The ACCESS-BoFEP 2026 Conference program is available here
Abstract
Set against the backdrop of competing imperial ambitions, the saga of the people of Acadie unfolds through a series of acts that evoke themes of resilience, fellowship, and survival. Just as the arrival of French settlers forever changed the Bay of Fundy’s cultural landscapes, so did the expulsion of their descendants, the Acadians. The Acadian people’s transnational migrations have led to the emergency of a diaspora—a group of individuals scattered across space who no longer inhabit their homeland. The Acadians left behind an extensive dykeland system; today, the multifunctional system is highly vulnerable to the coastal impacts of climate change. The purpose of this study is so examine whether Acadians living in Acadie, the “homeland,” and Acadia diasporans value the landforms of the Bay of Fundy’s dykeland system, and if so, whether they see themselves as stakeholders in managed dyke realignment (MDR) decisions. We surveyed (n = 56) and interviewed (n = 17) Acadians during the 2024 Congrès Mondial Acadien (CMA) at the Grand Pré National Historic Site and at the CMA’s expo in Yarmouth. Respondents described Acadian identity as multidimensional, valued different landforms of the Bay of Fundy’s dykeland system to derive the same benefit, and held different positions on whether they should view themselves as stakeholders in MDR. We find that Acadian identity is a key driver of perceived stakeholdership and that the benefits Acadians gain from the sykeland system come in landscape-driven bundles, regardless of their primary residence location or preferred language.
Citation
Legault, A., Galang, E. I. N. E., & Sherren, K. (2026). Understanding equitable decisions in the Bay of Fundy’s dyked landscapes: Interpreting the voices of the Acadian diaspora. ACCESS/BoFEP Conference, Sackville, New Brunswick, 19-22 May 2026.
Related Blog Post
Belen, A., Emery Webster, A., Keast, E., Legault, A., Margeson, K., Martinez Calderon, D., & Toze, S. (2026, June 25). “Connecting Communities to Ocean Science”: ACCESS-BoFEP Conference, 19-22 May 2026. EIUI Blog. https://eiui.ca/connecting-communities-to-ocean-science-the-access-bofep-conference-19-22-may-2026/