Ceremony Commemorates Labrador Author and Matriarch Lydia Campbell

Press Release

March 31, 2025

On Sunday, March 30, a ceremony took place in Mulligan to commemorate Labrador author and matriarch Lydia Campbell who is considered one of Labrador’s most well-known and respected historical figures.

About 60 people made the trip by snowmobile to the event which included the unveiling of a new headstone at the cemetery in Mulligan Bay to honour the accomplishments and writings of “Aunt Lydia” and acknowledge her stature as a strong, skillful, resourceful, and resilient Indigenous woman.

The project to replace the more than 100-year-old headstone came to life after discussions between Mina Campbell of North West River and Minister Lisa Dempster, both descendants of Lydia Campbell, about the weatherbeaten monument. The Department of Labrador Affairs provided financial support to Mina Campbell to assist with the acquisition of a new headstone, as well as Them Days, which led the replacement of the monument and organized this weekend’s event.

The ceremony included remarks by the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Labrador Affairs, Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville, Edward Blake-Rudkowski, chairperson of Them Days, descendants of “Aunt Lydia” and some of the last living residents of Mulligan.

Lydia Campbell was born in Hamilton Inlet, Groswater Bay, in 1818 and passed away at Mulligan River in 1905 at the age of 86. Home-schooled by her father, she was given an exercise book by a clergyman who begged her to write an account of Labrador life and ways. Living in Mulligan and in her 70s, Lydia filled a diary with recollections of 19th-century Labrador life and spending time on the land. The clergyman submitted entries from her diary to the St. John’s Evening Herald which published 13 excerpts under the title Sketches of Labrador Life, cementing Lydia’s legacy to Labrador history.

Many Labradorians are descendants of Lydia Campbell, including a long line of acclaimed Labrador authors: daughter Margaret Baikie (Labrador Memories: Reflections of Mulligan); son Thomas L. Blake (The Diary of Thomas L. Blake); great-niece Elizabeth Goudie (Woman of Labrador); great-great-granddaughter Doris Saunders (first editor of Them Days); and great-grandson Benjamin Powell Senior (who wrote and published 19 books of life in Labrador).

Quotes

“I am honored to commemorate the life of Lydia Campbell and her contributions to our culture as a strong, resilient, Indigenous woman of Labrador. Aunt Lydia not only left a legacy of descendants, myself included, throughout Labrador, but was amongst the first authors to offer insights into life in the Big Land. The Department of Labrador Affairs was able to assist in replacing the monument in partnership with Mina Campbell and Them Days. I encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to learn more about the contributions of Lydia Campbell to our culture and heritage.”

Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Labrador Affairs
MHA for the District of Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair

“Them Days is so proud to facilitate this momentous occasion. Lydia Campbell is a true icon of Labrador history and literature, so honouring her not only is richly deserved but also aligns with Them Days’ mandate of preserving and promoting the heritage of Labrador. A huge thank you to Mina Campbell and to Minister Dempster for making this happen.”
Edward Blake-Rudkowski
Chairperson, Them Days

“The recollections of Lydia Campbell, those sketches of her own experience living in Labrador, are incredibly valuable. Most descriptions of life during the19th century in Labrador are from others who travelled to the area. If you are proud to call Labrador home, you are also proud of Lydia Campbell. I am honoured to be a part of this important recognition.”
Perry Trimper
MHA for Lake Melville

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Learn more
Them Days

Lydia Campbell: The Canadian Encyclopedia

BACKGROUNDER

• In 2009, Lydia Campbell was designated as a National Historic Person by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board for her significance in Labrador’s history.
• Based in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Them Days is a non-profit organization which produces a quarterly oral history magazine and maintains an extensive archive of documents, photographs, recordings and historical records.
• The building which houses Them Days magazine and archives is named in memory of Lydia Campbell.
• Sketches of Labrador Life was published in book form by Them Days in 1980.

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