Source: Memorial University of Newfoundland
http://www.mun.ca/marcomm/news/index.php?includefile=showitem.php&id=1305 NEW COLLABORATIVE WEBSITE DOCUMENTS MORAVIAN PRESENCE IN COASTAL LABRADOROctober 13, 2006 A
new collaborative website, The Labrador Inuit Through Moravian Eyes,
documents the history of the Moravian presence in coastal Labrador. The website, a joint project among the Libraries of the University of
Toronto, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Laval Université, was made
possible in part through the Canadian Culture Online program of the
Department of Canadian Heritage. The site documents the history of the
Moravian missionary settlements and highlights the interaction between the
congregation and the Inuit of coastal Labrador. Moravian missionaries had
their origin in ancient Bohemia and Moravia in what is the present-day Czech
Republic, arriving in North America early in the eighteenth century. The website includes digital reproductions of about 6,000 pages of textual
material and 1,000 photographs related to the missions in Labrador. The site
also includes rare manuscript maps of northern Labrador and drawings, plans
and paintings of the missionary settlements. It also provides access to
approximately one hour of audio and video recordings of Moravian choral and
brass band music. The collection is accompanied by bilingual metadata which facilitates the
discovery and retrieval of information. Users are able to search and browse
through the digital collection. It is also full text searchable, allowing
users complete access to the collection of archival and print material. The richness of the Moravian-Inuit records lends itself to the creation of a
wide variety of interactive and supplementary learning materials. The
website includes materials such as essays, timelines and other ancillary
materials related to life on coastal Labrador. To aid Canada’s student population, learning plans and other interactive
materials have been created to promote experiential learning. While the
overall goal of this project is to create a freely accessible resource where
all Canadians can explore their cultural heritage, the new and exciting
learning opportunities that flow naturally from such a venture is an added
benefit. The Labrador Inuit Through Moravian Eyes website is available at
http://link.library.utoronto.ca/inuitmoravian/ - 30 - CONTACTS:
Karen Turko, University of Toronto Libraries – (416) 978-7654;
karen.turko@utoronto.ca
Bert Riggs, Memorial University – (709) 737-8303; briggs@mun.ca
Dave Anderson, Laval Université – (418) 656-2131 ext. 12225;
dave.anderson@bibl.ulaval.ca
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