Lodge Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Lodge Bay is a permanent community located along the southeast coast of Labrador
, part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. Encompassing a population of less than one hundred residents, the community has uniquely evolved from both early European colonization of Labrador, and the inimitable patterns of land and resource use by the migratory Inuit
population. The name Lodge Bay originated from the title Ranger Lodge, which was the name given to the area by trader and explorer, Captain George Cartwright
in the late 18th century. "Ranger" was the name of the wooden-mercantile ship Cartwright used to trade, map and explore the Labrador coast, while "Lodge" was the name given to English hunting camps in Great Britain at that time.
, extensive forests of black spruce, white spruce and balsam fir cover much of the landscape. This ecosystem provides a healthy habitat for the populations of moose, wolves, bear, ptarmigan, rabbit and lynx that inhabit the area. The St. Charles River strategically opens into the mouth of Cape St. Charles
and the Great Caribou Islands. Large populations of Atlantic salmon
annually migrate the St. Charles River to reach native breeding grounds. The surrounding bay is also home to a variety of fish species including trout, freshwater smelts and shellfish.
people of Labrador have had a long established relationship with the region enveloping Lodge Bay. Its environmental location provided an abundance of natural resources including fur, salmon, timber, and fresh water. The seasonal transhumance
lifestyle of the Inuit
culture caused them to nomadically pursue these resources as a means of survival. Cartwright’s journal published in 1792 makes numerous references to the Inuit's instinctive use of the Labrador terrain, and a seasonal pursuance of trade at Ranger Lodge.
The Labrador Treaty of 1765, conducted by Governor of Newfoundland Sir Hugh Palliser
, would bring the Inuit
of Labrador into a peaceful friendship with the British government and eventual settlers. Until this time, the invasion of Inuit
territory by French, British, and American merchants, often left Inuit
people hostile to both early settlers and merchant trading crews. However, not all Innu
and Inuit
were contentious with the presence of Europeans. The trading firms established throughout Labrador would eventually benefit the native inhabitants, providing them with industrious goods such as steel tools, clothing, and firearms. The treaty was signed in August of 1765 at Chateau Bay
, Labrador
, representing the interests of both Sir Hugh Palliser
and the Southern Labrador Inuit
. Although this peace treaty would lead to a steady increase of trade and settlement on the coast, the Inuit
of Labrador would eventually be pressured from their southern homes to areas north of Cape St. Charles
, and thus vacating the resourceful territory of Lodge Bay.
Captain George Cartwright
would establish his first partnered trading post in Labrador at Cape St. Charles
in the year 1770. That same year, this brave English explorer would establish his own private merchant venture at Lodge Bay. Cartwright actively explored, traded, and established strong relationships with the resident Innu
and Inuit
people of Labrador. Cartwright's close relationship with the Aboriginal people, and their discerning knowledge of the land, caused Cartwright to extend his business to claim posts at Ranger Lodge, presently Lodge Bay (1770–74), Caribou Castle, today's community of Cartwright
(1775–78), and Stage Cove (1774–75). The relentlessly competitive salmon and fur trade eventually left Captain George Cartwright
bankrupt in 1784. His remaining trading firms and supplies were eventually sold at market to rival merchants, although, his first inspiring post at Ranger Lodge had been destroyed by fire in 1772.
With the acceleration of European colonization in the 19th and early 20th century, Lodge Bay was primarily used as a wintering station for the seasonal and year round fishing crews who frequented the Labrador Coast. Most of these early settlers were driven by the industrious fish trade, particularly cod, mackerel, herring and salmon, however, the Canadian fur trade
also attracted many brave pioneers to this remote area.
Lodge Bay was the accepted site of seasonal settlement for many of the same reasons the Labrador Inuit had practiced use of the area, the unrestricted abundance of resources. This transient lifestyle caused early settlers to reside at often two locations throughout the year. During summer until late autumn, families often lived at the distant outlying communities of Cape St. Charles
, Henley Harbour or Battle Harbour. These summer stations were built strategically exposed to the Atlantic Ocean where fishermen could maximize profits of the lucrative fish trade. While conjointly, interior communities such as Lodge Bay and nearby Mary’s Harbour were established for a life during the occasionally treacherous winter and early spring seasons. Winter settlements were immensely focused on trapping
, wood harvesting, boat repair and seal hunting
.
The community of Lodge Bay would become a permanently lived-in community at the beginning of the 20th century. A steady decline of both the cod and salmon fisheries in the early 20th century, with a moratorium
to the cod fishery in 1992, would lead to the mass resettlement of many seasonal fishing communities. The families of nearby Cape St. Charles
, Carrol’s Cove
, Henley Harbour and others were forced to resettle and seek employment elsewhere. Residents of Cape St. Charles
who solely used Lodge Bay as a winter settlement, would forcefully return to their winter homes to reside permanently.
origin. The name was notorious in the late 15th century, solely concentrated in the Herefordshire
County of southern England
. Over time, many families bearing the Pye surname immigrated to the colony of Newfoundland, more particularly the Conception Bay
and surrounding area. From there, families who followed the fur and fish trades often chose to relocate to the abundant shores of Labrador, especially the active fishing settlement Cape St. Charles
.
