The culture, societal make-up, hunting and spiritual life of the Beothuk Indians. An analysis of the living conditions of these people surviving in the 21st century.
The Beothuk Indians were the original inhabitants of the island of Newfoundland. Upon first European contact in the 16th Century, there were about 2,000 Beothuk people. By the early 19th Century, however, they had been completely wiped out. The Beothuk were alternatively known as the Ulno, theSkraelling and the Red Indians. They spoke a unique language which may have been remotely connected to the Algonquin tongue spoken on the mainland.
Not much is known about the culture of the Beothuk people due to their isolation. Rather than being farmers, as were many of the mainland tribes, the Beothuk were hunters, with the main target being the Caribou. These were to be found in large numbers on the island. The coastline also presented many opportunities to acquire food, with fish, seals and other seafood in plentiful supply. As a result the Beothuk became very skilled fishermen and adept at manoeuvring their canoes while using their spears to harpoon their prey. When the Europeans and the Beothuk tribal enemies the Micmac began to inhabit coastal areas, however, the Beothuk fled into the interior of the island. But here the food supplies were not nearly as plentiful. In fact, many Beothuk began to die of starvation.
The Beothuk were known as Red Indians primarily because of their extensive use of red ochre. A greasy mixture of red ochre would be applied to the face and bodyalong with the hair as well as any personal possessions a person had. In fact it is believed that the term "˜redskin' as used to apply to all Native American Indians originated at the time of contact between Europeans and the Beothuk.
The Beothuk lived in small, independent bands made up of extended families. Their dwellings were either conical wigwams which were covered with sheets of birch bark or larger square shaped wigwams used in the Summer time. By about 1800, however, they had begun building European style log houses. By that time the Beothuk had also substituted many of their traditional tools and weaponry with introduced metal implements. Rather than trading for such items, the Beothuk became extremely adept at stealing them from the French and English settlers of Newfoundland.
It is believed that the Beothuk had been living in Newfoundland since at least 200 C.E. Around the end of the 10th Century the Vikings reached Newfoundland and came across the Beothuk, who they referred to as Skraelings. Relations were generally peaceful until the Vikings pulled out in the 11th Century, never to return. The Beothuk next encountered Europeans when Venetian explorer John Cabot came across Newfoundland in 1497. His tales of the abundance of fish in the area on his return to Europe sent masses of fishing boats into the region. Unfortunately some of these fishermen were interested in more than just fish. Dozens of Beothuk were captured to be taken to Europe as slaves. Before long European fishing summer villages had sprung up along the coast. The Boethuk constantly raided the settlements and a climate of distrust and hatred was established.
The first permanent settlement on the island was set up by the British in 1610. Soon thereafter the French also set up permanent settlements. In 1613 a French fisherman shot a Beothuk who was attempting to steal from him. The response from the Beothuk was swift. They killed 37 French fishermen. The French now attempted to encourage their native American allies, the Micmac, to settle on the island in order to afford them protection. This soon occurred and, with the advantage of French guns, the Micmac were able to drive the Beothuk into the interior of the island. For the next 150 years the Beothuk basically kept to themselves. Yet, even though they managed to avoid the epidemics that would have come from association with Europeans, the Beothuk people were starving to death. Those that did venture into European settlements in search of food were shot on sight. When contact was re-established in the 1820's a climate of mistrust and murder on both sides prevailed. The last recorded Beothuk, Nancy Shanawhdit, died in 1829.
