The purpose of this letter is to appeal for your help in supporting Warren Perrin, who presented to the British government, on January 4, 1990, a demand for recognition of the wrongs inflicted on the Acadian people at the time of the deportation of 1755. Mr. Perrin asks that England admit that the exile of the Acadians was a horrible evil for them, that they declare an end to the order of deportation and that they erect a monument to commemorate this tragedy.

An active promoter of Acadian culture and a defender of minorities, Mr. Perrin is at the forefront of numerous initiatives, one of which was the management of FrancoFête 1999, a phenomenal success which managed to draw millions of participants during the 1999 tercentennial celebrations of the founding of Louisiana. It was during this event that the second Congrès mondial acadien (CMA) took place, an event at which he also figured prominently. Recently, he has been honoured with five distinctions, one being the Ordre National du Mérite of the French government, as well as an honorary doctorate from Sainte-Anne University in Nova Scotia, Canada.

In his petition, Mr. Perrin holds that the deportation took place in times of peace and in violation of laws in force of that era. Based on current definitions, the exile of the Acadians is a violation of human rights. Therefore, the order of exile is still in force at this time because the Treaty of Paris excluded the Acadians from the terms of surrender. I believe, therefore, that this petition is very important and completely justified. You will find the details of this petition, as well as a profile on Mr. Perrin, on the Internet at www.acadianmuseum.com/petition.html.

There is no doubt that this event ranks among the great tragedies of the history of Canada. The Acadians were dragged from their lands and separated from their families. In exile, some met slavery or prison. Others, fleeing British authorities, lived hidden in the woods for years. A number of them perished.

In 1994, the first large meetings of descendants of former Acadia since the deportation were held at the Congrès mondial acadien. It was with great joy that the event took place, which, having reunited more than 100,000 cousins and friends from all over the world, was a return to roots as well as a step towards the future.

There was much to celebrate. Three hundred-and-ninety years after the founding of Acadia and more than 250 years after the deportation, Acadians today form communities that are more dynamic and vibrant than ever. Therefore, it is not with bitterness that we support Warren Perrin, but with the feeling that one of the pages of our history has not yet been turned.

The United Kingdom, often a leader in promoting human rights, figures among the great modern democracies. However, the deportation of the Acadians, orchestrated in times of peace, at a time which civil law in force should have prevented it, was a violation of human rights and remains in the collective memory of Acadians as an indelible stain.

It is with respect, but resolutely, that we make this request to Her Majesty the Queen to give the petition presented by Warren Perrin all the attention that it and he are due. As today is Acadia Day, my support for Mr. Perrin comes as founder and president of the first Congrès mondial acadian, as Member of the Order of Canada, and as well as an Acadian.

What a beautiful gift Her Majesty would be giving to the Acadian people in agreeing to the request of Mr. Perrin for the 250th anniversary of the deportation, in 2005 or during the celebrations of the third CMA, which will take place in 2004 in Nova Scotia, Canada.