Donald Savoie grew up in a small Acadian village and went on to become an accomplished writer and academic whose books have profoundly affected Canadian public policy and public administration. I'm from Bouctouche, Me is not only his story but a story about Canada, the Acadian people, and the evolution of French Canada.
In the 1950s most of Acadian society was poor, uneducated, isolated, and dominated by the Roman Catholic clergy. In the following decade two individuals, Pierre E. Trudeau and Louis J. Robichaud, pointed the way for Acadians like Savoie to make important contributions to Canada's development. Trudeau's objective was Canadian unity and he turned to Acadie to show Quebec that there was a viable French Canadian presence outside their borders. Robichaud, New Brunswick's first elected Acadian premier, had witnessed Acadian poverty first hand and made it his mission to bring New Brunswick into the modern era. Savoie shows how their efforts led to fundamental change for both Canada and New Brunswick and changed his life.
Savoie has always been a champion of his home province and region - his memoir reveals why. He is one of "Robichaud's children," the generation that finally emerged from the cloud of Le Grand Dérangement to bring equal rights and opportunities to Canada's Acadian citizens.
Review quotes
"Courageous, intelligent, honest, entertaining - the autobiography of a hugely important, successful, international scholar who is a quintessential Acadian. A marvelous read from a man of integrity." Naomi Griffiths, author of Contexts of Acadian History, 1686-1784
"A very powerful account of an Acadian's journey in a modern world, and of the Canadian francophone experience outside of Quebec. I'm from Bouctouche, Me conveys beautifully and poignantly a central theme of 'bitter root, sweet harvest'." Sean Conway, Queen's University
"Highly entertaining and informative - Savoie displays a keen sense of humour with numerous anecdotes that keep the reader wanting more. I'm from Bouctouche, Me is a tour-de-force and Savoie has set the bar very high for any of his counterparts who might choose to write their story in the future." Phillipe Doucet, Université de Moncton
"The Acadians were the original 'Yes we can' people, and Savoie's book is fired with this ebullient spirit. Savoie is tenacious and, in a quiet way, tough as old leather. So are Acadians. They have constantly sought to get along with others, but at the same time to maintain their own language and culture. Acadians built dikes, not walls, in the New World, and Savoie's own life is led in that community tradition of connecting and doing." The Globe and Mail
Donald J. Savoie holds the Canada Research Chair in Public Administration and Governance at the Université de Moncton.
