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/

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

Newspaper article of the time references the declaration of war against the Cape Sable (Micmac) and St. John's (Malecite) Indians of Nova Scotia and what is now New Brunswick by Gov. William Shirley of Massachusetts Bay on October 19, 1744.

Reference: The Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Sun, Nov 1,
1744 · Page 3. Newspapers by Ancestry. Downloaded on Jan 9, 2025

Re-published by Association des Acadiens-Metis Souriquois on the https://www.acadiens-metis-souriquois.ca/ website with the express, written permission of Ancestry.com. Source: Newspapers.com by Ancestry.

See Also: Edward E. Ayer Digital Collection. Newberry Library.  "By His Excellency William Shirley Esquire captain general and governour in cheif in and over His Majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England." Ayer_MS_578_00001_o2. https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/nby_eeayer/id/36836