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Nutaui’s Cap Background
During the period 1986 to 1990, the Innu Nation engaged in a historic struggle for their rights and their land. Although this time of protests did not end in 1989, this was the time of the most intense protests.It was a formative time filled with many stories of courage and heroism that helped them dispel despair and invite hope for the future. This time of protest provides the background for the story of Nutaui’s Cap. I visited Sheshatshiu in March/19 and the changes in thirty years were dramatic. They have a beautiful school (overcrowded but new), a new health centre, an arena and many new homes. Although some problems still exist, the community has come a long way on the road to recovery.
All photography provided by bob bartel
Mary Ann
Penashue
Mary Ann Penashue grew up in the isolated community of Mud Lake, across the Churchill River from Happy Valley, Labrador. It is inaccessible by road. She grew up living on the land, raised by her grandparents. Mary Ann started painting in her mid-thirties when her husband Peter bought her paints for her birthday. Mary Ann was named “Emerging Artist of the Year” by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council in 2007 and graduated from the Ottawa School of Art Fine Art diploma program in 2016. In 2019, a painting of hers was chosen for the permanent collection of the Provincial Art Bank at The Rooms provincial museum in St. John’s. Mary Ann presently lives in Sheshatshiu.
Nutaui’s Cap
The book’s cover.
Nanass 2019
Nanass is her Innu name, a name always used by her grandmother. She wanted this name used in Nutaui’s Cap. When I visited with her in March, she said she often fished with Nutaui with the tin can gear and had often been overflown. She also said that she attended every protest. The story of her sleeping with Nutaui’s Cap was told to me thirty years ago by her Aunt Manimat. It was a story that needed to be told. Nanas lives in Sheshatshiu and is presently the Human Resources Director for the Sheshatshiu Band Council. (Photo provided by Nanass.)
Sheshatshiu
School
Nutaui’s Cap will be released in three languages, English and two dialects of the Innu language, (Northern - used in Nutuashish and Southern - used in Sheshatshiu). As this is the first children’s book about this time period 1986 -90, the schools will be receiving multiple copies from the publisher, Running the Goat Press.
Camille
Fouillard
Camille has been a driving force behind Nutaui’s Cap. When I first sought her opinion of what I had written, I did so on the basis of our friendship during protest days. However, she happened to be the Curriculum Development Coordinator for the Natuashish and Sheshatshiu schools, and she had a vision for the book much larger than mine. She is a book editor and an author as well. We can expect her novel to be published soon.
Marnie
Parsons
Marnie owns Running the Goat Press, Books and Broadsides. The press specializes in children’s literature that connects to its focus on Newfoundland and Labrador-based or Atlantic Canadian writing. Her shop is located in the picturesque community of Tors Cove near St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Language Keepers
There are two dialects of the Innu-aimun language in Labrador. The southern dialect is spoken in Sheshatshiu and the northern dialect in Nutuashish. These dialects are different because of the distance between the two groups of Innu people.
Stella Rich translated the Nutaui’s Cap into dialect used by the Sheshatshiu Innu.
Sebastien Piwas did the Mushua Innu-aimun translation (northern dialect) of the book.
Marguerite Mackenzie helped with the translations and standardization of the spellings.
A glossary of every Innu word in the story is added to provide translations. Innu students can use the glossary to help them with language skills in their schools.
Sheshatshui, Labrador
Nanass’ family’s home community.
Minaunipi Lake
Nanass’ family hunting grounds that were overflown by NATO air force jets.
RUnning the Goat Press
Tors Cove, Newfoundland