News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister John Ames is calling on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to give a more accurate and inclusive portrayal of Canada’s history in its miniseries, The Story of Us.

“I understand it was an ambitious project to condense into 10 episodes,” said Ames. “However, there are substantial and serious omissions relating to indigenous peoples’ history, Acadians, and the first French settlement at Saint Croix Island that need to be addressed. An update of the CBC website with a fuller and more accurate account would be a positive first step to rectifying this situation.”

The first episode of the miniseries upset some people who said it excluded indigenous people, the French exploration and Acadian settlement of what is now New Brunswick and the other Maritime provinces, and the historical impact of the expulsion of the Acadians.

“The omission of these significant historical facts and events fundamentally distorts the perception of the history of our province, our region and our country. If the intention is to inform and inspire our youth and future generations, the story of us must be told in a manner that does not perpetuate traditional regional perceptions,” said Ames.

When discussing early French settlement in North America, the first episode made no apparent reference to the 1604 habitation established by Pierre Dugua de Mons on Saint Croix Island and Acadie in general.

As the episode highlights the outcome of the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham and the challenges to come, it also fails to mention significant events such as the fall of Louisburg and the Grand Dérangement by the British in Acadie, said Ames.

A copy of the letter sent by Ames to the CBC is available online.