Hants County couple lauded as true Friends of Archaeology

By Christy Marsters

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

One Hants County couple was recognized recently with a 2009 Friends of Archaeology Award for efforts to promote and protect significant Acadian sites on their land.

The Nova Scotia Archaeology Society had presented owners Joanne and David Shaw of Oakridge Farm in Poplar Grove with the award Aug. 18 while 15 members of the Thibodeau family gathered at the Shaw family residence to see the recipients and to view an archaeological area directly tied to their Acadian ancestry.

Darryl Kelman, President of the Nova Scotia Archaeology Society, said the Shaw land had been connected to at least two Acadian villages (Village LeBlanc and Village Thibodeau), which existed prior to the deportation of Acadians within this province.

The fact these sites are located on this property and that the Shaw family allow archaeologists to do research on it is great, Kelman said. “However, they also open their land up for descendants of people here to see and they’re quite happy to open it (their property and home) and let people have a look. It puts their effort at a whole other level.”

Signed a stewardship agreement

The Shaws were also acknowledged through this award for being first in the province to sign a stewardship agreement with the Archaeological Land Trust of Nova Scotia. It ensures the area’s agricultural and archaeological values will be kept safe. “It is important for the Society because we like to see archaeology sites protected,” Kelman added. “Yet I think it’s just as important that people have a sense of not just where they come from, but where they live as well. It helps to shape a community.”

Linda Thibodeau, who resides in Halifax, was one of many from across North America to stop into the Shaw family farm. On Aug. 18, she came for a fourth visit since 2004. “To come back and see where ancestors came from means everything,” Thibodeau said. “Money cannot buy this. It’s important that we know who we are; this is special. “I never knew how close we were to this land before. A big thank-you to the Shaws for opening all this to us,” Thibodeau added. “I think they are such fantastic people.”

Artifacts found

Joanne Shaw said about 10 pages of people (signed in a guestbook) have come to the farm to visit since the Acadian Congress was held in Nova Scotia in 2004. “I was shocked at first,” she said. “We had about 100 people here during the Congress. There were tears, there were laughs and lots of excitement. They couldn’t believe we would open a house to them. “And we told them we would invite them back,” Joanne noted, “because it is really exciting for them to walk on the same land their ancestors walked on.”

There have been a few artifacts found on the land (musket balls, thimbles and coins) as well, and they have been given to those Acadians when they visit, Joanne added. “We will often give them away because they really mean something to these people.”

David Shaw said he would give an artifact away because the pieces of history mean more to Acadian descendants than to him. “However, we plan to keep the farm forever and for it to remain as is. “Our other option, I suppose, would be to develop it, but this is primary cultural land plus what we have here is sort of different and the history of the land was something I was always brought up with.”