Brayon
Encyclopedia
Brayons are a francophone
people inhabiting the area in and around Edmundston, New Brunswick
, Canada
. In French, they are called or feminine , and both terms are also used as adjectives, as in Brayon culture, or .) Given their location in New Brunswick, a Canadian Maritime province
, they are considered by many to be Acadians; however most residents relate more to Quebec and the majority have strong roots and ancestral ties to Quebec as compared to Acadia, considering that at one point the Madawaska region was considered part of Quebec.
The Brayons view themselves as neither Acadian nor Québécois, affirming that they are a distinctive culture with a history and heritage linked to farming and forestry
in the Madawaska
area, unlike both the primarily maritime heritage of the modern Acadians and the St. Lawrence Valley history of the Québécois.
is largely disputed, as unlike Acadian French
, for example, Brayon does not possess its own words or definition. The primary difference consists in a simple denotation of certain words due to their pronunciation. In French language, it is a generally found denotation as many words, such as masculine and feminine adjective endings, or the past tenses of some verbs, are homophone. However, both Brayon and Acadian are dialects not complete languages in their own right.
One basic distinctive trait of Brayon, however, is made in words such as tache ("stain") and tâche ("task"), where the "a" tends to resemble an open back unrounded vowel ɑ, notwithstanding of the circumflex. This in turn highlights the difference of pronouncing "a" in a (3rd singular of the verb avoir, "to have") and à (pronoun "at"), already strong in Quebec French, as compared to international French. The same rule also applies to /ɛ/ in maigre ("skinny") and vinaigre ("vinegar"), which transforms into /ɛː/, as in fête ("feast").
, does not mean much to the people who live in that area, hence the commonalities and close relationship between Brayons and Quebecois and parts of northern Maine; likewise, Brayon French is not completely restricted to Madawaska County.
This view of uniqueness led (at least jokingly) to the founding of the République du Madawaska
during the Aroostook War
, wherein some Brayons, disgusted with the actions of both British
and American
interlopers on their historical lands, declared themselves allied with neither, and independent. Of course, the “république” was never formally recognized and was ultimately split by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
into American and Canadian parts.
The honorary Président de la République (President of the Republic) is the sitting Mayor of Edmundston, there is the Republic Provincial Park and there is a small Musée de la République (Museum of the Republic) in Edmundston dedicated to Brayon history. The heritage of les Brayons is celebrated annually in the Foire Brayonne
, a music and cultural festival.
in northwestern France
(Seine-Maritime
and Oise
départements).
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
people inhabiting the area in and around Edmundston, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In French, they are called or feminine , and both terms are also used as adjectives, as in Brayon culture, or .) Given their location in New Brunswick, a Canadian Maritime province
Maritime province
Maritime province may refer to:*Maritimes, a region of Canada on the Atlantic coast*Maritime Province, another name for Primorsky Krai, Russia, sometimes used in English language texts...
, they are considered by many to be Acadians; however most residents relate more to Quebec and the majority have strong roots and ancestral ties to Quebec as compared to Acadia, considering that at one point the Madawaska region was considered part of Quebec.
The Brayons view themselves as neither Acadian nor Québécois, affirming that they are a distinctive culture with a history and heritage linked to farming and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
in the Madawaska
Madawaska
Madawaska may refer to several places:in Canada*Madawaska County, New Brunswick, Canada*The Republic of Madawaska*Madawaska River *Madawaska River , in Quebec and New Brunswick*Madawaska, Ontario*Madawaska Valley, Ontario...
area, unlike both the primarily maritime heritage of the modern Acadians and the St. Lawrence Valley history of the Québécois.
Dialect
Classification of Brayon as a dialect within Quebec FrenchQuebec French
Quebec French , or Québécois French, is the predominant variety of the French language in Canada, in its formal and informal registers. Quebec French is used in everyday communication, as well as in education, the media, and government....
is largely disputed, as unlike Acadian French
Acadian French
Acadian French , is a regionalized dialect of Canadian French. It is spoken by the francophone population of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by small minorities in areas in the Gaspé region of eastern Quebec, by small groups of francophones in Prince Edward Island, in several tiny pockets...
, for example, Brayon does not possess its own words or definition. The primary difference consists in a simple denotation of certain words due to their pronunciation. In French language, it is a generally found denotation as many words, such as masculine and feminine adjective endings, or the past tenses of some verbs, are homophone. However, both Brayon and Acadian are dialects not complete languages in their own right.
One basic distinctive trait of Brayon, however, is made in words such as tache ("stain") and tâche ("task"), where the "a" tends to resemble an open back unrounded vowel ɑ, notwithstanding of the circumflex. This in turn highlights the difference of pronouncing "a" in a (3rd singular of the verb avoir, "to have") and à (pronoun "at"), already strong in Quebec French, as compared to international French. The same rule also applies to /ɛ/ in maigre ("skinny") and vinaigre ("vinegar"), which transforms into /ɛː/, as in fête ("feast").
Boundaries
The border between New Brunswick and Quebec, and to some extent MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, does not mean much to the people who live in that area, hence the commonalities and close relationship between Brayons and Quebecois and parts of northern Maine; likewise, Brayon French is not completely restricted to Madawaska County.
This view of uniqueness led (at least jokingly) to the founding of the République du Madawaska
Republic of Madawaska
The Republic of Madawaska was a small, unrecognized state in the northwest corner of Madawaska County, New Brunswick and adjacent areas of Aroostook County in the American state of Maine and of Quebec. The word "Madawaska" comes from the Mi'kmaq words madawas and kak...
during the Aroostook War
Aroostook War
The Aroostook War was an undeclared nonviolent confrontation in 1838/1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America and Maine. The compromise resolution win a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of...
, wherein some Brayons, disgusted with the actions of both British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
interlopers on their historical lands, declared themselves allied with neither, and independent. Of course, the “république” was never formally recognized and was ultimately split by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty, signed August 9, 1842, was a treaty resolving several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies...
into American and Canadian parts.
Cultural echoes
The spirit of the République du Madawaska lives on at least in the hearts and minds of local residents. The république has its own flag (designed in 1938), which flies in and around Edmundston.The honorary Président de la République (President of the Republic) is the sitting Mayor of Edmundston, there is the Republic Provincial Park and there is a small Musée de la République (Museum of the Republic) in Edmundston dedicated to Brayon history. The heritage of les Brayons is celebrated annually in the Foire Brayonne
Foire Brayonne
The Foire Brayonne is a music and cultural festival held each summer in Edmundston, New Brunswick since 1979. The Foire is often considered the biggest French festival held in Canada outside the province of Quebec. Next year's festival will be held at the end of July of 2011-History:The first...
, a music and cultural festival.
Other uses
Brayon(ne) is also the name of the inhabitants of the Pays de BrayPays de Bray
The Pays de Bray is a small natural region of France situated to the north-east of Rouen, straddling the French départements of the Seine-Maritime and Oise...
in northwestern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime is a French department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It is situated on the northern coast of France, at the mouth of the Seine, and includes the cities of Rouen and Le Havre...
and Oise
Oise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
départements).