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People group profile · PG043349

The Acadians of Canada

The Acadians of Canada, numbering about 128,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are descendants of French colonists in 17th-century Acadia, most forcibly deported by the British beginning in 1755 in an expulsion that killed thousands before survivors resettled Canada's Maritime provinces by 1763.

They are an indigenous people in the French people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak French.

Pray for the AcadiansPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Acadians people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Acadian

Fast facts

Country
Canada
Population
128,000
Affinity group
European Peoples
People cluster
French
Primary language
French (fra)
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
Lostness priority
Expanding Unreached People Group
Also known as
Acadiens
Region
Northern America, Americas
Location
predominantly in the Canadian Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia)

Where they live

Gospel status

The Acadians are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting

Next steps for the Acadians

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Roman Catholicism · Christianity

50% adherents

Primary language

French · Indo-European family

100% speak French

Gospel resources in French

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Acadians

  1. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  2. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  3. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  4. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.

Download a prayer guide

Acadian in other countries

The same people (ROP3 114904) is reported in 1 other country.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
CajunsUnited States79,000Engaged yet Unreached

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