When you search your phone for an Acadian flag to celebrate National Acadian Day, you will come up empty. Alexis Belliveau discovered this exact problem last year while promoting his band on social media. Now, he and his friend Julien Robichaud are taking action. The two Moncton residents are building a case to get an official Acadian flag added to our digital keyboards. According to a recent report by CBC News, their online petition has already gathered more than 10,000 signatures.

The Push for Digital Representation

Belliveau and Robichaud plan to submit their proposal to Unicode. This California organization reviews and approves all new emoji submissions. The duo launched a dedicated website to strengthen their application. The site features Acadian history and the growing petition.

“There is a lot of pride in the Acadian flag,” Belliveau told CBC. “In a digital world, it would be nice to be able to express that through an emoji.”

He also noted that a dedicated icon gets younger generations more involved in Acadian culture.

Navigating Unicode Rules

Getting a new flag approved requires strategy. In 2022, Unicode announced it would no longer accept many new flag proposals due to infrequent use. However, Belliveau found a workaround. He argues the Acadian flag is simply a combination of two existing icons. It merges the gold star with the flag of France.

Until Unicode approves the official design, people continue to express their pride using creative sequences like a blue circle, a star, a white circle, and a red circle.

Global Outreach

The team plans to officially submit their proposal this winter. Right now, they are focused on spreading the word to Acadians worldwide.

“We will try to get the word as far out as we can in places,” Belliveau said. He pointed to Acadian populations in Louisiana, France, Quebec, and across Canada. A strong show of global support proves to Unicode that people will actively use the new icon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who approves new emojis?

A non profit organization in California called Unicode reviews and approves all new emoji submissions.

Why did Unicode stop accepting most flag emojis?

In 2022, Unicode stated they would reject many flag proposals because they are too broad and people use them infrequently.

How are the Moncton men bypassing the flag rule?

They argue the Acadian flag is a combination of two existing emojis rather than a completely new flag. It combines the gold star and the flag of France.

Where can I sign the petition?

You can find the petition and learn more about the campaign at the official Emoji Acadie website.