When the French arrived at the St. Lawrence River in 1604 they named the area south of the Gulf of St Lawrence Acadia. Before being finally ceded to England, Acadia changed hands 11 times. During the first 40 years of English rule (1713-1755), the Acadians remained prosperous and their population grew. Original settlements extended from Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia to the Petitcodiac River Basin in New Brunswick. They developed their own culture and no longer considered themselves purely French. The final struggle for North America began in 1754 with the English in control of Acadia.

The Acadians were French and Roman Catholic. The British feared that their priests would persuade the Acadians and Micmac to enter the war. When a few Acadians were seen fighting with the French, the British lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia quickly required the Acadians to sign an Oath of Allegiance to the King. Those who refused to sign were quickly deported. With the conclusion of hostilities in 1763, the Acadians were free to return home. But those who did found they could not settle together in large groups and their land was now occupied by people brought over by the English. They gradually settled along the various remote coastal regions of the province.

Many Acadians settled in French Canada, just west of Acadia (now Nova Scotia), and were assimilated into the French-Canadian culture. After generations of inter-marriage with other nationalities, there are still a large number of people who consider themselves to be Acadian. The largest number of these people are found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Prince Edward Island and in Louisiana. The Acadian flag is based on the French tri-color representing the origins of the Acadians. The yellow star is symbolic of the Acadian patron saint, the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption. Acadians chose their patron saint in 1881, confirmed by decree by Pope Pius XI on January 19, 1938.The Acadian Flag is flown with respect wherever descendants of these brave families live or gather for their Reunions. It flys proudly, along with the Provincial Flag and the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag.

Flag Measures 36 in x 60 in and is 100% polyester with grommets for easy flying.