Newfoundland however , was still sparsely populated .
Most Europeans lived on the eastern portion of the island and only in small isolated coastal settlements allowing the Mi'kmaq living on the island to continue their traditional way of life on the island 's west coast and interior .
Newfoundland however , was still sparsely populated and most Europeans lived on the eastern portion of the island and only in small isolated coastal settlements allowing the Mi'kmaq living on the island to continue their traditional way of life on the island 's west coast and interior .