As we researched NFLD prior to the trip, we became aware that in the not too distant past, the people here have to a very large extent lost a lot of their way of life.
1949, there was a vote to join Canada or not.. 51% to 49% yes!! this is still highly emotive here, and clearly a lot of resentment and debate. Then, in the last couple of decades or so, the cod fishery was shut down, which effectively ended the lifestyle of almost everyone here.
The almost forced shutting down of a large number of "outports" (little fishing villages with only sea access) that had started a generation or two ago is still a shadow as well.
We visited the local (and national) Museum today, (WAY better than Te Papa) and one of the most poignant displays was some simple images of the recent past, with "PostIt" notes added by visiting folk (clearly locals) commenting about all of the above. Pretty gutsy messages about losing their liviehoods, culture and family.
This first image and note kind of sums it up. And they really did tow their houses behind ships, or pull them across the frozen sea with the resettlement.
This next photo, shows a house above the Twilligate bay area, it was pulled up there manually after having also been pulled over the frozen sea.. it took 500 men a number of weeks to do it!
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| Amazingly, this house was pulled manually, across frozen sea, from it's original site, and somehow, hauled up this very steep hill! |
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| Battery Hill.. and Ali, balancing in the wind!! |
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| Pretty basic sighting system. But the targets were large! |
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| King Lear, by the locals, with the national museum building in the background. |
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