Vol. 42, No. 3

“They went to Rigolet sometime in November. It was all froze up all around the shore. And they found out that several people were sick, and A lot of people were dying So when they found out a lot of people were dying they came home, they said it must have been the flu i had. and oh wasn’t i ever sick! That’s what made me heart so small. That’s the reason why i never growed , my dear, not till, you might say, until after i got married. its true, and oh, twas a terrible sickness…” – Miriam Hamel. “Happy Valley” 1975 

“Owing to the state houses , I am taking camp and small stove, also some digging implements in case they should be needed. Will Martian ran me over to North River, when he had to return home,sick. i arranged with bob and Jim Williams to accompany me with their teams. we got off about 11:00. Along the strand shore the going was terrible. We had to keep along the “Ballicaters.” Ice covered rocks along shore, which were one mess of broken up lumps over which the komatik bumped and dropped. Dark came on us when near Pard’ys Head. The decent needed great care. Made Woody point about 7:30. Nearly everybody was still sick…” – Henry Gordon. Diary 1918-19

“My connection to the Spanish flu is that my father, Joseph Millik,was born in Okak. And my mother , Sara Townley, I believe she was the only survivor of her family too, of her parents and siblings…” Sarah Ponniuk. Happy Valley-Goose Bay,2018