Part 2
In the mid 1800s the Beothuk Institute had outlived its usefulness. In 1997 it was revived. Find out how and why.
by Desmond Canning
The original organization, the “Boeothick Institution“, was founded in 1827. It was dormant from the mid 1800s until 1997 when it was revived and renamed. The successor organization was the Beothuk Institute.
The Beothuk Institute was chaired by Dr. Philip Warren, Faculty of Education MUN (retired), former Minister of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The initial focus of the organization was to commemorate the Beothuk with a bronze statue of a Beothuk lady. The sculpture, Spirit of the Beothuk, was created by the renowned Newfoundland artist Gerald Squires. It was based on Squires’ vision of a Beothuk woman he had seen on a trip to Exploit’s Island, his childhood home. Squires’ vision came to life with the erection of the bronze statue Spirit of the Beothuk at Boyd’s Cove in 2000.
Since 2000, the Beothuk Institute has continued to be involved with projects surrounding the Beothuk and other first peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador. These projects include D.N.A. research on Beothuk remains and commemorative plaques honouring Demasduit, Shanawdithit and Mi’kmaq guides Joseph Sylvester and Mattie Mitchell. The Beothuk Institute has also helped fund an archeological report produced by Newfoundland Archaeologist, Laurie McLean. The report identified Beothuk sites that need further archaeological investigations.
Moving Forward
Moving forward, the goal of the Beothuk Institute is to support other Beothuk themes projects like Archaeological work on the Exploits River. This work holds much potential for a deeper understanding of the extinct Beothuk people.
Our goal is not to remember the extinct Beothuk as a point in our history but as a people who once lived and died on the island of Newfoundland.