At Home
Traditionally, early Brayon Families were as self sufficient as they could be. It was common to grow ones own food, make ones own garments and blankets, and do ones own construction. This was made possible with large families and strict discipline, usually by the mother. Brayon culture is noted by sociologists as a rare example of a predominantly matriarchal society, at least around the house.
Family Roles
Acadia was a "matisse" settlement; french peasants and mi'kmaq living together in one society and nation. One of the cultural remnants of mi'kmaq culture is the heightened role of women in society. This was further amplified in Brayon communities where the men would leave for the winter for logging. Due to this women would run the house, make decisions for the family and children, handle the finances and more. This role is taken by the mother and "mémère" (grandmother), and is still standard in Brayon families to this day.
Big Families
Brayons are known for their large families and astounding population growth during the regions early history. Until last generation it was still very common to see dozen child families. The reasons for this are due to the need for many hands to work around the house and farm due to the diversity of duties these self sustaining farms had to do throughout the day. Additionally there was a "revenge of the cradle". After many Acadian families were deported or killed during the "Grand Dérangement", the 17 refugee families that made it to the valley felt they needed to revive the Acadian population in this new, safe home.
Song and Dance
Like the people, the music and dance of the valley is a mix of Acadian and early Quebecois. The traditional ballads of Acadian origin are played alongside upbeat Quebecois tunes on the same fiddle. However, much of the musical tradition of the valley was wiped out during a period of time when the church declared dancing a sin, however many songs and dances survived through oral tradition passed down among family members. One of the most prominent groups is the Danseurs de la Vallée, an internationally touring group that performs traditional dance arrangements that perform the styles and tell the stories of the Acadian and Brayon people.
Sport
Winter sports are naturally popular in the region, hockey, downhill skiing and figure skating are all common in the region. Although, by far the most popular sport characteristic of the area is biathalon. The region has two world class racing and training facilities and has hosted 2 Biathalon world cups in recent years. The combination of skiing and shooting employs skills standard in the regions history and has brought the area to the world view. In the summer, due to its scenic landscape, the valley has become the site of an annual cycling race and cycling is increasingly popular in the area.  Additionally soccer is quite popular.
Festivities
Annual festivals are popular in the valley and serve as a great way to preserve the culture and history through food, dance, reenactments and more. They also serve as a great way to bring communities and families together, which is increasingly important as more and more young people move away looking for opportunity elsewhere. The Acadian festival in Madawaska is very directed towards celebrating the heritage, however it also serves as a family reunion for one of the founding families of the region each year. Relatives from all over the world come together to celebrate their roots. Madawaska has also been the site of the World Acadian Congress, a similar festival, however it celebrates all Acadians and Cajuns from any region. Another bug festival is the Foire Brayon, a much larger celebration in Edmundston NB that is the biggest festival of the year for the entire Madawaska Region on both sides of the border. This festival has a lot of traditional events that have been around for ages but also brings in popular francophone musicians and other performers.
