Viking Shadows
In The Valley
The Grade 5 students at Belanger Memorial School share what they would enjoy about being a Viking, and how they think Vikings sounded.
By Chris Lewis/ CNA journalism
Belanger Memorial School
By Nathan Barnes/ CNA journalism
Students in the Grade 5 class at Belanger Memorial School in Codroy Valley, are excited about what a Viking site may hold for their areas’ future.
The school, is nestled in the little community of Upper Ferry in Codroy Valley, about 42 kilometres north of Port aux Basque, sees children from kindergarten to Grade 12 walk through its doors. Most of the children are excited to have their hometowns showcased, as the world turns its focus to the Codroy Valley for what might be the latest discovery of a Viking community in the new world. To them, this is a sign things in the valley are about to change.
Evan Lewis is a student in the Grade 5 class at Belanger Memorial. He hopes the site at Point Rosee will bring more people to the area.
By Kyle Greenham/ CNA journalism
“Are they going to make a movie?” asked Evan Lewis, who sat near the back of the sunlit classroom.
“Maybe more people will come,” said Leanna Downey, another student in the class.
When it comes to what makes a Viking, everyone in the class had their own idea. Kayden Martin has seen the hit History network
television show Vikings. He says the show has given him a perspective on how Vikings may have lived and what they may have looked like.
“Some of them fight with a couple of battle axes and swords, depends on what kind of culture,” said Kayden.
Joy Seaward, the teacher of the Grade 5 class, says the school has been buzzing with the news since the announcement in March of this year. Everyone in the school, including staff, regularly talk about what this could mean for the town. The social studies curriculum for the Grade 5 students includes everything from indigenous peoples to the Viking landing.
“There was talks that there’s findings and stuff, and then the students started talking about it,” said Seaward. “It just seemed to be that everybody was just talking about it.”
Seaward says the Point Rosee dig could mean a change not only for area tourism but for students, should the site be confirmed.
Leanna Downey thinks Vikings were tall men with big beards. All the students say they have watched the TV show The Vikings.
Kyle Greenham/ CNA journalism
“L’Anse aux Meadows is a fair distance away for us to travel for a field trip, so having something so local, I think could be an excellent opportunity for the children to learn about our local history,” said Seaward.
L’Anse aux Meadows is the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America. Located on the tip of the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, it is at least a seven-and-a-half hour drive from the school to the site. Having a site just down the road would open up learning opportunities for all the children of Belanger Memorial.
As for how the Vikings got here, the students have varying views on how such ancient people would have travelled the globe in search of new lands to settle and inhabit.
Kayden, who thinks the Viking way of life would be an interesting way to live, gave a description of what a Viking ship might have looked like.
“They’re like canoes, but with a pointy thing on each side,” Kayden said. “And there were a lot of oar-like thingies. Some of them who were travelling would prefer a mermaid on the front.
Kayden Martin was interested in what Viking culture would have been like. Most of his knowledge comes from the TV show The Vikings.
Kyle Greenham/ CNA journalism
We would like to thank the entire Grade 5 class at Belanger Memorial School in Upper Ferry for participating.
By Kyle Greenham/ CNA journalism
The students of Belanger memorial sent us some art depicting what they know about Vikings and Point Rosee.
