Homage to Demasduit, one of the last of the Beothuk, unveiled in Botwood

A statue of one of the last Beothuk families now overlooks their traditional land, after the Town of Botwood unveiled a bronze sculpture in their likeness on Monday.

The tribute to Demasduit, her husband Nonosabasut and their infant child was formally recognizedby provincial and town officials and First Nations leaders, who gathered on one of the highest points in the Exploits Valley region to honour the family.

The site overlooks the area where Demasduit is believed to have died, says Botwood Mayor James Sceviour "a traditional home" for Beothuk.

The monument is made up of three figures looking out to the harbour, one of them being Demasduit, who was one of the last of the Beothuk. She died as a captive to European settlers just over 200 years ago, on board the HMS Grasshopper, which was moored in Botwood's harbour at the time.

It's believed Demasduit died of tuberculosis a year after she was kidnapped by John Peyton, a European fur trapper, in 1819. It was in retaliation for an alleged theft by the Beothuk people.

Nonosabasut was killed as he tried to rescue his wife in the confrontation.

"It's very, very fitting," Sceviour said of the chosen location, noting Demasduit's ancestors would have used the river running from the Bay of Exploits as a seasonal migration route to travel from their winter homes to their summer fishing grounds.

The project a result of $115,000 in provincial funding announced in 2022 is meant to mark the 200th anniversary of Demasduit's death, on Jan. 8, 1820. It includes a healing garden surrounding the statue.

The Town of Botwood also received $356,000 in federal funding for the project, according to a provincial news release.

The province said the project was delayed due to COVID-19.

In a short video posted to Facebook on Saturday, Indigenous Affairs Minister Scott Reid spoke to sculptor Morgan MacDonald about the project.

"It's a huge responsibility to take this part of heritage in our province and do it justice," MacDonald said, adding he took care to research the family and portray them as accurately as possible.

"This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for people to learn more about the story of Demasduit."

Demasduit and Nonosabasut made headlines in 2020 when their remains stolen by a Scottish explorer in the 1800s were returned to their homeland after several years of advocacy by Miawpukek First Nation.

"The Beothuk have been around for a long time. But this statue will place it on a map again, the history of the Beothuk people, and the impact they had on this area," Sceviour said.

Download ourfree CBC News appto sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.Click here to visit our landing page.