Davis Inlet Labrador Newfoundland Canada Naskapi Natives Real Photo Postcard

The Naskapi are an Indigenous people traditionally inhabiting the Quebec-Labrador Peninsula of Canada, known for their semi-nomadic hunting and trapping lifestyle adapted to the subarctic environment. Davis Inlet, located on the northern coast of Labrador, emerged as a significant settlement for Naskapi families, particularly in the mid-20th century. This period marked increasing government and missionary influence, gradually shifting Naskapi communities from their traditional seasonal migrations to more permanent locations.

The encampment depicted reflects aspects of traditional Naskapi life, such as outdoor cooking and rudimentary shelters, even as communities like Davis Inlet were becoming more established. Davis Inlet itself later became notable for the social challenges faced by its residents, leading to the community's eventual relocation in 2002 to Natuashish. This postcard, likely dating from the mid-to-late 20th century, thus captures a historical snapshot of the Naskapi people in a pivotal period of cultural and societal transition in Labrador.