Newfoundland (zoology) - First inhabitants, Discovery, colonization, and settlement, Reputation, Points of interest and major settlements

A breed of dog, developed in Newfoundland; large, very thick-set, with an enormous heavy head; broad deep muzzle and small ears and eyes; very thick, black, double-layered, water-resistant coat; webbed feet.

for mispronunciations, see Newfoundland travel guide from Wikitravel)— (French: Terre-Neuve, Irish: Talamh an Éisc) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundland is often referred to as "The Middle of the North Atlantic", but it is actually more than 1000 km away from it. The island of Newfoundland (originally called Terra Nova) was most likely first named by the Italian John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) in 1497. The province where this island is located was also called "Newfoundland" until 2001, when its name was changed to "Newfoundland and Labrador" (the postal abbreviation was later changed from NF to NL).

Newfoundland is separated from the Labrador Peninsula by the Strait of Belle Isle and from Cape Breton Island by the Cabot Strait. Newfoundland's nearest neighbour is the tiny French overseas community of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

It is 111,390 km² in area, making it the world's 16th largest island, and Canada's fourth largest island. The island of Newfoundland has a population (2001) of 466,172. By that measure, the population is (2001) 485,066

Newfoundland has a dialect of English known as Newfoundland English and a dialect of French known as Newfoundland French, and a dialect of Irish known as Newfoundland Irish .

First inhabitants

The first inhabitants on Newfoundland were the probable ancestors of the historical Beothuk inhabitants at the time of European contact.

It is likely that the natives described by the Norsemen as skraelings were Beothuk inhabitants of Labrador and Newfoundland. The first conflicts between Europeans and native peoples may have occurred around 1006 at L'Anse aux Meadows when parties of Norsemen attempted to establish permanent settlements along the coast of Newfoundland.

When other Europeans arrived, beginning with John Cabot in 1497, contact with the Beothuks was established.

As European settlement became year-round and expanded to new areas of the coast the area available to the Beothuks to harvest the marine resources they relied upon was diminished. Government attempts to open a dialogue with the native peoples of Newfoundland came too late to save them.

Many Newfoundland residents can trace a clear Native American ancestry, mostly Micmac.

Discovery, colonization, and settlement

Newfoundland is the site of the only authenticated Norse settlement in North America, discovered by Norwegian explorer Dr. Helge Ingstad and his archaeologist wife, Anne Stine Ingstad, at L'Anse aux Meadows in 1960.

The Norse stayed for a relatively short period of time, believed to be between 999 and 1001AD.

After Cabot, the first European visitors to Newfoundland were Portuguese, Spanish, French and English migratory fishermen. This was to foreshadow the centuries of importance of Newfoundland's offshore fishing waters.

In 1583, when Sir Humphrey Gilbert formally claimed Newfoundland as a colony of England, he found numerous English, French and Portuguese vessels in St. John's.

On July 5, 1610, John Guy set sail from Bristol, England with 39 other colonists for Cuper's Cove. By 1620, the fishermen of England's West Country had excluded other nations from most of the east coast of Newfoundland, while fishermen from France dominated the island's south coast and Northern Peninsula.

After 1763, with the Treaty of Paris, the French ceded control of south and north shores of the island to the British, keeping only the nearby islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon located in the fish-rich Grand Banks off the south coast. Despite some early settlements by the English, permanent, year-round settlement of Newfoundland of migratory fishery workers was discouraged by the British.

The French name for the island is Terre Neuve, while the name "Newfoundland"' is one of the oldest European place names in Canada in continuous geographical and cartographical use, dating from a 1502 letter, and clearly stated in the following early poem:

A Skeltonicall continued ryme, in praise of my New-found-Land

Although in cloaths, company, buildings faire With England, New-found-land cannot compare: Did some know what contentment I found there, Alwayes enough, most times somewhat to spare, With little paines, lesse toyle, and lesser care, Exempt from taxings, ill newes, Lawing, feare, If cleane, and warme, no matter what you weare, Healthy, and wealthy, if men carefull are, With much-much more, then I will now declare, (I say) if some wise men knew what this were (I doe beleeue) they'd live no other where.

The European immigrants who settled in Newfoundland brought their knowledge, beliefs, loyalties and prejudices with them, but the society they built in the New World was unlike the ones they had left, and different from the ones other immigrants would build on the American mainland. As a fish-exporting society, Newfoundland was in contact with many places around the Atlantic rim, but its geographic location and political distinctiveness also isolated it from its closest neighbors in Canada and the United States, so much so that this isolation can be felt even today. These conditions had an effect on the culture the immigrants had brought with them and generated new ways of thinking and acting, giving Newfoundland and Labrador a wide variety of distinctive customs, beliefs, stories, songs, and dialects.

The First World War had a powerful and lasting effect on the society. On July 1, 1916, at Beaumont-Hamel, France, 753 men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment went over the top of a trench. Newfoundland had lost about one-quarter of its young men in WWI and it has been suggested that this loss of so many men, proportionally speaking, in the prime of their lives contributed to the economic collapse that was to ultimately influence confederation with Canada. Even now, when the rest of Canada celebrates the founding of the country on July 1, many Newfoundlanders take part in solemn ceremonies of remembrance.

World War II also had a lasting impact on Newfoundland.

