-dead-at-95/

From the article: "The Acadian exhibit shows a cross section of a dike built to convert the salt marshes into rich farmland in the Bay of Fundy. The principle behind dike-making technology was quite simple: sections of marshland were walled off by the dikes in order to prevent tidal flooding. The dikes were usually built from sod, reinforced with logs or branches. Irrigation canals allowed rainwater to flow through sluices called aboiteaux, located at the base of the dikes, in order to drain the marsh. The sluices were made from hollowed logs or planks. A valve located at the ocean end of the sluice closed when the tide was high, preventing the sea water from entering the reclaimed marshland. Rain gradually leached the salt from the land, creating a fertile plain where farmers could cultivate crops such as wheat and flax." 

Click here to read the rest:  

Source: Canada Hall: "Early Acadia." Canadian Museum of History (Archived Content). https://www.warmuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/canp1/ca05eng.html?sfnsn=mo

Announcement: Pilon, M-C. (2025, January 29). "Rigaud: death of town councillor Archie Martin: A proud representative of the First Nations, former Rigaud District 2 municipal councillor Archie Martin passed away this morning, Monday, January 27. After many years of service to the citizens of his adopted community, the septuagenarian suffered health problems that kept him away from municipal politics in recent months." neomedia. https://www.neomedia.com/vaudreuil-soulanges/actualites/my-english-news/631173/rigaud-death-of-town-councillor-archie-martin

Stories and photos we've shared about our good friend Archie Martin may be found on the AAMS blog site:

• https://www.acadiens-metis-souriquois.ca/aams-blog/news-and-reflections-archie-martin-storytelling-to-reconcile-july-28-2021
• https://www.acadiens-metis-souriquois.ca/aams-blog/news-and-reflections-from-the-aams-mailbox-the-metis-who-are-we-by-archie-martin-march-25-2009
• https://www.acadiens-metis-souriquois.ca/uploads/3/4/5/0/34506400/metis_who_we_are.pdf

One of Archie Martin's more recent YouTubes about his heritage and culture may be found here:  https://youtu.be/L6V1_RCX2Jc