may have traveled now and then to parts of Newfoundland to exploit the islands resources, but by the 1500's the Beothuks were the only permanent residents of the island.
             Like many of the other Eastern Woodland peoples, their social organization was loosely knit and centered in small family groups of twenty to thirty people. This was as many as the surrounding land area would be able to support between the caribou and seal hunting seasons (Such, 1978). The group had no true chief but only informal leaders, probably Shamans who would conduct ceremonies to appease the spirits of the animals they hunted. These spiritualists were the most influential members in the group.
             The very nature of the Newfoundland environment resulted in a somewhat different way of life for the Beothuk. Unlike the mainland Newfoundland lacked moose, porcupine and hare, therefore the major land animals available for the Indian hunters were caribou and small supplies of beaver. As a result, the Beothuk were dependent upon the resources of the sea and the coast,
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