In her short life, Shanawdithit saw her family die from disease and starvation. She was shot by a white trapper and later captured and taken to St. John's. But she spent her final years preserving the story of the Beothuk. This is her story. 🧵 1/10 - ThreadSky

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social • 2 days ago

In her short life, Shanawdithit saw her family die from disease and starvation. She was shot by a white trapper and later captured and taken to St. John's.
But she spent her final years preserving the story of the Beothuk.
This is her story.

🧵 1/10

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cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

Shanawdithit was born near a large lake in the interior of Newfoundland sometime around 1801.
By this point, the Beothuk population was dwindling due to disease, starvation and attacks from settlers on the island who cut off access to the sea for the Beothuk.

🧵 2/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

As a child, while she was washing venison in a river, a white trapper shot her. She slowly recovered from the injury.
In 1819, her aunt Demasduit (pictured) was captured by settlers. Four years later, Shanawdithit's father died when he fell through ice.

🧵 3/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

Soon after, Shanawdithit, her mother Doodebewshet and her sister came across trappers while searching for food. The three women were taken to St. John's where her mother and sister died of tuberculosis.

🧵 4/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

Shanawdithit was renamed Nancy April a month after she was captured. She was taken to the home of John Peyton where she worked as a domestic servant and learned English. In September 1828, she was moved to the home of William Cormack.

🧵 5/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

Cormack was the founder of the Beothuk Institution. In his home, Shanawdithit told him the story of her people. He recorded much of what she said in notes, accompanied by the drawings that she made. She remained in his home until early 1829.

🧵 6/10

cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social•2 days ago

Shanawdithit then moved to the home of the colony's attorney general James Simms. She remained with him for the last months of her life. By this point, she was very sick and the colony's doctor William Carson tended to her.
On June 6, 1829, Shanawdithit died.

🧵 7/10

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