Throughout his life, Beausoleil led Acadian resistance against British rule and aided hundreds of Acadians resettle abroad
August 15, 2023 Gatineau, Quebec Parks Canada
Born in Port-Royal, Nova Scotia, in 1702, Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil was a leader of the Acadian resistance and holds an important place in the collective memory of Acadian communities in both Louisiana and the Maritime provinces. National historic designations encourage us to acknowledge the full scope of our history, both the triumphs and the struggles that define the story of Canada, and help us reflect on how to build a more inclusive society for present and future generations.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation of Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil as a person of national historic significance under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration.
In the 17th and early 18th centuries, Mi'kma'ki, the traditional homeland of the Mi'kmaq, was claimed by both French and British colonial interests. Benefitting from close relations with the Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik, Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil conducted raids against British settlements, troops, and military posts, commanded a privateer, and avidly defended his Acadian compatriots, helping them to escape deportation and inspiring them to resist British rule.
Beausoleil refused to recognize the authority of the British Crown over Acadia. He refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the British Crown and comply with the restrictive conditions of resettlement imposed in Nova Scotia. Deeming these conditions to be unacceptable, Beausoleil chartered ships to Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), in December 1764, and the Mississippi River in February 1765 for Acadians to settle in these areas. Joseph Broussard dit Beausoleil decided to settle in Louisiana where he was appointed militia captain and commander of the Acadians in the Attackapas region in April 1765.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped Canada. Sharing these stories helps foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.
