Labrador

LABRADOR. - A very vast peninsula (1.3 million sq km) of North America, enclosed between the Atlantic, Hudson Bay and the lower course of the St. Lawrence. Probably sighted around the year 1000 by the Vikings, it was discovered in 1497 by John Cabot.

Subjected, after the discovery of Canada by Cartier, to French sovereignty, Labrador, with the Peace of Paris of 1763 which marked the end of French rule in Canada, passed under the dependency of Great Britain. Dependent on the governor of Newfoundland from 1763 to 1773 and on that of Canada from 1773 to 1809, the year in which Labrador again passed under the jurisdiction of the governor of Newfoundland, a controversy arose over the delimitation of Labrador's borders, submitted to the arbitration of the King's Privy Council, which in 1927 assigned the territory to Newfoundland. In July 1948 the government of Newfoundland submitted to a referendum of the population the question of whether or not it intended to form a union with Canada. The response of the electorate was positive, and therefore from 31 March 1949 Newfoundland and Labrador have adopted this new political regime.

Silvio Furlani

APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF LABRADOR

Located in the eastern regions of Canada, it was erected on 13 July 1945 with territory detached from the dioceses of Harbour Grace and Gulf of St. Lawrence and from the apostolic vicariate of Hudson Bay. The territory, almost entirely uncultivated, extends over an area of about 500,000 sq km. For their journeys the missionaries use sledges and, when the weather permits, small boats on the river routes. There are no large cities in the mission. The most populous is Goose Bay, a military base with 500 civilians and 2,500 soldiers.

The population, which stands at around 11,750 inhabitants, is made up of Indians, Eskimos and whites. The first live south of Hudson Bay: they lead a nomadic life and speak the Montagnais dialect; they are difficult to convert, but the few who embrace Catholicism show a firm faith. The Eskimos are found in the northern part of the vicariate, on the east coast of Hudson Bay and in Ungava Bay: they number about 2,000; their life is very rough and primitive, they make their living from fishing and are reluctant to accept evangelization. The whites are found scattered along the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and of L.: intelligent and industrious, they live by fishing and hunting; they speak English and French. This variety of races makes the spread of Catholicism difficult. The Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate, to whom the mission is entrusted, use every means at their disposal to assist even materially the development of that area and thus make life less harsh. The statistical data received by the S. Congregation of Propaganda in 1950 may be summarized as follows: native priests 6, foreign 8; coadjutor brothers: 3 native and 1 foreign; teachers 19. There are 20 elementary schools with 260 pupils; 10 primary stations, 11 secondary. The missionaries are also attending to the development of charitable works (hospitals, orphanages and shelters). The residence of the Ordinary is located at Lourdes di Blanc Sablon (Saguenay county, province of Québec).

Antonio Mazza