Hebron, Newfoundland and Labrador facts for kids
Hebron was a special community in Labrador, Canada. It was started by the Moravian people in 1831. This mission was the most northern settlement in Labrador. The community was closed in 1959. A family from Hebron, the Abraham Ulrikab family, traveled to Europe in 1880. They were shown to people there as part of exhibits.
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Hebron's Cold Climate
The area where Hebron is located has a very cold climate. It is a type of arctic weather, like a tundra. It gets a lot of snow and rain, about 798 millimeters each year. Half of this precipitation falls during the five coldest months. For example, in January, the average temperature is -21 °C (-6 °F). It also gets about 81 millimeters of precipitation. This makes the air very humid, even when it's extremely cold.
History of Hebron Mission
The Moravians began setting up missions in Labrador in 1771. Their first mission was in a place called Nain. The Moravians wanted to share their beliefs with the Inuit people in Labrador.
In 1831, the Moravian church started a new mission at Hebron. This new site was about 200 kilometers north of Nain.
Life in the Hebron settlement was very difficult. The community often faced serious epidemics. Diseases like whooping cough, influenza, and smallpox spread through the people. A big flu outbreak in 1918 was especially bad. It was thought to have killed one-third of the 1,200 Inuit people in Labrador.
Why Hebron Was Closed
In 1955, a group called the International Grenfell Association became worried. This group helped with health in Newfoundland and Labrador. They wrote to the Government of Canada about Hebron. They were concerned about crowded homes. These conditions led to tuberculosis and a lack of firewood.
After talking with Moravian leaders, a decision was made. They decided to close the mission. The Inuit people would be moved to bigger communities. "I see no other way than to suggest the Mission withdraw from Hebron this summer," said Rev. Siegfried Hettasch. By April 1959, there were 58 families living in Hebron. The decision to close was announced at a church service in 1959. The people living in Hebron were not asked for their opinion.
By the fall of that year, half of the families had already moved. The rest left soon after. The Grenfell nurse left, and the community store closed in the fall of 1959. This move broke up many families. They were sent to different communities. Some people were sent to places where no housing was ready for them.
A report was written for the Canadian Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. It said that moving the people led to poverty for many Inuit. "They were put in places where they weren't familiar with the local environment," said Carol Brice-Bennet, the report's author. She added that they did not know where to hunt or fish. Also, the best hunting and fishing spots were already taken by people who lived there.
What Happened After Hebron Closed
In 1976, the Hebron site was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is an important place in Canadian history. Many cruise ships now visit the site.
The original mission buildings are still standing today. Inuit volunteers have been working to fix up the main mission building. Because of their efforts, the buildings are in good condition, even after many years.
In 2005, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams, said sorry. He apologized to the Inuit people affected by the moves from Hebron and Nutak. In August 2009, the provincial government placed a monument at Hebron. It has an apology written on it for closing the site.
