It has been a long time coming, but Ottawa has officially recognized the deportation of the Acadians in 1755.

Heritage Minister Sheila Copps made the proclamation in Ottawa Wednesday as the federal government's acknowledgment on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.

Starting in 1755, the British seized the Acadians' land and expelled them from the Atlantic region.
Starting in 1755, the British seized the Acadians' land and expelled them from the Atlantic region.

Copps says the deportation should underline the belief of many Canadians that the majority should, in her words, "never, never, never trump the minority".

She added: "We are turning the page on one of the darkest moments of our collective history."

Through her mother, Copps is descended from one of the families forced to leave Grand Pré, N.S.

Several months ago, the Société Nationale des Acadiens petitioned Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to acknowledge what happened beginning in 1755.

After refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the British Crown, thousands of Acadians were forced to leave Atlantic Canada. Some went to France while most were scattered throughout the Americas, predominantly in Louisiana.

Buckingham Palace responded that the Queen would defer to the judgment of her ministers in Canada. That's when the federal cabinet endorsed the idea to acknowledge the deportation and to recognize July 28 as the anniversary of the deportation.

"I think this recognition, this proclamation is very important for our people," said Euclide Chiasson, head of the Société Nationale des Acadiens.

Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, who is visiting Saint John, N.B., this week, says she is pleased to be part of this historic acknowledgement.

"I'm very happy that I signed that proclamation. The Acadian community is an example of a community that has just burgeoned and bloomed and blossomed in the last two to three decades, which is astonishing, their literature, their art, everything."

New Brunswick's Lt.-Gov Herménégilde Chiasson says he hopes the proclamation will help some people put the past behind them.

"I know that for some people it is very important. As to me, I've always believed that the future is more important than the past, but I know that for some people it is important and in that sense, if it can help them turn the page and start onto something new, I think it's very valid."