The Day of Truth and Reconciliation is being marked tomorrow with a very powerful and meaningful memorial to some of the last known members of the Beothuck.
The Town of Botwood will unveil bronze statues depicting Demasduit, her husband Nonosabasut and their infant child tomorrow afternoon on Blueberry Hill overlooking the Bay of Exploits.
The monument, by sculptor Morgan MacDonald, is titled BAETHA, which means “Going Home.”
In the spring of 1819 a party of settlers set out into the interior to retrieve items taken from nearby fishing stations, and to establish friendly relations with the last known Beothuck, but the whole thing went terribly wrong. Nonosabasut was killed, and Demasduit was abducted, despite her attempts to convey to the expedition members that she was nursing.
Her infant child was left behind with family, but died a short time later.
Demasduit died of TB on board the Grasshopper in Botwood Harbour on January 8, 1820 while being carried back to what was then known as Red Indian Lake, (now Beothuck Lake) be reunited with her people.
Tomorrow’s unveiling is set for 2:00 p.m.