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Biography & Autobiography Native Americans

Soulis Joe's Lost Mine

by (author) Gary Collins

Publisher
Flanker Press
Initial publish date
Sep 2009
Category
Native Americans
Recommended Age
15
Recommended Grade
10
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781897317389
    Publish Date
    Sep 2009
    List Price
    $17.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781771173896
    Publish Date
    Sep 2009
    List Price
    $9.99

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Description

Embedded in a rock in an obscure, pristine brook in the wilds of ?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Newfoundland is a legendary quartz vein. The story of the vein and the wealth trapped in it is well-known, but its location has eluded six generations of Newfoundlanders. The source of the legend is Soulis (Suley) Joe, and the precious metal trapped in the vein is silver. Along the Trans-Canada Highway in Newfoundland, just west of the turnoff to Benton, is a brook called Soulis Brook, which flows out of Soulis Pond, the second major pond named after Soulis Joe, an intrepid explorer whose name is recorded for all time on old Newfoundland maps.?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

 

 

In the summer of 2008, writer Gary Collins teamed up with Allan Keats, a great-grandson of Soulis Joe, and they set out to unearth the secret of Soulis Joe’s lost silver mine. After many weeks and months spent combing the island of Newfoundland, Gary Collins figured it out. Come along for the trip and discover the location of Soulis Joe’s Lost Mine.

About the author

Gary Collins was born in a small, two-storey house by the sea in the town of Hare Bay, Bonavista North. He finished school at Brown Memorial High in the same town. He spent forty years in the logging and sawmilling business with his father, Theophilus, and son Clint. Gary was once Newfoundland’s youngest fisheries guardian. He managed log drives down spring rivers for years, spent seven seasons driving tractor-trailers over ice roads and the Beaufort Sea of Canada’s Western Arctic, and has been involved in the crab, lobster, and cod commercial fisheries.His writing career began when he was asked to write eulogies for deceased friends and family. He spent a full summer employed as a prospector before he wrote Soulis Joe’s Lost Mine; he liked the work so much, he went back to school to earn his prospecting certificate. A critically acclaimed author, he has written a total of eight books, including Cabot Island, The Last Farewell, Soulis Joe’s Lost Mine, Where Eagles Lie Fallen, Mattie Mitchell: Newfoundland’s Greatest Frontiersman, A Day on the Ridge, and the children’s illustrated book What Colour is the Ocean?, which he co-wrote with his granddaughter, Maggie Rose Parsons. The latter won an Atlantic Book Award: The Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration.Gary Collins is Newfoundland and Labrador’s favourite storyteller, and today he is known all over the province as the “Story Man.” His favourite pastimes are reading and writing, and playing guitar at his log cabin. He lives in Hare Bay, Newfoundland, with his wife, the former Rose Gill. They have three children and three grandchildren.

Gary Collins' profile page

Librarian Reviews

Soulis Joe’s Lost Mine: A Newfoundland Memoir

Collins traces the harrowing events of Mi’kmaq explorer Soulis Joe’s life in 18-century Nova Scotia and Newfoundland where Joe explores the province, trapping and living off the land. Joe discovers a vein of silver, which becomes his legendary silver mine. In 2008, Collins joined up with Al Keaton, one of Joe’s descendants, and together they search for the lost mine. As well as telling Joe’s story, Collins relates the history of the Mi’kmaq; discusses the art and history of prospecting in Newfoundland, focusing on generations of Mi’kmaq peoples who were prospectors; and describes the province’s mineral wealth and industry. Collins has crafted an intriguing chapter in Newfoundland history.

Collins is the author of Cabot Island and The Last Farewell.

Caution: Includes racist terms in historical context.

Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. Canadian Aboriginal Books for Schools. 2010-2011.

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