Chapter Summary -- Contemporary Maine Acadians constitute a regionally based ethnic group with a distinctive heritage in Maine and the United States. Understanding the group's cultural identity requires a dynamic approach that recognizes change over time, along with diversity among individuals' experiences. Like many other Americans with rural roots, Maine Acadians' cultural identity is directly tied to retaining connections to family, religion, and land. Association with the French language, in particular "Valley French," is another prominent feature of Maine Acadian identity. This chapter explores several ways in which Upper St. John Valley people identify themselves as Maine Acadians and some ways in which they give meaning to that contemporary identity in public settings (such as meetings, festivals, and focus groups).