SOME HISTORY ABOUT RED INDIAN LAKE

Further to the discussion on renaming Red Indian Lake, the following information on the Beothuk people is not well known, but should deserve consideration.

In the late spring of 1594, the Bristol ship Grace located the wrecks of two Basques whalers, which had grounded in St. Georges Bay near what is called the Main River or “Gut.”

The crew discovered an Indigenous campsite nearby with about 40 to 50 people who retreated when approached and left behind plucked birds and deer meat (Caribou) roasting on spits.

Though the Grace stayed about 10 days recovering 700 to 800 whale fins from the wrecks, no further sightings of Indigenous people occurred.

Capt. Richard Whitbourne claimed in 1622 that “Newfoundland Indians” lived in the western part of the Island and their flight was a typical response to approaching Europeans.

According to one Mi’kmaq tradition St. Georges Bay was originally occupied by Beothuks who were later joined and then replaced by Mi’kmaq.

Southwest Brook that runs into the Gut has its headwaters near Lloyds Lake that flows into Red Indian Lake.

At nearby Stephenville, the promontory of “Indian Head” was named because of the presence of a people who thrived on the resources of this coast.

Then they were forced to leave and eventually perished from the earth.

An area near the Main River should be identified and considered for naming to commemorate that era.

But include words from their language.

Bill Pilgrim Stephenville