How Newfoundland And Labrador Lost Their Independence

[@Kevin_C_Leonard_63]

Much of the debt that Newfoundland accrued was the result of raising its own fighting force, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, during WWI. They were the only North American force to fight alongside the ANZACS at Gallipoli, and later on were all but wiped out during the Battle of the Somme, although they did recover and served with distinction on the western front for the remainder of the conflict.

[@markaxworthy2508]

Yes. Military pensions and wound allowances weighed heavily on Government finances in the 1920s. In WWII the UK paid for the active NFL units which, as artillery, suffered much lower losses and Canada collectively ended up paying for the military pensions and wound payments. So the lesson was learnt.

[@floopydoopy9410]

For what tho? Like what did NF gain by sending troops? It’s not like they were dragged into the war like USA or Canadia

[@kidmanwalters4236]

@@floopydoopy9410 it was our homeland and she called to her sons . This world's what we make it . I miss the old patriotic ways . We used to have pride and collective motivation for our actions . We used to get shit done . Newfoundland went for pride and for honour . Everyone else did their duty and so did we , with little complaint. In Newfoundland you won't hear people disgusted with our wartime contributions, only pride and determination

[@markaxworthy2508]

@@floopydoopy9410 To repeat, there was a wider British kith-and-kin identity at the time and Newfoundlanders felt it was in their interest to support Britain. You have to remember that it was only a decade before WWI that the British got the French to withdraw claims on the west coast of Newfoundland and it only became a self-governing Dominion in 1907. It had no army, because the Royal Navy protected it, and all its service manpower consisted of RN reservists because it had no naval vessels of its own.

[@teeesen]

“For what tho?” Although the Dominion of Newfoundland was an independent country in most respects, it did not have much independence from the UK in foreign policy, same as the rest of the Commonwealth. So when the UK declared war in 1914, Newfoundland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all the other Commonwealth countries were dragged in without any choice. However, we still accrued expenses. E.g., the cost of transporting troops across the ocean, feeding them, and supplying them were all charged back to the former colonies. Furthermore, they were under the command of British generals. Newfoundland did not have an army but rather a regiment. And those generals cared even less for the lives of the “colonials” than they did for their own countrymen.

[@lifefordummies]

Hello from a small cove community in Newfoundland! I am a 10th generation Newfoundlander (3rd generation Canadian) Thank you for making this video! There is another factor worth mentioning which helped lead to our demise. The severe losses we suffered in France in WW1 We lost many of our leaders and greatest men in the first morning of the battle of the Somme. Less then 10 percent of our army answered the role call then next morning. It was terrible stuff.

[@MrPerfesser]

My uncle was a USAF officer stationed at Goose Bay during the Cold War and I still have his lapel pin from the Goose Bay Curling Club. He told me Canadians pronounced it New-fun-LAND and lab-ruh-DOOR. And if that's the way they pronounce it, that's the way we should, as well. God bless our good friends and great neighbors in the True North, Strong and Free!

[@wswerv1]

@@MrPerfesser right on. Easiest way to remember the pronunciation is that Newfoundland rhymes with understand

[@intentpascal2015]

I live in goose bay!! We have a great museum here and the military respect still runs strong 😊😊

[@DaiAtlus79]

im pretty sure that club is still standing, its on the old canadian side of the base in GB.

[@linh8997]

Wow. My grandfather was born in Newfoundland in about 1870 something . he was a fisherman , and he spent all of his summers in Labrador. No wonder he hated living in Massachusetts so much. wow. This video really opens my eyes a bit. No wonder he was so gruff!

[@linh8997]

Huh. He was a tough dude!

[@alexanderfvarela]

@@linh8997 not you replying to yourself :skull:

[@bleachmaster99]

We are a very hearty bunch. I’m born and raised in Newfoundland and as the son of a fisherman.

[@mikeparsons7923]

Newfoundlander here🤚 Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to learn about our history and culture, and for the care you put into showcasing it. Not many people know that we were once our own country.❤

[@rickhatesmisleadia7101]

because ya failed miserably so no one cares!

[@mikeparsons7923]

@@rickhatesmisleadia7101 That's what happens when your economy is left in shambles after fighting two world wars.

[@passatboi]

?? The "and Labrador" part wasn't added at confederation. Its name was officially changed from Newfoundland to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001.

[@davemcdonald5250]

Correct, I was going to say the same thing. I remember when it changed and the postal abbreviation was also changed, from NF to NL.

[@floopydoopy9410]

Canadians 😂

[@AdrianParsons]

But it was always referred to as Newfoundland & Labrador on all Provincial documents. 2001 was just when the Federal government caught up!

[@Mrskateboardboy]

I can't argue with you but can only say that our client in Newfoundland was the "Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission. I may even have an old drivers licence from the time with N&L on it. I was there in the very late 1970's. I left in March 1980.

[@ColePenner]

I think it’s important to mention that Labrador is currently suffering from a harsh wildfire season and Labrador City is under an evacuation.

[@Motorsportsgeek]

You mean arson

[@floopydoopy9410]

Some tweaker was off fent a started the fire

[@andrewbrockerville7142]

I miss home I'm from lab city

[@mrowniii]

Labrador has wildfire every single year since beggining of times.

[@bradygreen8642]

I don’t think that has anything to do with the context of this video

[@ShwaC.]

Great and informative video. I'm really glad you share your passion with the rest of us on YT!

[@stickynorth]

Newfoundland is Canada's Ireland both in terms of its ethno-religious makeup but also its chief export, people... Fort McMurray, Alberta is often called the second and third largest Newfoundland city and for a good reason... Out of work fishermen went to work in the Alberta oil patch and still live at home working on a 2-week in 2-week out rotation system... This is still what drives MOST traffic in and out of YMM/Fort McMurray Airport to this day... Ditto for YZF/Yellowknife where the in and out Diamond/Gold commuters still make up a large percentage of traffic on airlines that service both cities... I've met plenty of Easterners who do this wicked long commute cross Canada every two weeks...

