(click here to find location on the map)
The French Room Cultural Center is a happening place. A non profit organization run by volunteers, they strive to preserve the local history of Port au Choix. Although we were there in early June, before they open for the season, one of the volunteers who was around let us in. She gave us a tour of the building and information about what they did there. The building at this location provides historical information about the peninsula and the peoples past and present.
Outside, the surrounding land marks one of 3 cemeteries discovered in 1967 and 1968. They belonged to the Maritime Archaic Indians who lived in this area 3000 to 7000 years ago. The burials found dated from 3300 to 4400 years ago. A treasure trove of artifacts provide a wealth of information regarding the technology, spiritual culture and economy of these people. Evidence shows that the sea and its available resources played a huge role in the lives of these people.
(click photos to enlarge)
Another focus of the cultural center are the "French Deserters" of hundreds of years ago.These men jumped ship, making the Northern Peninsula their home. Existing english laws and a signed treaty forbade them from settling permanently in the area. Since desertion was against the law these people would not speak French or discuss their culture for fear of being found out. Since there was not even an oral history being kept the knowledge of this time is lost. Finally in 1904 a new treaty made it legal for the French to set up permanent residence but they were still forbidden to speak French. Today the families who are desendents of the French deserters do not speak French and have no record, written or verbal, of their cultural roots in this area.
In an effort to discover more about their heritage a French bread oven has been built at the beginning of Barbace Cove Trail, that is used to make fresh bread through the summer for the tourists. These communal ovens were used by the French fishermen. The schedule for the baking is available at the French Room Cultural Center.
At the Barbace location there is also a replica of a "chalupe" a boat that had been used by the French for fishing.
(click photos to enlarge)
Before you head to Newfoundland, you may want to consider one or more of the great field guides that are available. We have done short reviews of the following:
Newfoundland books available from Amazon.ca (Canada)
Newfoundland books available from Amazon.com (USA)