“Which way Da’lene?”

Grande Pre’ Nova Scotia is the region settled in the late 17^th century by immigrants who named the region Acadia. The Acadians were farmers who applied technology to recover land from the sea. Thus their farms were prosperous, so they wanted to remain neutral during wars being fought between the Brits and the French over who should control the Acadians’ money. Just milk their cows and feed their chickens. Since they would not join the Brits in battle, the Brits expelled the Acadians from Nova Scotia, burning their homes and barns after eating all their bacon and eggs.

Expulsion beginning in 1755

As they were driven from their farms, they declared “Which way Da’lene?” “Go south, Beb, toward Carolina.” After many floundering days on the Atlantic, the Acadians arrived at the Carolina coast and declared “Which way Da’lene?” This was not the correct password, so the Acadians were denied access and returned to the seas. After many days they arrived at the coast of New Orleans. Upon arriving they declared “Who Dat?” Bam – the password was correct so they were permitted access into the system and raged into New Orleans and thrived on shrimp and crawfish for years. However, now that the Acadians were in the south, they became known as the Cajuns – Ragin’ Cajuns, that is. One day the Cajuns decided to move. “Which way Da’lene?” “Go to Tennessee, Beb.” So the Ragin’ Cajuns settled in Tennessee and prospered after learning key language phrases such as “shoot fire” “aw, hell” “maters” and “taters.”

"O Evangeline, why can't you be true? You done started back doin' the things you used to do."

After many years in Tennessee the Ragin’ Cajuns decided to leave the Volunteer state. “Which way Da’lene?” “Let’s go to Canada, Beb.” So off to Canada went the Ragin’ Cajuns. Where did they land? That’s right – Acadia. But now they were back in the north, so they became known as the Acadians – Ragian Acadians that is. Thus the history of North America’s most infamous Acadians.