[@Simon-nw9bf]

No other ethnic group would get such a cushy deal honestly. It's no secret that the Newfies on such cushy deals could be replaced overnight by Punjabis on minimum wage or less but they're kept on the payrolls to avoid a Newf separation crisis. Canada needs Newfoundland but it does not need Newfoundlanders.

[@xXLileastXx]

@Simon-nw9bf First off, there is no Newfoundland without Newfoundlanders. Second. Newfoundland and Nova Scotia aren't allowed to do well... because if they do, the st. Lawrence causeway becomes a much longer and more expensive shipping route. You have more than two-thirds of the voting power of Canada on the St. Lawrence River. What happens when industries moves farther east or closer to the south. 78 seats from Québec 121 in Ontario. Newfoundland 7 Nova Scotia 11. You lose lots of votes/power by pleasing 18 seats. Newfoundlands' entire economy has been deconstructed, disassembled and has become a bureaucratic trickle down economic situation over national insecurity to the US orbit and pleasing our stupid voting system. If you haven't read "Don't Tell The Newfoundlanders" Thats okay because a six part documentary is coming out on Fibe/Crave soon. And the 75 years of illusions will dissolve. vimeo.com/223194253

[@gimpytheimp]

@@xXLileastXx We know what the deal is here. It's always been that way with Newfoundland long before joining.

[@astiwine2354]

Those of Irish descent and Roman Catholic religion make up roughly 40 % of the population. Roughly 50% are of English, Welsh and Scottish descent and mostly Protestant. The rest have French and First Nation ancestry. The English-Irish division had caused some conflict in the past that but, with one exception, never resulted in major violence. A 'power sharing' arrangement was reached in the late 1800s that the people in Northern Ireland should have followed.

[@craigquann]

Lol. Good luck finding a foreigner that will work as hard and tolerate the weather like us. There's more newfies in Alberta than there are Albertans in some places. So mind your lip or we'll fold your clothes with you still in em.

[@liamobrien6151]

There are some important pivotal actions and decisions that affected the fate of the Dominion of Newfoundland. 1. NLers elected a National Assembly in 1946 to discuss and determine its fate. The Assembly voted on options for inclusion in any referendum. Options they wanted included "Responsible Government while seeking Economic Union with the US" (an option that was widely popular in NL at the time). The UK did not permit this option to appear on the ballot. 2. The UK did work with Canada to, in various ways, put its "thumb on the scale" in favour of Confederation with Canada. This started by even having Confederation on the ballot when there were numerous problems with this sequencing and defining terms of union (problems that would have also existed with a US Economic Union option - meaning the truest legal clarity would have resulted from a "stay with the Commission Govt for x years" vs "return to Responsible Govt" but instead, UK played favourites. They also did this with the phrasing of the Responsible Government; that ballot option read "as existed in 1933" - which for many conjured images of the worst point of time they can remember. NL in 1948 was in much better shape than in 1933. 3. While Smallwood and his supporters often frame Confederation as Canada being some kindly family member taking in a less fortunate cousin, the reality is Canada had immense interest in having NL in Confederation and not pursuing any agreements with the US. Newfoundland journalist Bren Walsh, in his 1985 book on Confederation ("More than a Poor Majority"), quoted from an official memorandum out of the Canadian Department of External Affairs from June 13th, 1947: "Newfoundland's economic union with the United States would greatly weaken the competitive of the eastern Canadian fishing industry, since the U.S. tariffs would no longer operate against Newfoundland fishery products. Under such circumstances, moreover, the Newfoundland [fishing] industry would undoubtedly attract U.S. capital. American Modernization of the Newfoundland fishery would jeopardize Canada's position." Canada, particularly the then-governing Liberal Party of Canada, got heavily involved in the referendum campaigns. The confederates had something like six or seven times the budget of the Responsible Government League or the Economic Union Party. There is even evidence of the advance sale of the six senate seats NL would have should it join Canada (all for fundraising). 4. Smallwood engaged in seriously troubling tactics A - taking advantage of recent hardships to further "run down" and disparage the capabilities of Newfoundland and Newfoundlanders as too poor and weak to be self-governing. . . calling NL a "third rate municipality" and "Cinderella of Empire." The scars from that campaign persist to this day and are even evident in some statements in this video. B - lying to the National Assembly and by extension, lying to Newfoundlanders. Charles F. Bailey, a member of the National Assembly representing Trinity South constituency warned about what confederation would mean for the fishery. He did so on November 25, 1947: "I Refer here again to British Columbia. On the coast of Vancouver Island in 1935 certain capitalistic concerns got control from the Canadian [federal] government. I was not able to get the whole story; but I found out that these trapmen had gotten control of the waters within the three mile limit and all the handline fishermen were not allowed inside it. I was told that RCMP were patrolling the coast. We [Newfoundland] have full control over our fisheries, something I believe we always had. I know something of the rows between trawlers and handline men. . . Should the people vote for Confederation, I want them to keep this in mind. There should be a clause whereby the federal government will not be able to lease any part of our waters to the detriment of the fishermen. I want our people, in negotiating for Newfoundland, whatever they do, not to turn our fisheries over to remote control. We want to see that the rights we have always fought for are kept for us." Smallwood responded: "I must say, the practice of the Department of Fisheries of Canada is this: any regulations they make governing the fisheries . . . all the practical details of the fishery, that is left entirely, completely, and absolutely to the province." This was incorrect. It's fairly clear Smallwood knew it. All these things were factors. Given the extremely narrow result in the 2nd referendum, they were likely deciding factors.

[@bradleygaudet9151]

Great video! Only mistake I saw is that the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador is erroneously spelled with Saint instead of with St. Meaning that the correct spelling is St. John's.

[@nlpnt]

An important distinction because of the need to disambiguate from Saint John, New Brunswick.

[@AsmodeanEmpire]

The “St.” is very important, less you end up in Saint John New Brunswick by mistake!

[@bradleygaudet9151]

Exactly, as this video cleverly points out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioiueYuimqqqfJofeature=shared

[@AlexScottENL]

@@AsmodeanEmpire you don’t want to end up in New Brunswick by mistake, that’s for sure

[@JesusFriedChrist]

L’Anse aux Meadows is the name. The translation is Meadows Cove, yes, but we don’t say the translation. We just say the name in French. Lahnse Oh Meadows

[@justinw5689]

@@JesusFriedChrist the translation is actually Jellyfish Cove. It was originally called L'Anse aux Méduse

[@Qing.Dynasty1636]

Vinland!

