Jackie Vautour facts for kids
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John L. Vautour (1929/1930 – February 7, 2021) was a Canadian fisherman from Claire-Fontaine, New Brunswick. He became well-known for leading a big fight in the early 1970s. This fight was against the government taking land from about 250 families. This land was used to create Kouchibouguac National Park, which covered the area where eight villages once stood.
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About Jackie Vautour
Jackie Vautour was born in a place called Claire-Fontaine in New Brunswick. He and his wife, Yvonne, had nine children. People often called him the "Rebel of Kouchibouguac" because of his strong stand.
The Kouchibouguac Park Story
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In the late 1960s, many Acadians in Kent County, New Brunswick were struggling financially. The leader of New Brunswick at the time, Louis Robichaud, wanted to help end poverty. He thought creating a national park could bring new opportunities.
How the Park Was Created
Kouchibouguac National Park was officially started in 1969. This was part of a plan to add more national parks in Atlantic Canada. The government of New Brunswick and the Canadian federal government, led by Pierre Trudeau, agreed to create the park. However, to make the park, the government needed to buy private land from the people living there.
The government valued the properties in the park area. But then, Louis Robichaud decided to cut the total estimated value in half. This meant families would get less money for their homes and land.
Families Had to Move
Seven villages were part of the land needed for the park. This meant about 228 families, or 1200 people, had to move. Most of these families were fishermen and farmers. They had lived in the area for many generations.
The government offered families money for their homes and land. On average, families received about $10,000 to $12,000. Nearly half of the families accepted this offer. However, some people complained because they felt they received much less than others. Many also felt crowded in their new communities, which were often more expensive.
Jackie Vautour's Fight
Jackie Vautour became a leader in the fight against the park's creation. He was the chairman for the citizens of Claire-Fontaine.
In November 1976, the police came to Claire-Fontaine with an order to remove Jackie Vautour from his home. His house was torn down, and his belongings were stored away. The Vautour family stayed in a motel for a while. In March 1977, they were forced out of the motel by the police.
However, the charges against them were dropped in July 1978. The Vautour family then moved back to live in the park. About 600 people who had been forced to move signed a petition to get their properties back. There were several disagreements with the police. Jackie Vautour refused all offers of land or money from the government. They offered him $20,670, but he asked for $150,000.
In 1979, he went to court to challenge the government's right to take the land. But the court decided that the government had acted legally. After this, about 200 people protested strongly in the park. This led to a special investigation. The investigation found that the federal government was partly to blame. It recommended that $1,600,000 be given to the families who had been forced to move.
Later Challenges and Legacy
Years later, in 1998, Jackie Vautour, his wife, and two of their sons were arrested. This was for collecting shellfish in the park, which was not allowed. They were found guilty but later won their appeal. They also received money as a result.
Around this time, the Vautour family began to say they had Métis heritage. They argued that because of this, they had an Indigenous right to harvest clams, based on the Canadian constitution. However, the term "Métis" can be confusing. While the Vautour family has mixed Indigenous and European roots, they are not recognized as part of the Métis Nation. The Kouchibouguac area is also on traditional Mi'kmaq territory.
According to historian Alan MacEachern, Jackie Vautour's case changed how national parks are created in Canada. Now, the law usually stops Parks Canada from forcing people to move to create a park. This means new parks are often created in northern Canada where fewer people live.
In 2009, the Canadian government invested $1.3 million in Kouchibouguac National Park. Part of this money was used to share the park's history and the stories of the communities that had to move.
Jackie Vautour's Passing
Jackie Vautour passed away on February 7, 2021. He died from liver cancer and pneumonia.
Remembering Jackie Vautour
Jackie Vautour's story has been shared in many ways.
- The musician Zachary Richard from Louisiana met Jackie Vautour in 1977. He later held a concert to help the families who had to move. He also wrote a song called "La ballade de Jackie Vautour" (The Ballad of Jackie Vautour).
- The film Massabielle, made in 1982, tells Jackie Vautour's story.
- In 2007, a documentary called Kouchibouguac was made. The narrator, Zachary Richard, asked that governments officially recognize the unfairness that happened to the families.
- Since 2006, annual gatherings have been held in the park to remember the communities.
- In 2011, a young Acadian writer named Emma Haché wrote a play about the story of the families who had to move.
