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A review by miramichijim
Kouchibouguac: Removal, Resistance, and Remembrance at a Canadian National Park by Ronald Rudin
5.0
I was surprised by a few things in reading this book. First, just how readable it is. I was expecting some dense paragraphs packed with dates, statistics and other mundane facts, but the writing is very easy to follow, yet the author is never glib or staid and treats the subject with due impartiality as a good examiner should. The text is supported by black and white illustrations and maps.
Secondly, I had no idea that people were forcibly removed to make the park (in fact, this was the single largest forced removal in the history of the Canadian national parks system), and this was not the only instance. Forillon National Park in the Gaspe and Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland had similar histories. In fact, after Kouchibouguac was created Parks Canada created a policy stating that there will be no further removal of residents in order to create a national park in Canada.
There is much more to the Kouchibouguac story, and it is all here: the Acadian connection, the repeated closures of the park due to resistance and protests, the present-day park commemorations of what was lost or destroyed 40 years ago and of course, the story of Jackie Vautour, the lone holdout resident. Kouchibouguac is an excellent book, not only as a resource, but as enlightening reading for anyone with a social conscience. Mr. Rudin is to be applauded for his intensive (and extensive) research and his obvious concern for getting the Kouchibouguac story told properly and lucidly.
Secondly, I had no idea that people were forcibly removed to make the park (in fact, this was the single largest forced removal in the history of the Canadian national parks system), and this was not the only instance. Forillon National Park in the Gaspe and Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland had similar histories. In fact, after Kouchibouguac was created Parks Canada created a policy stating that there will be no further removal of residents in order to create a national park in Canada.
There is much more to the Kouchibouguac story, and it is all here: the Acadian connection, the repeated closures of the park due to resistance and protests, the present-day park commemorations of what was lost or destroyed 40 years ago and of course, the story of Jackie Vautour, the lone holdout resident. Kouchibouguac is an excellent book, not only as a resource, but as enlightening reading for anyone with a social conscience. Mr. Rudin is to be applauded for his intensive (and extensive) research and his obvious concern for getting the Kouchibouguac story told properly and lucidly.