[@floopydoopy9410]

Canadians wanna be French so bad

[@imperium1707]

@@floopydoopy9410 because we were originally colonized by the french, so many people speak french and there is alot of french culture?

[@craigquann]

Newfoundlanders are French in many places. Many still speak French as they're first language. And France is the closest country physically to Newfoundland (St Pierre and Miquelon) so yes. We are as much french as we are anything else. I have equal ancestry of French, English, Irish and Mi'kmaq. With many of my extended family that are French.

[@KhangGetsStuckInThePast]

I've already known the existence of this nation but I didn't discover more about that. Thank you for making this interesting video.

[@cmhealy14]

Another source of income that could have helped maintain an independent Nfld was trade deals with the USA such as the Bond-Blaine Treaty. It was squashed by the UK privy council due to objections by Canada who competed with Nfld for similar trade with the USA. There were many in Nfld in 1948 who had disliked Canada, recognizing its role in stunting the economic growth of the dominion

[@zukeboy11yeet]

Love that Torngat Mountains got a shout out! It’s my dream destination ❤

[@gencreeper6476]

"Canada is 6 little countries in a trenchcoat pretending to be one big country".

[@magicfaithdestiny]

I mean you can say that about just about any country- the US, Russia, China, India, the UK

[@oilersridersbluejays]

It’s true. I live in Saskatchewan and the only provinces we share anything in common with is Alberta and Manitoba. BC seems like a lefty drug infested dump, Ontario seems like a bunch of Liberal snobs, Quebec is too self-absorbed in itself and wants to be like France without calling themselves France, and the Maritimes and Newfoundland all seem the same: just a bunch of strange people with funny accents. Not saying this is necessarily true, that’s just how we view the rest of Canada. Canada is very diverse. And no, there definitely is no single Canadian accent. In the Prairie Provinces we sound more like Americans from the Midwest with either a slight German or Ukrainian touch, depending on what town or area you’re from. I can tell people who are not from the Prairie Provinces the second they open their mouths.

[@groupewaite]

@@oilersridersbluejays Thé Québécois have absolutely no loyalty to France as they were abandoned by them years ago. The culture most similar to Quebec is English Canada. Regarding diversity, as someone pointed out, it is found in every nation state. Using France as an example as you don’t seem to aware of that country, Paris/Île de France is extremely different from Bretagne, Normandie, or Provence. Regarding the States, Texas has very little in common with the New England states. In the U.K. Shetland Islands or Aberdeen are quite a contrast to London, Surrey or Sussex. Kerala is quite different from Punjab or the Bengal State, one can go on and on….

[@mikeparsons7923]

This is so true.

[@jasonking6366]

You're right! Canada thinks it is a great world country or power....Just listen to the CBC..

[@patbrennan6572]

My dad always said that the worst thing that ever happened to the Island was the birth of Traitor Joey Smallwood.

[@towgod7985]

I just posted a comment very similar. Cheers.

[@Veggamattic]

He is my uncles uncle.

[@seanl548]

​@@VeggamatticSo?

[@Veggamattic]

@@seanl548 You must live quite a life. Trolls are sad.

[@revinhatol]

It was then one of the Commonwealth's richest countries, now it's the 10th province of Canada.

[@markaxworthy2508]

When was NFL "one of the Commonwealth's richest countries"?

[@revinhatol]

@@markaxworthy2508 Mineral booms.

[@markaxworthy2508]

@@revinhatol What mineral booms? The two main minerals were iron ore from Wabana on Bell Island and copper from Buchans. Neither was exactly a boom for most of NFL.

[@groupewaite]

@@revinhatol It never was one of the Commonwealth’s richest countries. NEVER.

[@markaxworthy2508]

@@groupewaite Very true. The social indicators in NFL were abysmal and it was for a century a producer of emigrants to the USA and Canada.

[@Hsalf904]

Thanks for making this video on the topic! However, I would not say it is “firmly Canadian” today. Many people still identify as Newfoundlanders first. There was no mention of Canada’s mismanagement and decimation of the fishing industry or the immense level of outmigration from Newfoundland since. NFLD’s position in Canada is far from ideal

[@kidmanwalters4236]

Yeah most people go by Newfoundlanders first , Canadians second

[@peterrussell3470]

I agree, not only Newfoundlanders but it seems that each region is identifyingwith thier region and not the country as a whole . I am all for regional affiliations but we are all also Canadian

[@kidmanwalters4236]

@@peterrussell3470 I almost have a stronger affiliation with Britain and the old patriotic ways now than I do with modern Canada

[@groupewaite]

@@Hsalf904 And its attempt at being an independent nation-state was far worse.

[@towgod7985]

​@@groupewaite not according to the Newfounlanders!

[@jaykuanmedina1257]

Love your videos! Thank you so much !

[@kparkz47]

Newfoundlander here! I’m gonna do a check list of sorts on topics from this video, first off our province is pronounced NEW-FIN-LAND not “new-finland”. Our winters are far from “mild”, we tend to get winter for around 7 months of the year but with that being said our weather is very bipolar and if you aren’t lucky could see sun, rain, hail, and snow all in one day. It’s rare for us to see or hear of any bears being on the island but in the winter there’s a chance of a polar bear who wandered over the ice sheet from Labrador. Also moose aren’t native to Newfoundland they were brought over from Nova Scotia and thought to help with the eco system but since they have no natural predators here they run rampant and cause car accidents. You pronounced Beothuk wrong it’s “BEE-OTH-ICK”. Good job on the video and thanks for taking the time to represent my province!

[@Joeage]

I agree. The mispronunciations were unbearable.

[@carolmurphy7572]

@kparkz47 A suggestion: if you're going to try to write words phonetically to assist the reader with pronunciation, please write only the syllable(s) which are emphasized in capital letters, not the entire word. Newfoundland, for example, is pronounced "NOOF-end-land" (with the last syllable being pronounced as in Disneyland, not "-lind").