Newfoundland and Labrador is the youngest province in Canada, having enjoyed the status of a country until 1949. Financial incentives played their part, particularly the "baby bonus" which promised Newfoundlanders a cash sum for each child in a family. Mr. Smallwood led Newfoundland for decades as the elected premier following confederation and achieved a "cult of personality" amongst his many supporters that persisted long after his political defeat.

The province's provincial flag, designed by Newfoundland artist Christopher Pratt, was officially adopted by the provincial legislature on May 28, 1980. Its colours represent the symbolic union of Newfoundland's three historically dominant ethnic/religious group: English, Scottish and Irish respectively. It is now flown outside many Newfoundland homes, although it is mistaken by many tourists as the Irish flag. This "unofficial" flag has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, before which it had been relatively forgotten by a majority of Newfoundlanders. "Pink White and Green" emblems now appear on a multitude of items in Newfoundland gift shops, and it has developed into a symbolic gesture of one's ties with one's Newfoundland heritage as well as a trendy fashion statement.

At various points in its history (either with or without the inclusion of Labrador), Newfoundland has been a state, by the definition of the day. For example, the Dominion of Newfoundland existed with a level of legal "independence" from the British Empire equal to many other states considered "independent" at the time, such as Canada (Formally, Newfoundland did not finalize the process of becoming a full-status Dominion, due to not ratifying the Statute of Westminster, but this "official" distinction today amounts to historical trivia.) This historical legal independence, coupled with a largely ethnically homogeneous population (more so than any other province in Canada), a number of unique cultural practices, and a distinct dialect of English have led many people, scholars and laypeople alike, to consider Newfoundland, or Newfoundlanders, a "nation". However, there are also many Newfoundlanders who have very strong "Newfoundland identity" - clearly defining themselves as "Newfoundlanders not Canadians" - who still have no particular desire for a dissolution of the union between Newfoundland and Canada created in 1949.

Other features of Newfoundland and Newfoundlanders commonly cited as "National identity" features include:

The pre-confederation National Anthem, the Ode to Newfoundland, continues to be used as such in many ceremonies. the Nova Scotia Keltics) and the Newfoundland Rock, the Ode is sung for the Rock, and "O Canada" for the visiting "Canadian" team. Newfoundland has had a unique experience with institutionalized religion in the Canadian context. Newfoundland appears to employ cultural mores in day-to-day interaction markedly different from the rest of Canada provided one is paying close attention. Newfoundland's social mores regarding status differentiation are consequently far more subtle than what one frequently encounters off island. For example, political leaders who traditionally do well in Newfoundland are those who can successfully appear as "common" as possible while demonstrating authority legitimating personal characteristics by example. Newfoundlanders consistently rank the highest on polls ascertaining identification with province over country. Elliot Leyton, a famous sociologist who specializes in the study of human aggression, notes that Newfoundland enjoys one of the lowest homicide rates in the western world.

Reputation

Newfoundlanders have a reputation for being welcoming, outgoing, and friendly, but the sayings that are common in Newfoundland may be misinterperated elsewhere. As an example, the phrase "How's ya gettin' on, buddy?", in Newfoundland, means "How is it going, my friend?" Outside of Newfoundland, however, it may be taken as a question of how a person is getting onto something (ie: an airplane, bus, or boat).

Although the province has an above average unemployment rate as compared to the rest of Canada, Newfoundlanders are well known to be hard working individuals.

Points of interest and major settlements

Being one of the first places discovered in the New World, Newfoundland has a rich history.

Newfoundland is home to two national parks. Gros Morne National Park is located on the west coast of Newfoundland and was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 due to its complex geology and remarkable scenery.

Newfoundland also contains a major hiking trail that runs along the eastern edge of the Avalon Peninsula.

Also on the West Coast, Corner Brook is situated in the Bay of Islands region.

Sandy Point, which is located in St. George's Bay and north of the town of St. George's, was the first and largest settlement of the west coast.

Barachois Pond Provincial Park is a provincial park that is considered to be a model forest.

In March, the annual seal hunt (of the harp seal) takes place.

Newfoundland is also host to a well-recognized university, Memorial University of Newfoundland, based in St. John's.

Largest Municipalities (2001 population)

St. John's (99,182) Mount Pearl (24,964) Corner Brook (20,103) Conception Bay South (19,772) Grand Falls-Windsor (13,340) Gander (9,651) Paradise (9,598) Stephenville (7,109) Marystown (5,908) Portugal Cove-St. Philip's (5,866) Torbay (5,474) Bay Roberts (5,237) Clarenville (5,104) Deer Lake (4,769) Carbonear (4,759) Channel-Port aux Basques (4,637) Placentia (4,426) Bonavista (4,021) Bishop's Falls (3,688)

Notable Newfoundlanders

Cluny MacPherson, inventor of the gas mask Augusta Barter, nurse Robert Bartlett, explorer Johnny Burke, balladeer Frances Cluett, nurse Danny Corcoran, forest ranger Michael Crummey, writer William James Emberley, fisherman Brad Gushue, curler Ann Harvey, rescuer William James Herder, publisher Sylvester Joe, Mi'kmaq hunter & Pratt, poet Thomas Ricketts, soldier Michael Ryder, professional ice hockey player Shanawdithit, Beothuk Gerald Squires, painter Jeff Hardy , Professional Wrestler (Original Birthplace)

Newfoundland Tourism Commercials

Art Far from Disney Land Edge of the Earth

Commercial links

NF Interactive Images of Newfoundland Newfoundland Pictures

Coordinates: 49°00′N 56°00′W