Our culture is smokin' hot!
Our tourism ads are shameless in playing up this attractiveness.
We're charming and unique. We look good and when we bat those outport eyes, there's no one resisting our come-hither look. Everyone wants a piece of us because we are enchanting, desirable and different ... in a good kinda way.
But ironically our assets are also fading. Our outports are expiring - our youth are outmigrating, our seniors are left holding the fort and our detached government is using us for our seductiveness in tempting tourist, but they are not willing to pay the price to keep us sustainable.
As is typical with this Government, a Cultural Plan developed seven years ago has withered on the vines.
http://www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/publications/2006/culturalplan2006.pdf
So, it was uplifting to read of not one, but three projects in the weekend's Telegram that are not only rejoicing in the rural way of life, but fighting to keep it alive and well.
Out in Fogo, something visionary is taking shape. The Fogo Island Inn is hopefully just the beginning of a brilliant cultural renaissance that will sweep across our fair isle. Built on the rocky shores of the Atlantic ocean, this inn is a blend of tradition with innovation. Imagine an inn with a library, art gallery, theatre and fitness centre with the expected restaurant? Its owners ensured that not only was everything influenced by island life, but built on Fogo Island - quilts, floors, walls and lights all constructed by Newfoundlanders and Labrador while employing those on the island. I love their philosophy of "finding new ways with old things" like structuring part of the Inn on stilts - a symbolic reverence to the stilts of our iconic flakes which dried our fish that fed the world for centuries.
http://www.fogoislandinn.ca/ourstory.php
Still on the North coast, there is the town of Port Union - "the only town in North America built by an union". This is a town that has a unique fishing history involving Coaker's Fishermen's Protective Union and an inspiring community spirit which works tirelessly in keeping this heritage alive. The town's richness is the focus of "The Culture of Outports Project" sponsored by a Toronto architectural firm ERA Architects. The team will delve into what makes that town and surrounding areas special and parlay it into a cultural community build project. A wonderful initiative!
Just further along at Bonavista is The Matthew - a replica of John Cabot's 1497 ship which has in recent times been out of commission. I was there in 1997 when it sailed into the Bonavista harbour on the 500th anniversary of Caboto's landing in our fair province. It is heartwarming to know that this great ship will hopefully be repaired and enrich the town's and surrounding area's array of historical assets.
Cod bless us - it took centuries to shape us into the beauty that we are. Let us not forget who we are, no matter that governments only half-heartedly support our rural values and lives.
Let us be inspired by our own self-worth and our deeper beauty of culture, heart and soul. The stories above behoove us to become cultural warriors fiercely protecting our smokin' hot precious heritage - not just for tourist, but for ourselves and our children!
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