[@justinw5689]

​@@carolmurphy7572I think new-fin-LAND is more common. Though I suppose ive put the emphasis on the first syllable from time to time

[@hancocki]

"Meadows Cove" and not L'Anse aux Meadows also got me.

[@kparkz47]

@@hancocki same

[@ODDentitypod]

I appreciate the level of research. One note: you’re pronouncing the name of the province oddly. It’s New-fun-land. An easy way to remember is “understand-Newfoundland.” You’re pronouncing it like New-Finland…is there an Old-Finland? 😁 Enjoyed watching!

[@Togangehver14dag]

@@ODDentitypod Kyllä. Vanha Suomi on Euroopassa.

[@MrJayehawk]

Sure, but at least he's not saying it like NewFOUNDland, as we so often hear people say it.

[@derbagger22]

Just came from spending 2 weeks in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It's quite an interesting place. The northern peninsula of Newfoundland is also sub arctic tundra at the tip and they can get some pretty heavy snowfall, too.

[@OutdoorWarrior]

As a Newfoundlander I’m sadden to see the misinformation on your video. Please read the book “don’t tell the Newfoundlanders”.

[@davidlynch4852]

What misinformation?

[@brianbee]

@@davidlynch4852 The offical name "Newfoundland and Labrador" was adopted on Dec 6th 2001 not in 1949.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

​@@brianbee I remember that. It was just called Newfoundland before then.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@@brianbeeI remember that, before then it was just called Newfoundland when I learned this in the 80's.

[@liberte456]

The biggest mistake in that video is the fact that most Labrador was part of Québec before 1927. You should review your map. Thanks

[@bounce12]

Yah wait until we get Churchill falls back!! That’s when a provincial war might be fought!! I’m paying $500 a month for electricity in a up to date home built 5 years ago and even on a budget plan I’m now up to $500 a month all year round!! Greed is all that’s holding us back from living a life that is cost effective!!!

[@jlm3744]

I also saw in another video a while back, that another major reason they wanted to settle Newfoundland and Labrador's status issue is because during WW2, lots of US military personnel and families moved to the island and slowly integrating in with the locals and making the economy better, so then there was a small Pro-US statehood movement growing, so the UK and Canadian governments wanted to move fast and pushed a referendum to not lose more land to the US.

[@bg1052]

They also kept the option of joining the U.S. off the ballot to completely remove that possibility

[@jlm3744]

@@bg1052 Correct👍

[@cmhealy14]

I was told that when the Americans built their bases in Newfoundland they had to agree to pay the locals less than what they wanted to originally as the Brits and their local leaders didn’t want the locals to know how terrible they treated them. If the yanks pay them too much they might stop slaving away for the merchants

[@maryrafuse2297]

While important US bases and military personnel hardly equaled the influence of the connections with Canada, especially Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Entire Communities in NS are populated with Newfoundland people. Port Hawkesbury in NS grew from a village into a substantial town with one of the last influxes of Newfoundland people circa 1961. Revisionist history at times forgets the Alphabet Fleet and the Ferry System beginning with the SS Bruce. Newfoundlanders took trips to Cape Breton to celebrate Dominion Day long before 1949 and long before US bases.

[@heronimousbrapson863]

Some have made a comparison between Newfoundland and Iceland. Both are islands in the north atlantic and both were colonies of European nations until the 20th century. Geography and resources should have favoured Newfoundland as an independent country, yet it's Iceland that became successful at being a nation. This has always puzzled me. Perhaps being colonized by Denmark (Iceland) was more advantageous than being a colony of the UK (Newfoundland).

[@yeetyeet1655]

We went into a massive amount of debt (tbh we’re still in debt)

[@mmyles65]

I would recommend reading "Don't tell the Newfoundlanders" by Greg Malone. It details the conspiracies between England, Canada and the United States to determine NL's fate after WW I.

[@OutdoorWarrior]

It’s not a conspiracy when it’s true. Secret Documents the British and Canadians released are in the nations archives

[@cyberclaude]

Labrador was not independant it was at first part of Quebec, but some englisjh lords who wanted to get their hands on the failing Labrador Mining Company made it independent from Quebec. When they gave it back to Canada, The canadian government, insrtead of returning it to its proper "owner" (Quebec) offereed it to Newfoundland in exchange of them joining Canada.

[@Survenant]

That's right, thank you!

[@terrysooley-zr4of]

I believe the name Newfoundland and Labrador was only adopted as the official name of the province in December 2001

[@gdunne315]

I live in St John's Newfoundland. Thanks for the video. It's very informative. I encourage everybody to come visit our little paradise. All are welcome.

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

When I was a kid I thought new found land was such a cool name. Still do

[@allenmorgan6847]

I would love a Northwest Territory and Yukon and Nunavut video

[@Dylanisgay911]

As a Newfoundlander I really enjoyed the video:)

[@jenghiskhan69]

Very good video

[@petersguazzato8291]

Amazing 👏👏

[@davidmcgee6258]

Totally terrific.

[@Hobotraveler82]

Cool. Never knew this. Wow. 😊

[@heinrichredlich3594]

Always wondered where the name Labrador originated from. Well, from Portuguese explorer Joao Fernandes Lavrador who was the first European who sailed the Labrador coast. At some point it was changed from Lavrador to Labrador. Lavrador means farmer in Portuguese. Oh and the breed of dog which bares its name also originated from this area. Very interesting.

[@cmhealy14]

Lavrador was Joāo fernandes’ title not surname. It means “Azorean land-holder”. And the name probably comes from Joāo’s title even though like Cabot and Newfoundland it’s not for sure he ever saw Labrador or just Greenland.

[@heinrichredlich3594]

@@cmhealy14 Voce fala Portugues?

[@AdrianParsons]

The "Labrador Retriever" was originally known as the "Lesser Newfoundland", while the "Newfoundland Dog" was known as the "Greater Newfoundland".

