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Cultural
Adventures
The food, drink, wildlife, and rocky
wonders are all unforgettable parts of your vacation with Wildland Tours. An equally impressive part of the experience is the
local folks you will meet during your travels. This is a land of
fishermen and loggers; prospectors and treasure hunters; pirates and
sailors; artists and singers.
Newfoundland and Labrador has a long
history as travel destination dating back from the days of the New
World's first tourism expedition in 1536 to the misadventure of the
Titanic. From the 1930s to the 1980s, we were the hunting and fishing
playground for the wealthy of the world. Presidents and royalty have
contributed to the rich assortment of local stories. Bill Cosby lived
here as an American serviceman, and Queen Elizabeth and her family
fished here. Elvis entertained the U.S. troops stationed in the
Placentia Bay area. The first King in that bay was an ancestor to Queen
Victoria. Newfoundland and Labrador's huge fish and wildlife populations
still attract the rich and famous…for example, George Bush Senior is
still a regular visitor during the salmon angling season.
The real cultural highlight of a visit to
Newfoundland is not past or present celebrities. The true wonders
revolve around the centuries-old stories and traditions that are
reflected in the music and art. Some of Canada's most evocative music
and images comes from artisans who find their roots in the sea and the
small communities that dot the coast. This was…and still is…a
challenging place to make a living. The ocean is incredibly rich, but it
can also be cold and unforgiving. The night time songs of millions of
nocturnal seabirds and the underwater moans of whales add ghostly sounds
to the warmest summer nights. Traditions and ghost stories dating back
to medieval Europe hang on in Newfoundland and Labrador. Foghorns,
lighthouses, and incredibly dramatic seascapes create an atmosphere that
is both inspirational and unforgettable.
The isolation associated with the Island
of Newfoundland and the remote Labrador coast has preserved accents that
are more Irish than what is found in Ireland; and preserved Celtic
musical traditions long ago lost on the British Isles. We have linguists
who come here to study because, due to centuries of relative isolation,
we have the purest form of Elizabethan English on earth. "Are ye
going to the dance?" would be a common question in Newfoundland
with "ye" as the plural of "you". The Aboriginal
traditions of the Micmac, Innu, and the Inuit are even more ancient. Our
holiday leaders share the stories of all these peoples with interested
guests.
In the 1960s, folks in some communities
were still playing football (soccer to North Americans) by 18th-century
rules. The musical and cultural traditions of Newfoundland and Labrador
have become one of Canada's cultural exports. Bands like Great Big Sea,
Figgy Duff, and the Irish Descendants have joined artists like David
Blackwood and Christopher Pratt to become some of the country's leading
cultural exports. A Newfoundlander calls the play-by-play for the hockey
games Canadians watch every Saturday night, while the country's most
popular comedy show has a group of Newfoundlanders making fun of
politicians and everybody else in the country. Humour, fun, and laughter
are a major part of the provincial character; and folks on our trips are
sure to enjoy the latest jokes.
Local crafts tell cultural stories, too.
When the Innu of Labrador migrated to their summer hunting grounds, they
made dolls and stuffed them with tea so that even the children could
help carry provisions. Today Innu teadolls are prized around the world.
The Innu are also famous for their grasswork, a craft they adopted from
visiting Moravian missionaries. The Inuit produce stunning soapstone
carvings, while the Grenfell Mission still creates the hand hooked rugs
for which it is famous. Handknit sweaters with distinctive fairisle
patterns are to this day produced by the women of NONIA, the
Newfoundland Outport Nurses Industrial Association. Handmade quilts with
centuries-old patterns often grace indigenous antique furniture.
Your Newfoundland and Labrador travels will feature
knowledgeable and experienced local hosts with lots of stories and
history to share. They will make sure you see the sights, taste the flavours, and smell the crisp clean sea air that has sustained folks
here for almost a hundred centuries.
Our holidays are authentic cultural
adventures with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The best adventures
and the greatest fun comes from sharing our unique cultural landscape
with visitors. When guests want a break from the wildlife and scenery,
there are lots of great stories to share.
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