Blueberry Hill in Botwood offers visitors a panoramic view of Notre Dame Bay and it will soon provide people a place to reflect on the lives and legacy of the Beothuk people.
Last week, officials announced funding to help develop a memorial to Demasduit, her husband Nonosabasut and their infant child featuring a statue by Morgan McDonald, surrounded by a healing garden.
The couple were among the last of their people when their fate forever changed as the result of a confrontation with a party of English settlers on the frozen surface of Beothuk Lake.
Nonosabasut was killed and Demasduit was taken away to live in Twillingate and then St. John’s. She was separated from her newborn child who died not long after.
Demasduit died of TB in 1820 on board the ship the Grasshopper at Botwood as she was being brought back to central to be reunited with her people.
The statue currently in progress
Botwood Mayor Jim Sceviour says the legacy of the Beothuk people looms large in the region and he calls Blueberry Hill a fitting location for the memorial. He says the project is in partnership with a number of local Indigenous groups.
Including the Miapukek First Nation, the Qalipu First Nation, Nunatsiavut, the Innu Nation and the NunatuKavut Community Council. They brought in Chief Nellie Power to perform a smudging ceremony, sing O Canada in Mik’maq and a performance by the Exploits Drummers.