[@juliannorwich319]

There are some errors in the history. Newfoundland became a dominion (a colony which is completely internally self-governing, whilst Britain remains responsible for external affairs and defence) in 1907 - exactly 40 years after Canada achieved the same status, in 1867. Along with Canada (and Australia, NZ, Ireland and South Africa), Newfoundland became completely independent in 1931. In 1934, it voluntarily relinquished both internal and external independence and ceased to be a dominion (it did not become a dominion, per the video, that year). It was administered directly from Westminster as a crown colony until it joined the Dominion of Canada in 1949.

[@DaiAtlus79]

The Lake Melville area of Labrador is something to marvel at, as people there have their gardens planted before June, summers that can go past 40C, salmon rivers thrive, people grow things like corn and tomatoes, and its more akin to northern Ontario. Be aware, the way you showed the Inuit & Innu of Labrador gives the implication of relation, they are not. Inuit are their own people from Siberia to Greenland (including Nunatsiavut in Northern Labrador), whereas the Innu are 'First Nations' (or 'indian' as some used to refer to them as). There are two reservations but there is zero innu presences on Labrador's south coast (thats more southern Inuit who call themselves Nunatukavut) but there are Innu further down on the Quebec North Shore. but the Innu do not use Igloos or actual dog teams or the komatik, that is all Inuit. They live in proximity to each other (the 'border' is Northwest River which is over 50% Inuit and Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation Reserve across the river from it and formerly a part of NWR til 1976). The Inuit of Nunatsiavut live in their land claim negotiated by their treaty, a special administrative district called Nunatsiavut. Labrador never even got it's own MP til the 1980s, before then sharing one with Green Bay, an area in Central Newfoundland. Also of note, there is a lot of regional disparity between Labrador and Newfoundland as there is a history of Newfoundland exploiting Labrador's resources from mining to silviculture to fishing to hydroelectricity. also 14:12 that's not Labrador, that's Corner Brook/Curling/Bay Of Islands on Newfoundland's west coast (before Corner Brook existed, the pic was taken in Curling which to this day operates as a fishing town, now a part of the City Of Corner Brook).

[@PSP92262]

Anytime you say Newfoundland, the subtitles say "New Finland".

[@Cleaver152]

Yeah the pronunciation was jarring to me each time I heard it.

[@jimlawton4184]

@@Cleaver152really? Is it not the locally correct pronunciation?

[@Thfc]

@@jimlawton4184 not quite, Newfoundland rhymes with understand, the -land part is pronounced as it’s written, new-fn-land, not new-fin-lind

[@NonNone-qm4zi]

AI speech.

[@joshgander7240]

His pronunciation is not bad.Ive heard way worse from most people.

[@liamobrien6151]

hack to remember the local pronunciation of "Newfoundland" say "Understand? New-fund-land."

[@drebelx1]

Bro, the Labrador name comes from a Portuguese explorer. Plus Basque Fishermen were all over that area. There is a place in New Foundland called Channel-Port aux Basques.

[@AnonymousAnarchyst]

Newfoundland & Labrador was an automonous dominion within the British Empire but was basically a colony. A lot of Irish immigrated to Newfoundland & developed a distinct dialect of the Irish language on the island 🇬🇧🇨🇦🇮🇪 Canada is still part of the British Commonwealth but the British government doesn't have direct jurisdiction over Canada. I've spoken with some Canadians from different provinces & several of them said that they want their country to be an independent republic.

[@bjdon99]

Unfortunately for those that may want to toss the English crown aside, Justin’s dad Pierre made that almost impossible in the constitution they adopted in 1980.

[@joebloe4374]

Irish 100 years ago Let's leave one poor island with bad weather to go to another poor island with worse weather 😂

[@AnonymousAnarchyst]

@@joebloe4374 Ireland is a beautiful land, the Emerald Isle 🍀🇮🇪💚

[@AnonymousAnarchyst]

@@bjdon99 my Canadian history is a bit hazy, but is that from the Constitution Act of 1982, where Canada could amend its own constitution without approval from the UK?

[@bjdon99]

Yes. Any change to the status of the monarchy in Canada needs to be approved by both Houses of Parliament and all 10 provincial legislatures. It is hard to see that ever happening.

[@passatboi]

The title is kind of misleading. It didn't "lose its independence" to another power. It voted to join confederation.

[@bg1052]

Not really as it's suspension of self governance was not held to a public vote, it was just done by the government. It's one of the reasons why it had such a strong independence movement for a while, despite its previous economic hardship. It's initial loss of independence wasn't because of the people

[@patches.742]

Its also important to remember the first referendum vote was to remain, but the second referendum removed a 3rd option (to join the US). This vote was 52/48 and counted once. Theres a book called “dont tell the Newfoundlanders” that talks about it

[@kidmanwalters4236]

@@patches.742 it is a really good book. I don't think we would have joined America and I'm kind of glad that we didn't . The vote was awful tho . Many wanted to have another go at independence but within the empire still . However it's understandable that Britain couldn't afford us and Canada is a loyal member of the empire so we were given to them to look after

[@emkoravo]

If it gave up its independence, it lost it...

[@audiearmorer2686]

No kidding ...guess this BS....was made by an Uneducated American ....SAD!

[@adamlee3772]

A big thanks to you for making this video. Really interesting, my grandfather on my dads side was Canadian but took my father and English grandmother to UK just before WW2. He ended up joining the British army getting killed in Tunisia in May 1943. I sadly know little ese about him and I have never been to Canada. However, little bits of information on excellent videos like fill in some of the history about Canada. I visited the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge and the Newfoundland memorial at Beaumont Hamel, were Newfoundlanders considered to be British or Canadian troops in WW1 and WW2 as the CWGC website doesn't have a search option for Newfoundland when in the "Country Served" section?

[@judih.8754]

Get there! It's a beautiful country!

