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February 16, 2000
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


Beothuk Institute announces the completion of a Beothuk commemorative statue

The Beothuk Institute is pleased to announce the completion of a commemorative statue of a Beothuk woman. The life-size bronze statue, designed and built by artists Gerry Squires and Luben Boykov, commemorates the strength and pride of the now-extinct indigenous people of Newfoundland and Labrador. The statue will be unveiled in July of this year at its permanent home, the Boyd�s Cove Beothuk Interpretation Centre.

The total cost of the project was estimated at $180,000, including design, materials, construction, site selection and installation. The Institute raised nearly $70,000 through corporate and private contributions. The project has been approved for partial funding through the Government of Canada Millennium Partnership Program, and is supported by a $40,000 contribution from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

The Beothuk Institute, successor to the institution established by William Cormack in 1827, has a mandate to undertake activities that further public understanding of the Beothuk people and their unique culture. "This is a very exciting and timely project," said Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "It is perhaps overdue. The statue created by Gerry Squires and Luben Boykov is a provocative reminder that we were not the first to call Newfoundland and Labrador home, and we will likely not be the last."

"I am very pleased that this project has been such a success," said George Baker, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador. "It is important that we continue to learn from all the experiences, the celebrations and the tragedies of our past. The Beothuk people will not be forgotten by Canada."

"With this major project complete we can devote more time and energy to our education goals," said Beothuk Institute chair, Dr. Phil Warren. "We have achieved our first goal, and that gives us great optimism as we move ahead. I hope more people will come forward to join us in this important endeavour."

The statue was cast from nearly 300 kg of bronze and stands just over six feet tall. The Beothuk Institute is a non-profit organization run by a volunteer board of directors, under the patronage of their honours the Lieutenant Governor Dr. A.M. House and Mrs. Mary House.

For more information on the "Beothuk Commemorative Statue" project or on the Government of Canada�s millennium initiative, visit the Canada and the Millennium web site at www.millennium.gc.ca or phone 1-800-O-CANADA.

For further information contact: Anne Pratt, Beothuk Institute, (709) 772-0155

Media contact: Mary MacNab, Communications, (709) 729-0928 or (709) 682-0366.

2000 02 16 3:20 p.m


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