On Thursday, April 6th, there was a devastating fire at the home of Pete and George Barrett in Goose Bay, resulting in the loss of their entire home as well as their art studio and business. Their beloved cat, unfortunately, did not make it, but thankfully Pete and George survived. However, the loss of their home and business is devastating. This fundraiser will help them rebuild and regain their livelihood.

About Pete and George Barrett

Peyton (Pete) Barrett is an Indigenous artisan, jewellery maker, culturalist, storyteller, business consultant, entrepreneur, and a pillar in the arts community in Newfoundland and Labrador. She is the owner and manager of several successful businesses in the province, including Pete Barrett Craft, Mealy Mountain Gallery, and Barrett Designs. Active in business, cultural and Indigenous organizations, Pete is Chair of Beothuk Institute Inc., a founding member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous Tourism Association, and a long-standing member of Ulnoweg and NLOWE. She's won many awards for her contributions to arts, culture, and tourism, including the Atlantic Aboriginal Women Entrepreneur of the Year award and, most recently, the Tourism Achievement Award from Hospitality NL. Her workshops and classes are widely attended and beloved by all.

Pete, shown above instructing a pottery workshop in their home studio

George Barrett is a NunatuKavut Inuk from Sandwich Bay, Labrador who has spent most of his life close to the land. For more than 30 years, George has been building and working with wood and is an expert in his craft, perfecting technique and products over time. In the summer George is busy with Experience Labrador and Mealy Mountain Gallery, located in Cartwright. In the winter, he spends his time making drums and assisting his wife and soulmate, Pete, in the operation of their studio and businesses.

George, shown above working on a drum he made by hand

Pete and George do so much for the arts, for the preservation of culture (and especially that of NunatuKavut culture), for their communities, for tourism, and for the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador as a whole. They give so much and are true pillars of the community. The loss of their home, their studio, and their workshop is devastating and now is the time for their community to rally around them and give back as they have given so much to us over the years.

Their shop in Cartwright, open seasonally in the summer to align with tourism, is stocked with the art, handicrafts, and equipment that were lost in this fire. Let's help Pete and George get back on solid footing and help rebuild their home and businesses. These funds will help replace their belongings: all of their personal belongings, their specialized equipment and supplies such as kilns, all of their goods and handcrafted items for the shop and gallery, their outdoor survival gear, and so much more. The fire has been a devastating loss but we can help them rebuild. Please share widely. Nakummesuak for your support.