[@cmhealy14]

Newfoundlanders were Newfoundlanders and not Canadians in WWI. They fought beside them but no different than fighting beside other allies like the French and Australians. In fact Newfoundland fought in gallipoli along the ANZACs while Canadians did not. Vimy Ridge was built in honour of the Canadians (not including Newfoundland) who found and won at vimy ridge for the first time as a Canadian unit (and not just as part of a large British force) thus it is one of the early unifying moments for the then young nation. British troops and others failed to take the ridge but Canadians won and as Canadians, not just part of a bigger British empire group. Beaumont Hamel was where the Newfoundland regiment (basically the army raised to fight for the empire by the independent nation of Newfoundland) suffered its worse defeat on July 1st 1916 on the first day of the battle of the Somme. Of over 800 men to start the day, only 68 made roll call the following. As the country only had about 240,000 people, this was a devastating loss. Also, Newfoundland didn’t send its destitute to war. Most were the sons of the elites and leading families. The loss of these men, many not even in their 20s yet, was like a huge brain drain to the country which likely played a huge role in its collapse less than 20 years later when if not for the war many of them would have been its leaders and captains of industry. The Newfoundland government couldn’t afford a big fancy war memorial like other allied powers so it instead bought a piece of land where many of its people died and for the most part left it as it was. Hence while other nations have beautiful monuments, the Newfoundland memorial instead gives you a look of what the land probably looked like when those that fought, died there.

[@WanukeX]

13:32 - "and Labrador" was added in 2001, not 1949.

[@JUVI9596]

Excellent video. I’m Canadian and never quite understood about Labrador

[@sergemartin5731]

I remember my history teacher telling us that Labrador used to be part of Québec.

[@Countrybananas]

It never was

[@danbon7554]

@@Countrybananas Yes, it was! I had an old map of Canada showing Labrador being a territory part of the province of Quebec before Britain decided to give it to Newfoundland.

[@Countrybananas]

@danbon7554 A fake map means nothing you fool the fr0gs have been making fake maps for generations because they can't get over the fact Newfoundland has always owned Labrador which is why Newfoundlands lawyers beat Quebec's lawyers at the highest level of court possible in 1927. Keep crying about it though I love it.

[@ShadowDragon246]

​@@danbon7554 it never was. Quebec just claims it was. and to this day their maps of canada still show a majority of MY province as part of THEIRS

[@danbon7554]

@@ShadowDragon246 "the majority of MY province as part of THEIRS" Where did you learn that? You must have been having a nightmare. And yes Labrador has been part of Quebec for some time during the Dominion, it has changed various times in history. Originally Newfoundland, as a colony, only had the east coast of Labrador. Labrador has been a separate territory at times, and even part of the North-West Territories at other times. What Quebec was claiming is that the southern border should be as originally decided, meaning following the river instead of cutting straight south of the river as the Privy Council decided later. Do your research!

[@Reyesn7y]

The French haven’t completely left. You forgot to mention St. Pierre et Miquelon which is a 1.5 hour ferry ride that belongs to France to this day.

[@matthewgerwing6520]

Incredibly beautiful land. Love from your brother in Alberta.

[@Killersanchez256]

Interesting video, but only complaint is that the music conflicts too much with your voice and makes it hard for me to understand. Thank you for listening.

[@kalemc1665]

I like your video's but being from newfoundland I got to let you know that the name is said the way it's spelled New-found-land. Keep up the good videos!

[@89volvowithlazers]

I remember old maps in grade school having NewFoundland and Labrador in diff colors from Canada

[@AdrianParsons]

My (Newfoundlander) grandparents had a Rand-McNally globe that had all of Canada in pink...except for Labrador in orange. Took me years to consider that maybe they marked it as a contested territory, as it was contested by Newfoundland & Quebec.

[@haweater1555]

From the opening scene, the Mercator projection map super-exaggerates the Arctic islands, particularly Ellesmere. It is less than a ⅓ the size of Alberta.

[@ryonsanders4045]

Better research and substance than other videos recently so good job

[@ShellymanStudios]

Oh wow! I never knew Newfoundland And Labrador was its own country! I learned something new today!

[@adamlee3772]

I sort of knew this but didn't understand why. I visited the Newfoundland memorial at Beaumont Hamel and the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge so this does explain some reasons why they were considered separate back then.

[@wandagreening8597]

It was its own country for about 25 years. Until 1934 when it couldn't afford to be independent and went back to being a colony of England. In the late 1940s England didn't want to continue with Newfoundland as a colony so Newfoundland had to choose either becoming an independent country again, join Canada, or join the US. Couldn't afford to be independent country, didn't want to be Americans, so joined Canada.

[@steven.events]

_Don't Tell the Newfoundlanders_ by Greg Malone. 📚

[@RainbowPuddles]

OMG! as a Canadian I had no idea it wasnt till 1939 that NL&L became a province in Canada. like i know about the flame with all the creasts and dates but i guess i didnt look close enough. I also had no idea about the wars in NL&L. I wasnt taught any of this in school.

[@willmatheson]

The province was called Newfoundland upon joining in 1949. It was only at the end of 2001 that it formally became "Newfoundland and Labrador".

[@astoril5023]

Thank you for using meters instead of feet in this video

[@McRocket]

Fascinating story. Thank you for telling it. ☮

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

great video joey

[@hoboonwheels9289]

I took the opportunity in 1998 to drive across Canada from Alberta to pick up my son who with government program called Katimivik volunteered in Guelph, La Mal Baie and on Bell Isle in Conception Bay. When I get another opportunity I'd focus on a province or two and train or fly to them. Its a long drive and I didn't have nearly enough time. Funny just recently I was wondering why Labrador was never part of Quebec, still don't know.

[@rajivmurkejee7498]

Interestingly-well at least to me- Nfld has the same population as another former British settler island colony-Tasmania

[@donatist59]

Adding Labrador to the name was also a challenge to Quebec whose provincial government often maintained a ridiculous territorial claim over Labrador. For decades official maps of Quebec showed Labrador as part of Quebec or just omitted any visible border.

[@AsmodeanEmpire]

It’s pronounced new-f’n-LAND, rhymes with Understand. Or Disney Land. Every time we hear “newfinlind” it’s nails on a chalkboard!

[@ShadowDragon246]

Newfoundland is pronounced as it is spelt.... New-found-land OR New-Fun-Land. it is NOT pronounced New-fin-len like they are butchering it..... all of those south canadians"americians" pronounce the Dog properly.. but then butch the namesake province the dog is named after!?!?!?!?!?

[@shiftfocus1]

I think it’s a serious oversight to not mention the devastating economic and social impact of WWI on Newfoundland. Without the disproportionate losses in young men suffered in Europe, the outcome might have been different.

[@dylandonnelly7649]

Love stumbling upon videos about home!

[@danily11]

Joey Smallwood is one of the most interesting figures in Canadian history. I strongly suggest watching the documentary Waiting for Fidel

[@carolinesharp4879]

Dude, there is so much you missed regarding French and Mi’kmaq relationships and how the Mi’kmaq ended up moving to NL in more numbers. Joey Smallwood did not claim having Indigenous people on the land when they joined Canada which has serious implications and troubles for the Mi’kmaq people today.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

Back then, NL was a British territory at the time. Weird why they became part of Canada.

[@groupewaite]

Why? Both are former British dominions, both were and are monarchies with the same head of state. Seems pretty natural to me.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

@@groupewaite, Canada became the first Dominion of the British Empire becoming independent on July 1, 1867. Originally, it consists of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia as they build a railway between Windsor in Ontario and Halifax and Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. As Canada expands, the railway goes north of Lakes Huron and Superior and through the Prairies and then it makes it to Vancouver. Dominions formed their own government, but kept the monarch as their head of state.

[@groupewaite]

@@CrystalClearWith8BEYes, i know that! Why is that weird that Newfoundland joined the Canadian confederation???

[@cmhealy14]

It took two referendums. Independence won the first but as it didn’t get 51% they had a second one with the third option (remain a colony) removed in which confed won 52 to 48%. Many question its validity and wonder if England may have weighted the scales. 1940s Newfoundland got a taste of American prosperity after centuries of British austerity. And these were saviours of the free world Americans whose image wasn’t yet tainted by Vietnam and other Cold War ventures. I doubt an independent Newfoundland would have survived long but next time it fell it may have been Uncle Sam offering a bail out instead of mother England and the dominion may have then become either a US territory like Puerto Rico or quite possibly a state (remember in 1949, both Alaska and Hawaii were also territories and unlike those two distant lands, Newfoundlanders were pretty much just cold water Bostonians).

[@marklittle8805]

Newfoundland had no choice in the end. The referendums were the Newfs being dragged kicking and screaming into the Canadian Confederation . But the Brits were shedding the empire and the idea of the US taking over was not going to fly either.

[@1982kinger]

Newfoundland is kinda like Canada's New Zealand

[@NicholasKennedy-b1v]

If you're going to do a large array of research into a topic you gotta pronounce it right....

[@palsada1166]

What is with the background music?

[@xeykdeyk]

And 10 seconds in you mispronounce the name.. New-fin-land is how it is said, If your going to say it wrong at least say New-Found-land as it is spelled, not New-finland, do people actually think its a new Finland like New York or New Hampshire or New Orleans?

[@pulchrare2]

@@xeykdeyk As my nan says, Understand Newfoundland! They rhyme! The emphasis goes on New AND Land.

[@Dankfort]

I'm sure he doesn't think it's New Finland. He literally spells it in the video

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Most people pronounce it as he does. The only people who pronounce it your way are foreigners and the “politically correct”.

[@AdrianParsons]

@@oilersridersbluejays I have heard Newfoundlanders described many ways, but this is the first time I've heard "politically correct" used!

[@MooresGroup]

A couple books to read about Newfoundland history if you're interested: More Than a Poor Majority by Bren Power and Come Near at Your Peril by Patrick O'Flaherty.

[@Rktect3902]

My dad was stationed at a US Air Force post at the northern top of Labrador in the late 1940's early 50's. It made a profound I impact on him throughout his life.

[@amoore2539]

My dad was stationed there too at that time. Met and married my mom at Fort Pepperrell, St. John's. Mom passed in 2017 and never lost her voice accent.

[@tch1005]

'Meadows Cove'? It's L'Anse aux Meadows (Pronounced Lance oh)

[@ShadowDragon246]

ah. not oh*

[@davidritchie1272]

Is there any other example of an independent State basically declaring bankruptcy and going out off business?

[@milenpenchev]

Scotland

[@davidritchie1272]

@@milenpenchev Right, the Drien Scheme disaster, 1707.

[@davidritchie1272]

Darien Scheme

[@cmhealy14]

Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain just about 16 years ago. And pretty much most of South America at one time or other. Fortunately for them the IMF existed (or for some South Americans, teddy Roosevelt and his love for the Monroe doctrine did). And Newfoundland didn’t declare bankruptcy. It wanted to but the UK wouldn’t let it (probably because they were the ones who the money was owed to). So instead to cover its debts it was forced to give up its independence. And to think, the Greeks thought the Germans and the EU gave them a hard bargain in 2008. Maybe it’s a cruel comparison but the closest to Nfld giving up independence to UK rule would probably be the German Annexation of Austria in 1938.

[@bjdon99]

I believe Jamaica back in the 1700s

[@andrewtaylor8598]

