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In Part I, Ingeborg Marshall documents the history of the Beothuk from the first European encounter in the 1500s to their demise, focusing on relations between Beothuk and English through the centuries and the reasons for change in Beothuk distribution and population size. She provides a highly readable and lucid account of the increasing competition between Beothuk and English for resources on the coast, the ways in which English trappers interfered with Beothuk hunting activities, and the hostilities that resulted. She examines the conciliatory attempts of private citizens and naval officers, the taking of Beothuk captives, and factors such as disease and starvation that contributed to the decline of the population. Relations with Inuit, Montagnais, and Micmac are also discussed. Part II is a comprehensive review of Beothuk culture. Each chapter focuses on an ethnographic theme, such as size and distribution of the Beothuk population, aspects of social organization, food consumption and subsistence economies, tools and utensils, hunting and fishing techniques, appearance and clothing, dwellings, canoes and other means of transportation, burial practices, and fighting methods, as well as the Beothuk world view and language.
List of contents
Part 1 History: the sixteen century - first contact; the seventeenth century - colonization, trade, and encroachment; relations between the Beothuk and their native neighbours; competition for resources on the coast; hostilities over hunting and trapping; Lieutenant John Cartwright explores Beothuk country; intensified conflict between Beothuk and settlers; plans to conciliate the Beothuk; the capture of Beothuk to make peace; Lieutenant Buchan's efforts to make contact; Micmac and Montagnais versus Beothuk - the final phase; the captive Demasduit; 1822-1827 - The Boeothick Institution; Shanawdithit. Part 2 Ethnography: position of Beothuk in Newfoundland prehistory; distribution and size of the Beothuk population; aspects os social organization; food consumption and subsistence economies; tools and utensils, hunting and fishing techniques; appearance and clothing; Mamateeks and other structures; Birchbarch canoes and other means of transportation; Beothuk world view and belief-related practices; burial places and mortuary practices; fighting methods and peace tokens; the Beothuk language; concluding discussion.
About the author
Ingeborg Marshall
Summary
The Beothuk were the aboriginal inhabitants of Newfoundland. After years of decline, they were finally wiped out in 1829, when Shanawdithit, the last of their people, died. This work combines archive material and up-to-date archaeological data to review the history and culture of the Beothuk.
