Nonosabasut
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Nonosabasut (died March 1819) was a leader of the Beothuk people. Family head and partner of Demasduit, born on the island of Newfoundland (present-day Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada). Sometimes referred to as Chief Nonosabasut, his stature within the last remaining Beothuk would better be described as that of a headman or leader.
Biography
Nonosabasut was one of a group of Beothuk who was encountered by David Buchan on January 24, 1811 at Beothuk Lake. Buchan had left two marines at the native camp while he, Nonosabasut and three other Beothuk went to retrieve a cache of presents Buchan had left behind. Fearing the worst, Nonosabasut became suspicious of being captured; he and the two Beothuks fled. While back at the camp they had convinced the rest of the group that the intentions of Buchan and his marines were hostile. The two marines were beheaded and the camp was then dispersed.
Another expedition authorized by Governor
Later, a grand jury in St. John's, absolved Peyton and his men were absolved of Nonosabasut's murder, the judge concluding that "... (there was) no malice on the part of Peyton's party to get possession of any of (the Indians) by such violence as would occasion bloodshed."
Nonosabasut's body was placed in a
Legacy
In 1828, the sepulchre was found by
.In 2020, the remains of Demasduit and Nonosabasut were repatriated from Scotland after years of advocacy.[1] Chief Mi'sel Joe of the Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River first began the push for repatriation in 2015, and he was joined by other Indigenous leaders. Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Dwight Ball and Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly made formal requests to National Museums Scotland in 2016, with Ball crediting Chief Mi'sel Joe specifically for beginning the process by bringing the issue to public attention.[2] Their remains had been in Scotland for 191 years when they were returned to Newfoundland and were stored at The Rooms, a provincial museum and archive in St. John's.[3] This return was praised and recognized by Canadian politicians including Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Dwight Ball and Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, as well as by leaders from the Miawpukek First Nation, Innu Nation, Nunatsiavut, NunatuKavut, and Qalipu First Nation.[4] In 2022, CBC News reported that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador was planning a new cultural centre at Beothuk Lake to serve as a final resting place for the remains.[5]
In 2017, Nonosabasut Rock was officially named after the Beothuk chief, lobbied for by retired teacher Anne Warr from Grand Falls-Windsor and her students. Nonosabasut Rock is located in the Exploits River in central Newfoundland, and the left side of the rock is said to resemble the chief's face, with the inspiration for naming it after him being described by the Woodland Primary grade two students back in 2006 as desiring to "recognize the heroic deed of [Demasduit's] husband."[6][7] The town of Grand Falls-Windsor donated a plaque for Nonosabasut Rock, which features a photo of the rock and a poem "written by Woodland Primary teacher Cheryl Burt, which tells the history of the Beothuk and the chief."[6] Warr's former students from Woodland Primary, as adults, contributed to the campaign to recognize Nonosabasut and the Beothuk. Prior to the official designation in 2017, the grade two class had contacted the town council of Grand Falls-Windsor about the name, saying that "We wrote to our town council and they gave us permission to name the rock, Nonosabusut [sic] Rock" in a letter to CBC.[8] The class wrote the letter in a nomination of Nonosabasut Rock for a competition CBC held in 2007 determining the Seven Wonders of Canada, and the online poll for Nonosabasut Rock received 8,563 votes.[9]
Genetic testing
In 2007, examination of short
See also
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador
References
- ^ Cowan, Peter (26 May 2017). "Indigenous leaders unite for return of Beothuk remains, inclusion in MMIWG inquiry". CBC.
- ^ "Remains of 2 Beothuk people to be transferred from Scotland to Canada". 21 January 2019.
- ^ Quinn, Mark (12 March 2020). "Beothuk remains returned to Newfoundland after 191 years in Scotland". CBC.
- ^ "Nonosabasut and Demasduit Returned to Newfoundland and Labrador". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ Cooke, Ryan (9 June 2022). "Stolen skulls returning to Beothuk Lake, as N.L. plans for new cultural centre". CBC.
- ^ a b Tobin, Melissa (15 December 2017). "Monumental Exploits rock given Beothuk name, after 10-year lobby". CBC.
- ^ Subject, Anthony. "AnthonySubject". k12.nf.ca. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Seven Wonders of Canada - Your Nominations - Nonosabasut, Newfoundland Labrador". CBC.
- ^ "Seven Wonders of Canada - Current Results". CBC.
- PMID 17205549. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2015-02-14.
- PMID 21326367.
- PMID 29033326.
- PMID 32283039.
External links
- Drawings by Shanawdithit
- The Beothuk a heritage Newfoundland and Labrador website.