My father became a Canadian at the age of nine at 11:45pm on March 31, 1949 when, as you have pointed out, his country became a part of Canada. My understanding is that they rolled the time back 15 minutes from midnight so that it would not occur on April Fools Day which given the political climate in Newfoundland would give rise to quite some rhetoric. Recognizing that Newfoundland was its own independent country is a fact lost on most Canadians. I think that comes in part because, at the time just before the union with Canada, Newfoundland was under direct rule from Britain. In fact, it remains the only place within the British Empire to give up democracy. Granted, it regained democracy with the union with Canada. There are a few errors I noted in the video which I, respectfully, explain here. First, upon union with Canada, the name remained the Province of Newfoundland. If you look up "Newfoundland Act" on Wikipedia, you will see a section titled Amendments. The last amendment called Constitution Amendment, 2001 (Newfoundland and Labrador) changed the name of the province from the Province of Newfoundland to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. When Canada first adopted the two-letter postal abbreviations for the provinces and territories, Newfoundland was assigned NF. With this change of name, the postal abbreviation became the present NL. It is hard to find this on the internet as most official websites tend to show the consolidated acts as they are presently amended. The Newfoundland Act as presented on a website of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador gives the impression that it was 1949 that the name changed due to showing the consolidated act, but the amendment was in 2001. Second, in pronouncing Newfoundland, there are three commonly used versions, one that is accepted by Newfoundlanders as correct and two as incorrect versions spoken by those "from away" who don't know better. The more common incorrect version is pronounced like the three words that make up the name of the island, new found land. I hear this from almost any American and some mainlander Canadians when discussing the Newfoundland Dog. The correct way of pronouncing it is newf-in-land. Think of the first syllable as a shortening of the term Newfie, just without the ie. The second syllable is just a slurring of found but without the f because it is in the first syllable. The last syllable is simply the word land pronounced correctly. The other incorrect version is pronounced much like the correct way except there is vowel shifting in the last syllable. It is this version that is used in the video. There was an interview that Larry King had with Paul McCartney and then NL Premier Danny Williams regarding the seal hunt. No matter how much Danny tried to correct Paul, he didn't get it right. The closest he got was New Finland which is putting the f in the wrong syllable. Paul was in PEI when doing the interview yet he couldn't be convinced that he was not in Newfoundland. And lastly, in English, Premier is pronounced pre-me-er. Premier is the French version of Prime Minister and these days it is common to use the term Premier in English when referring to the Prime Minister of a province or territory. As late as the 1970's the term Prime Minister was officially used in Ontario. When the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premiers of the provinces and territories get together for a conference, it is referred to as a First Ministers Conference.

[@amoore2539]

My mother never accepted the Canada thing. She was British, a subject of her Queen till the day she passed.

[@MordusdepleinairQuebec]

it's only a matter of time until atlantic provinces split up into countries

[@wainber1]

The 10:00 slightly precedes talk about “corruption and mismanagement“ having marked the beginning of the end of the Dominion of Newfoundland as an independent country. Becoming part of Canada may very well have saved that then-future province from becoming pretty much uninhabitable.

[@liamobrien6151]

It's also worth noting that Newfoundland officially joined Canada on April 1 (I'll leave the jokes to others). The Terms of Union came into effect on 23:59 March 31, 1949 Ottawa Time which was 01:29 April 1, 1949 Newfoundland Time. This was confirmed in an archived Privy Council Office memorandum from Paul Pelletier to Norman Robertson (Secretary to the Canadian Cabinet) sent on March 29, 1949.

[@edletain385]

Just a little fact. Originally there were no moose in Newfoundland. "Four moose were introduced to the Island of Newfoundland near the town of Howley in 1904. Positive and negative, the (estimated) 150,000 descendants of these hungry herbivores have left an indelible mark on this province’s identity, culture and landscape. Moose were originally introduced as part of a wider government initiative to develop the Island’s interior. It was hoped that the animals would attract big game hunters - a new market for Newfoundland’s new railways. The meat would also sustain workers needed in the burgeoning mining and forestry industries - a key to diversifying the country’s fishing-based economy. With few natural predators and finding Newfoundland the perfect habitat, moose thrived and the rest is history. Today, moose are so numerous that they pose a hazard to drivers, and their voracious appetites are altering the native forest. But the moose is none the less an important part of this province’s identity. Moose meat is a feature on the BBQs of community festivals and the menus of gourmet restaurants promoting local food, and the annual moose hunt is celebrated in story and song as an opportunity for people to reconnect with the land. - Heritage NL Nickname for moose 'Newfie speed bumps'.

[@paulendry6398]

Love your geography, but recommend you show maps of large areas on a spherical projection. Canada’s Arctic doesn’t have an enormous northern extent as appears in the flat protection

[@lost_porkchop]

"Joey Smallwood" *giggles*

[@brucebannerman6848]

It was said that Joey sold Newfoundland for the Family Allowance and Old age pension. Family Allowance gave many hard working Mothers the first time they would know that actuall cash wouldbe in their hands every month,many did not believe until the first cheque arrived with her name on it!

[@marc2156]

Some maps show that parts of the border between Labrador and Quebec are disputed in some areas and undefined in another area. Although Canada abandoned its territorial claim when Newfoundland joined confederation the Province of Quebec maintains its claim to some of the Labrador territory. I hope that both provinces can come to a mutually beneficial agreement on a definitive and permanent border.

[@PaulDurdle]

“Some maps”. The only maps that show this are ones made by Quebec.

[@johnherlihy4739]

Your videos are very well done! One of the electric utilities I remember, when I ran Canadian investments in the 1980’s from New York, was Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Labrador and Quebec have some of the best hydroelectric sources of power in the world! Clean energy, but the liberals always find ways of restricting hydroelectric power.

[@FatManWalking18]

we were ther for 10 days a few years ago. wwe're going back for longer.

[@sebbvell3426]

If the Canadian provinces and territories were a family, Newfoundland and Labrador would be the emo twins that lock themselves in the room to play video games and never interact with their other siblings

[@MaltGambit]

Nice video! Two things to add: Ktaqmkuk (The Island of Newfoundland) is also the home of the Mi'kmaq people, and the Quebec provincial government still doesn't recognize the official Labrador border!

[@paulguzyk2978]

Don't forget to mention the French left behind Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a few small islands off the coast of Newfoundland that are still part of France to this day.

[@ShadowDragon246]

and we do not ned a passport to vist there. just a valid id. ;)

[@girthbloodstool339]

Good! - but a couple things: the only time population is mentioned in its contemporary pop - knowing its population size in earlier periods would have been useful. Also, the use of Mercator projections is highly misleading - it makes the Arctic archipelago many many time larger than it actually is.

[@jquas1965]

I love St. Johns, Bonavista and Cape Spear.

[@gregnoesen2256]

As always, great presentation... How bout a video on another maritime province, Nova Scotia comes to mind

[@Mr58Karol]

if you look at the spelling of newfoundland, The best way to pronounce it is New FOUN Land Newfounland. You will hear the foun sound when you have a local talking. Like this Newfoundlander

[@tonycobb9059]

War debt was found to be false and the was a surplus. Control of air traffic is the reason to keep it from the USA. Newfoundland is also a communication hub for sea cables since the late 1800s

[@dwalbert102]

Nicely done and a good reminder of history. Your pronunciations are off however - particularly Newfoundland, Beothuk and Bonavista.