I Never Knowed It Was Hard, the memoirs of Naskaupi River trapper and fiddler Louie Montague, a 77-year-old Nunatsiavut (Inuit) elder from North West River, Labrador, recounts in rich detail the way of life in “them days.” Louie has travelled Labrador extensively as a trapper, hunter, prospector, and guide, and as an employee of the provincial forestry and wildlife departments.

His remarkable memory and unique understanding of nature, acquired by study and first-hand experience, is complemented by his being an avid reader who constantly seeks more knowledge of Labrador and Arctic history. Here he talks about his family, trapping, hunting, caring for sled dogs, encounters with Innu in the country, woodworking, and most importantly, life on the Naskaupi River, especially as this has been impacted since the damming of its source for the Upper Churchill project in the 1970s. While Louie Montague’s story tells about and draws from the past—his Great-Grandfather Montague came to Labrador from the Orkney Islands in the nineteenth century—he is very much a man of the present: he still goes to the land whenever he can; he remains busy as an accomplished craftsman; and he is deeply aware of how changes to the land have affected the present and will impact the future. He also describes the changes in life with the coming of the Goose Bay Air Base in the 1940s and his jobs there and elsewhere over the years.

Louie Montague's profile page

Elizabeth Dawson's profile page

Louie dictated his memoirs to Elizabeth Dawson, who then transcribed and edited the book. A retired transplanted Ontario nurse, she brought to the task her love of words, Labrador, and Louie. The book includes an important Introduction by Arctic expert and author Robin McGrath, which places Louie’s story in the broad context of Labrador history and literature, as well as over 30 photo illustrations and an extensive Glossary.

"It reads as if Louie just dropped in for a cup of tea and starts telling stories. In the process, he paints vivid word pictures of a world that was tough and unforgiving; exciting and rewarding."

Sandra Phinney, Atlantic Books Today

"Louie Montague’s voice rings strong and clear in his 2013 memoir — the result of a natural gift for narrative but also the fruit of a rich and laborious process described by the editor, Elizabeth Dawson."

Maura Hanrahan, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies