Spotted Island, Labrador - Just across the run from Domino/Black Tickle on the south coast of Labrador.  A place to those who know call Home.  It seems as though each generation continues this.  I always heard my elders call it home and growing up I just called it Spotted Island. It wasn't until later in life, when I made time for it again that I realize it is "Home."

A place we ran wild as children, playing, picking berries, making boats to have races, swimming in the little ponds, playing hide and seek, from sunrise until sunset.  Our summertime home that felt like years while we were there, now as an adult it brings back all those memories.

If we close our eyes, you can see our grandfathers on the stage probably gutting their fish, or just sitting and having a yarn, our grandmother making something delicious in the kitchen, or our friends on the way to come get us.  It didn't matter what the weather was doing, we would dress up and go off exploring.

My brother and I just recently purchased our own home (cabin) and it hits different when we own our own place.  It's a place we now call Home.  A place that brings us closer to our loved ones that have left this world before us.  Our mom had one wish for us: to eventually have a place to call our own - It’s because of her that we have these memories of Spotted Island.  It was her home that she brought us along for many years.

There are many little places that are now only a summer home, generation after generation vacationing for a week or two – The stories that our mom shared with us while she grew up there are too many to count.

We would travel early summer as soon as school got out and travel by boat – The Taverner and Northern Ranger (And sometimes we would travel by float plane, landing just in front of Spotted Island), all the small speed boats would come out to meet the boat or plane to pick the passengers up, as a small child I would always get carried down the stairs that led to the water only to be grabbed by a man and popped into the boat – Everyone on board the boat would be standing outside watching as we loaded into the speed boats, I was probably 4 or 5 when we flew up on the float plane, I had my Cabbage patch baby in my arms and after we landed everyone onboard was standing up and grabbing their luggage and I ended up on the pontoon standing alone waiting for help and I heard my name over and over and it was my mom trying to frantically find me. I carry that memory with me always.

We would stay until the end of August just before school would start.  Returning home on the MV Taverner or MV Northern Ranger.

My Mom would bring my brother Dwayne & I all our lives, and when I had children, she would bring them with her – They got to experience what we did growing up. For that I’m so thankful they have those memories as well.

This past year, in 2025 I finally got to bring my husband there, I cannot explain how happy that made me. Spotted Island Residents (New & Old) will say the same.  Once a person experiences Spotted Island it becomes a part of them, wishing for the next year to come so they can return.  There’s just something about the smell of the salt water, the black berry bushes, the smiling faces, and the friendship of all there just brings you this peace of mind that cannot be explained, it must be felt.

A place that is called Home for a reason.