ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — It was a sombre and emotional gathering Wednesday evening in a boardroom at The Rooms as leaders and members of the province’s five Indigenous groups, along with the provincial government, announced the return of the remains of Demasduit and Nonosabasut to Newfoundland from Scotland.
Indigenous-led folk band Eastern Owl sang a song at the gathering to commemorate the long-awaited return.
In March 1819, the young Beothuk woman, Demasduit, was abducted by white settlers in Newfoundland, and her husband, Nonosabasut, was killed while trying to rescue her. They were among the few remaining Beothuk.
Several years later, their remains were removed from their burial hut by William Cormack and sent to Scotland, where they remained — until now.
Efforts to repatriate their remains have been ongoing since 2015, when Saqamaw Mi’sel Joe of Miawpukek First Nation first requested it.
At the small gathering Wednesday evening at The Rooms, he called their return a sacred moment.
“What happened to our brothers and sisters was nothing less than genocide,” he said.
Jodie Ashini, cultural director with Innu Nation, also spoke at the event.
“Our ancestors have travelled thousands of miles just to be home,” she said.
Eastern Owl perform at the somber announcement that the remains of two Beothuk, Nonosabasut and Demasduit, are now being held in a vault at The Rooms after nearly 200 years in Scotland. Their final resting place is yet to be decided. pic.twitter.com/Jlio6GGbC4
— Juanita Mercer (@juanitamercer_) March 12, 2020
The remains were not at the event. The people in attendance were told the remains are being held in a vault at The Rooms until a decision about their final resting place is reached in consultation between the provincial government and the five Indigenous leaders.
Twitter: @juanitamercer_