The Mission of the Beothuk Institute
to create, maintain and enhance
public knowledge, understanding and appreciation
of the Beothuk People and their prehistoric ancestors,
and
to initiate, support and/or encourage projects
commensurate with this aim.
We participates in research projects and archaeological digs in search of the history of the Beothuk people. As a non-profit organization, we lobby government and special interest groups to undertake projects that will help advance our overall mission. We also contribute. in-kind and financially, to these projects. As a strictly volunteer organization, we depend on the generous donations of people who are interested in the Beothuk – not the myth but the people. That support enables us to undertake the work involved.
The Beothuk Institute Inc. is provincially incorporated.
Board 2025-2026
Executive
Chair – Pete Barrett
Vice Chair – Desmond Canning
Secretary – Valerie Peyton Kingsbury
Treasurer – Rita Higgins
Member At Large
Archaeologist – Laurie McClean
Directors – 2025-26
Lynda Langdon
Tanya Northcott
Valisha Keough
'Spirit of the Beothuk' by Gerry Squires
The Beothuk Institute was incorporated at St. John’s in 1997. Its formation was initiated by artist Gerry Squires. His vision of a lone Beothuk woman standing strong and proud against an oncoming storm near Exploits Island inspired him to create a statue to commemorate the Beothuk. Initially the Beothuk Institute raised the funds for this project and Squires’ statue – “The Spirit of the Beothuk” – now stands on the grounds of the Boyd’s Cove Beothuk Interpretation Centre.
The Origin
During the formative years, the Beothuk Institute was chaired by Dr. Philip Warren, Faculty of Education MUN (retired), former Minister of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
On March 2, 2006 at its Annual General Meeting, the Beothuk Institute decided to relocate its Head Office to Lewisporte, thus returning the Institute to Central Newfoundland, the last living space of the Beothuk.
The Story of the First Meeting
The story actually started in early 1996 when Gerry Squires visited me to tell me about the vision he had of a Beothuk woman on a small island close to Exploits Island. He now felt compelled to produce a memorial to the Beothuk. I gave him the manuscript of my chapter on Shanawdithit of the, as yet, unpublished book (it was published in fall 1996). Gerry told me that he wanted to make a figure of Shanawdithit in clay and have it poured in bronze. He was going to get in touch with a few friends who might be willing to support the project. We ended up having a meeting in May 1997 at Jim McGrath’s home on Riverside Rd. …It was decided at that meeting to form the Beothuk Institute.
~ by Dr. Ingeborg Marshall
Don Pelley, a long standing member of the Beothuk Institue, served in various capacties over the years, Co-Chair, Vice-Chair, spokesperson and more. He died in September 2024. A proud Mi’kmaq from central Newfoundland, Don was deeply committed to the history of his people, the archaeology of central Newfoundland, and the legacy of the Beothuk.
Don played a pivotal role in the Beothuk Institute, advocating for archaeological research along the Exploits River system and Beothuk Lake. He actively collaborated with government departments and worked closely with archaeologist and fellow board member Laurie McLean on surveying and excavating significant sites in the region. His contributions have greatly enhanced our understanding of the Beothuk story.
