Seal Hunting: Newfoundland's Heritage with Clare Dawn Fowler & Lori McCarthy — WildFed Podcast #048

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In this episode:

Clare Dawn Fowler | Artisan of sustainably beautiful seal leather & fur designs

Lori McCarthy | Founder of Cod Sounds & Director of Canadian Wildlife Federation

Podcast discussion:

  • Introductions and learning how to say Newfoundland

  • The importance of local food to Newfoundlanders

  • Capturing and preserving traditional food knowledge

  • The disney-fication of seals

  • How seals are intertwined with Newfoundland

  • The threat of losing traditional food knowledge

  • Seals, pack ice, and the northeast wind

  • The seal hunt

  • Understanding the anti-sealing campaign

  • Preparing and eating seal

  • What Clare creates with seal hides

  • Controversy over Clare's work

  • Wild game in grocery stores and restaurants

  • The properties of seal hides

  • Closing thoughts on the seal hunt


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Meet Clare Dawn Fowler

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Clare Dawn Fowler creates sustainably beautiful designs using materials that focus on the use of Newfoundland harp seal leather and fur. Her design philosophy comes from a desire to explore and challenge traditional textiles. She uses wool and seal fur — two traditional textiles that complement and strengthen one another — to create unique, contemporary garments. She strives to create excitingly modern designs using materials inherent to Newfoundland culture. Seal skin is the only textile material in Newfoundland that is created and processed entirely in Newfoundland. It's local, sustainable, humane, and possesses the most wonderful combination of durability and biodegradability. Check out Clare's website, Instagram @clare_dawn, or drop by the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation in Newfoundland to see her at work.

Website | Instagram @clare_dawn

 

Meet Lori McCarthy

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Lori McCarthy is dedicated to the cultural foods of Newfoundland and Labrador through her company Cod Sounds and the Livyers Cultural Alliance.

Her core values embrace locally sourced regional cuisine and wild foods from the land and sea; this is reflected in her food experiences and workshops.

Lori has been listed as a hidden gem in National Geographic and has been written up in Costal Living as one of the 8 great excursions in North America. The Telegraph speaks about her in an article with Newfoundland being one of the most unlikely culinary destinations and check out what the National Post has to say.

Website |Instagram @eatitwild and @codsounds

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