Like many families of Labrador, the Pye family can quite accurately trace their ancestral lineage to the first Labrador immigrant colonists. Through a decisive combination of cultural integrity, oral history and invaluable parish Church records, the Labrador-Pye descendants have a unique window which to view their past, which quite preeminently, starts at the very beginning.
Lodge Bay is also residence to many members of the Nunatukavut
, formally known as the Labrador Metis Nation. The Nunatukavut
, currently the largest aboriginal group in Labrador, are the inherent descendants of both the immigrating Europeans of the 18th and 19th century, and the resident Labrador Inuit population. European men often intermarried Labrador Inuit woman, combining to create a distinct culture, ancestry and heritage based on the beliefs and practices of both parent cultures. Lodge Bay is accepted as the southernmost permanent community within the Nunatukavut
lands claims, although, the area surrounding Lodge Bay is also extensively considered.
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Encompassing a population of less than one hundred residents, the community has uniquely evolved from both early European colonization of Labrador, and the inimitable patterns of land and resource use by the migratory Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
population. The name Lodge Bay originated from the title Ranger Lodge, which was the name given to the area by trader and explorer, Captain George Cartwright
George Cartwright (trader)
George Cartwright , trader, explorer, born in Marnham, England, died unmarried in nearby Mansfield, England....
in the late 18th century. "Ranger" was the name of the wooden-mercantile ship Cartwright used to trade, map and explore the Labrador coast, while "Lodge" was the name given to English hunting camps in Great Britain at that time.
Geography
The community lies within a densely forested region located at the head of the St. Charles River. Nourishing a boreal ecosystemBoreal ecosystem
The term boreal is usually applied to ecosystems localized in subarctic and subantarctic zones, although Austral is also used for the latter....
, extensive forests of black spruce, white spruce and balsam fir cover much of the landscape. This ecosystem provides a healthy habitat for the populations of moose, wolves, bear, ptarmigan, rabbit and lynx that inhabit the area. The St. Charles River strategically opens into the mouth of Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
and the Great Caribou Islands. Large populations of Atlantic salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
annually migrate the St. Charles River to reach native breeding grounds. The surrounding bay is also home to a variety of fish species including trout, freshwater smelts and shellfish.
History
The InuitInuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
people of Labrador have had a long established relationship with the region enveloping Lodge Bay. Its environmental location provided an abundance of natural resources including fur, salmon, timber, and fresh water. The seasonal transhumance
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
lifestyle of the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
culture caused them to nomadically pursue these resources as a means of survival. Cartwright’s journal published in 1792 makes numerous references to the Inuit's instinctive use of the Labrador terrain, and a seasonal pursuance of trade at Ranger Lodge.
The Labrador Treaty of 1765, conducted by Governor of Newfoundland Sir Hugh Palliser
Hugh Palliser
Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Baronet was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
, would bring the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
of Labrador into a peaceful friendship with the British government and eventual settlers. Until this time, the invasion of Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
territory by French, British, and American merchants, often left Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
people hostile to both early settlers and merchant trading crews. However, not all Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
and Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
were contentious with the presence of Europeans. The trading firms established throughout Labrador would eventually benefit the native inhabitants, providing them with industrious goods such as steel tools, clothing, and firearms. The treaty was signed in August of 1765 at Chateau Bay
Chateau Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Chateau Bay is a settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador....
, Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, representing the interests of both Sir Hugh Palliser
Hugh Palliser
Admiral Sir Hugh Palliser, 1st Baronet was an officer of the British Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
and the Southern Labrador Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
. Although this peace treaty would lead to a steady increase of trade and settlement on the coast, the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
of Labrador would eventually be pressured from their southern homes to areas north of Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
, and thus vacating the resourceful territory of Lodge Bay.
Captain George Cartwright
George Cartwright (trader)
George Cartwright , trader, explorer, born in Marnham, England, died unmarried in nearby Mansfield, England....
would establish his first partnered trading post in Labrador at Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
in the year 1770. That same year, this brave English explorer would establish his own private merchant venture at Lodge Bay. Cartwright actively explored, traded, and established strong relationships with the resident Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
and Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
people of Labrador. Cartwright's close relationship with the Aboriginal people, and their discerning knowledge of the land, caused Cartwright to extend his business to claim posts at Ranger Lodge, presently Lodge Bay (1770–74), Caribou Castle, today's community of Cartwright
Cartwright, Newfoundland and Labrador
-Further reading:*Buckle, Francis Labrador Diary, 1915-1925: the Gordon journals. Cartwright: Anglican Parish ISBN 0-9733448-0-6 -External links:*...
(1775–78), and Stage Cove (1774–75). The relentlessly competitive salmon and fur trade eventually left Captain George Cartwright
George Cartwright (trader)
George Cartwright , trader, explorer, born in Marnham, England, died unmarried in nearby Mansfield, England....
bankrupt in 1784. His remaining trading firms and supplies were eventually sold at market to rival merchants, although, his first inspiring post at Ranger Lodge had been destroyed by fire in 1772.
