BEYONCÉ AND ME

Have I told you that Beyoncé and I are cousins? Yes, THAT Beyoncé, and I’m not even kidding. 8^th cousins, actually. Now before you get all confused and/or excited, I should admit that there might be about a million people who can claim the same. My connection to Bey is through her mother, Tina Knowles, whose real name is Celestine Beyince. The Beyince family are descendants of Joseph Broussard, known as Beausoleil. Beausoleil was an Acadian resistance fighter who organized an uprising against the British in 1755. To make a long story short, he lost, was jailed in Halifax, and then led the first group of Acadians to what is now Louisiana. He is my 8^th great uncle, and Beyoncé’s great-to-the-eighth grandfather. So there. Just so you know, Beyoncé and I don’t keep in touch.

John’s ancestors are even more illustrious, depending on your view of history. His mother’s folks were United Empire Loyalists who came to Canada after the American Revolution, where they were well rewarded for their loyalty. The fact that John’s people probably persecuted mine does not always go unremarked. Both our mothers are 10^th generation Canadians, but on opposite ends of the St. Lawrence River, in every sense. His ancestors were doctors, lawyers and war heroes, who had buildings and parks named after them. Mine were troublemakers who were fun at parties.

So yes, despite looking like the whitest woman to walk the planet, I’m part Metis, and maybe a little Mi’kmaq (paddy wack, give a dog a bone). I have a first cousin, my mother’s brother’s son, who has officially and successfully claimed Aboriginal status, which I think is pretty ballsy. If I were to even try, the people at Indigenous Affairs would probably spit out their coffee, so I’ll just shut up and pay my taxes. I’m pretty sure cousin Beyoncé does too.

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