The first settlers to come to this region, the French Acadians settled on the banks of the St. John River near today's Madawaska. To best experience the full impact of this culture on the region we invite you to attend the annual Acadian Festival.

"Maine Acadians possess a strong sense of who they are. They express what it means to be a Maine Acadian in diverse ways, depending on the situation and whether they are acting as individuals, families, communities, organizations, or in other groups. Contemporary Maine Acadians use at least three terms to name their ethnicity. "French" is widely used for self-identification and to differentiate themselves from other cultural groups… "Acadian" appears to hold the greatest meaning and to be used most frequently by cultural activists, including prominent lineal descendants of the first Acadian settlers in the Valley. Some Maine Acadians refer to themselves as "Franco-American." This term, however, is more frequently used in reference to Americans of other French or French-Canadian descent in Maine and New England."

"As understood by Maine Acadians, the characteristic features of Maine Acadian cultural identity are rooted in the shared values, ideas, and practices passed on from one generation to the next. Maine Acadians have historically used the French language to transmit cultural knowledge, particularly oral traditions. Today, French is learned as a first or second language throughout the Valley. "Valley French" is principally spoken rather than written." Click here to learn more about the Acadian Culture.