The Canada Atlas

Learn / People who shaped Canada

Shanawdithit

The last known Beothuk · c. 1801-1829

Shanawdithit
William Gosse more likely Philip Henry Gosse · Public domain

Drew the maps and the vocabulary that are almost all anyone knows of her nation.

Follow this life on the map

Life story

  1. c. 1801 · Exploits River, Newfoundland
    Born into the Beothuk, already reduced to a few dozen people
  2. April 1823 · Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland
    Starving, she surrendered with her mother and sister; both died within weeks
  3. September 1828 · St. John's, Newfoundland
    Taken in by William Cormack, she drew ten sketches recording Beothuk life and language
  4. June 6, 1829 · St. John's, Newfoundland
    Died of tuberculosis at St. John's at about 28

Sources