With the acceleration of European colonization in the 19th and early 20th century, Lodge Bay was primarily used as a wintering station for the seasonal and year round fishing crews who frequented the Labrador Coast. Most of these early settlers were driven by the industrious fish trade, particularly cod, mackerel, herring and salmon, however, the Canadian fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
also attracted many brave pioneers to this remote area.
Lodge Bay was the accepted site of seasonal settlement for many of the same reasons the Labrador Inuit had practiced use of the area, the unrestricted abundance of resources. This transient lifestyle caused early settlers to reside at often two locations throughout the year. During summer until late autumn, families often lived at the distant outlying communities of Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
, Henley Harbour or Battle Harbour. These summer stations were built strategically exposed to the Atlantic Ocean where fishermen could maximize profits of the lucrative fish trade. While conjointly, interior communities such as Lodge Bay and nearby Mary’s Harbour were established for a life during the occasionally treacherous winter and early spring seasons. Winter settlements were immensely focused on trapping
Trapping
Trapping may refer to:* Animal trapping, the remote capture of animals* Trapping , a fighting technique and range* Trap , a color management technique* Mantrap, a security device...
, wood harvesting, boat repair and seal hunting
Seal hunting
Seal hunting, or sealing, is the personal or commercial hunting of seals. The hunt is currently practiced in five countries: Canada, where most of the world's seal hunting takes place, Namibia, the Danish region of Greenland, Norway and Russia...
.
The community of Lodge Bay would become a permanently lived-in community at the beginning of the 20th century. A steady decline of both the cod and salmon fisheries in the early 20th century, with a moratorium
Collapse of the Northern Cod Fishery
In 1992 the Canadian government declared a moratorium on the Northern Cod fishery that, for the past 500 years, had largely shaped the lives and communities of Canada’s eastern coast...
to the cod fishery in 1992, would lead to the mass resettlement of many seasonal fishing communities. The families of nearby Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
, Carrol’s Cove
Carrol Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Carrol Cove is a settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador....
, Henley Harbour and others were forced to resettle and seek employment elsewhere. Residents of Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
who solely used Lodge Bay as a winter settlement, would forcefully return to their winter homes to reside permanently.
Culture
Many immigrant settlers chose to make Lodge Bay their seasonal home, however none more prominent than the historical “Pye” family. The Pye family surname is an ancient extraction of purely BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
origin. The name was notorious in the late 15th century, solely concentrated in the Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
County of southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Over time, many families bearing the Pye surname immigrated to the colony of Newfoundland, more particularly the Conception Bay
Conception Bay
Conception Bay is a Canadian bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The bay indents the Avalon Peninsula with the opening of the bay to the Atlantic Ocean at the northeast. It is bounded by Cape St. Francis in the south and Split Point near Bay de Verde in the north...
and surrounding area. From there, families who followed the fur and fish trades often chose to relocate to the abundant shores of Labrador, especially the active fishing settlement Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles
Cape St. Charles is a headland on the coast of Labrador in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At longitude 55°37'15"W it is the most easterly point on the continental North America....
.
Like many families of Labrador, the Pye family can quite accurately trace their ancestral lineage to the first Labrador immigrant colonists. Through a decisive combination of cultural integrity, oral history and invaluable parish Church records, the Labrador-Pye descendants have a unique window which to view their past, which quite preeminently, starts at the very beginning.
Lodge Bay is also residence to many members of the Nunatukavut
Nunatukavut
Nunatuĸavut or NunatuKavut means "Our ancient land" in the ancestral Inuktitut dialect of the NunatuKavummuit people. The Inuit region encompasses Southern Labrador, from the Churchill River, South to Lodge Bay and West to the extent of the official border between Quebec and Labrador...
, formally known as the Labrador Metis Nation. The Nunatukavut
Nunatukavut
Nunatuĸavut or NunatuKavut means "Our ancient land" in the ancestral Inuktitut dialect of the NunatuKavummuit people. The Inuit region encompasses Southern Labrador, from the Churchill River, South to Lodge Bay and West to the extent of the official border between Quebec and Labrador...
, currently the largest aboriginal group in Labrador, are the inherent descendants of both the immigrating Europeans of the 18th and 19th century, and the resident Labrador Inuit population. European men often intermarried Labrador Inuit woman, combining to create a distinct culture, ancestry and heritage based on the beliefs and practices of both parent cultures. Lodge Bay is accepted as the southernmost permanent community within the Nunatukavut
Nunatukavut
Nunatuĸavut or NunatuKavut means "Our ancient land" in the ancestral Inuktitut dialect of the NunatuKavummuit people. The Inuit region encompasses Southern Labrador, from the Churchill River, South to Lodge Bay and West to the extent of the official border between Quebec and Labrador...
lands claims, although, the area surrounding Lodge Bay is also extensively considered.