To Newfie or not to Newfie

I don’t Newfie – I’ve always thought the term was derogatory, since I mostly heard it used in jokes. Like, why did the Newfie want Quebec to leave Canada? So he could get to Toronto quicker.

But here in Newfoundland, it’s not quite so straightforward.

A recent post on the Newfoundland Sayings Facebook page asked whether “Newfie” has a different meaning than “Newfoundlander”. The majority of the more than 90 respondents thought not. As one person succinctly put it “Newfoundlander and Newfie’s same ting”. A more nuanced interpretation was offered by another respondent – “Not only am I a born and bred Newfoundlander but I am also a Newfie. I love to be called a Newfie and do not find anything derogatory about it. No, it is not an ‘Ethnic Slur’ as someone put it. It is a name that shows the loving, satirical nature of most Newfies who are known for their hard-working, fun-loving, trustworthy nature by people worldwide. I am proud to be a Newfie and always will be.”

A few people said that they do take offence to the term. Others said it depends on how the person using the word intends it, either fondly or dismissively.

The origins of the term are unclear, but one theory states that it was first used by US servicemen stationed at a US base in Newfoundland during WWII, as a local variant of the more notorious n-word. A researcher at McMaster University, James Baker, has written a paper about the acceptability of the term to Newfoundlanders, and suspects that there may be a generational split, with younger Newfoundlanders being more positive about it. He found that context was key and that using the term in conjunction with Newfoundland’s deep-rooted sense of pride and identity is not generally perceived as offensive.

As a CFA (Come From Away), I think it’s not for me to judge whether or not the term is acceptable. I will continue to say Newfoundlander, but I will also secretly look forward to the day when a Newfoundlander calls me a Newfie.