Chisasibi, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Chisasibi is a village on the eastern shore of James Bay
, in the Eeyou Istchee territory in northern Quebec
, Canada
. It is situated on the south shore of La Grande River
(the Grand River), less than 10 km (6.2 mi) from the river's mouth. Chisasibi is one of nine Cree
villages in the region, and is a member of the Grand Council of the Crees
of Quebec. The territory surrounding Chisasibi is part of the Municipality of Baie-James
, of which parts are jointly managed with the Cree Regional Authority.
The surface area of the town is 491.63 square kilometres (189.8 sq mi). The surface area of Chisasibi Cree Territory Category I Land (land exclusively for Cree use) is 828.18 square kilometres (319.8 sq mi).
founded Fort George, a trading post on the north shore which was relocated to the largest island in the mouth of La Grande River in 1837. Fort George became a permanent village as the local Cree population abandoned their nomadic way of life in the early 20th century and settled nearby. In 1940, its population was about 750 and grew to almost 2,000 in 1980.
In the mid 1970s, the construction of the James Bay hydro-electric project
began, diverting upstream rivers into La Grande watershed, increasing its flow significantly, resulting in erosion of Fort George Island (also called Governor's Island) and disruption to the formation of a solid ice cover in winter. In response, the Quebec Government built a new community on the mainland's south shore, relocating the population and some 200 houses to the new site in 1981. The village was renamed Chisasibi (official name: Cree Nation of Chisasibi). At the same time, the Fort George Relocation Corporation was formed to oversee the relocation.
It is the most northern Cree village accessible by road. A 90 kilometres (55.9 mi) paved road, running from Radisson, and parallel to the Grand River
, connects Chisasibi to the James Bay Road (French: Route de la Baie James). The James Bay Road (formerly part of Route 109
) was built from 1971 to 1974 as part of the James Bay hydroelectric project and connects Matagami
to Radisson
. Chisasibi Airport
is located just west of the village and Air Creebec
operates scheduled service from this airport. Though this is the most northern village, it's not where the road ends. From LG-1 (The Grand River hydrogenerating station), the road continues north to a location called Longue Pointe (Long Point). It is the furthest one can go by road east of the Hudson Bay
.
Many Cree in Chisasibi engage in hunting, trapping, and fishing activities but all catch is meant for local consumption. Other economic activity includes local services (health care and education), employment by Hydro-Québec
and some hospitality services. An elected Chief and Council help administer the Cree Nation of Chisasibi Office.
Other Cree villages near Chisasibi are Whapmagoostui
, 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) to the north in Nunavik
, on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay near the Northern village of Kuujjuarapik
, and Wemindji
, about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) to the south.
Population growth:
Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 788 (total: 885)
and Inuit
are spoken as the first language in Chisasibi, in addition to English, as a primary language for official dealings. Only 7.8% of the residents of Chisasibi speak one or both of the official languages
as a mother tongue. There has been criticism of the Quebec language policy
with respect to native languages, particularly Cree, many related to Hydro-Québec's hydroelectric dam project in the James Bay region.
Mother tongues:
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
, in the Eeyou Istchee territory in northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is situated on the south shore of La Grande River
La Grande River
La Grande River is a river in northwestern Quebec, Canada, which rises in the highlands of north central Quebec and flows roughly west to drain into James Bay. It is the second largest river in Quebec, surpassed only by the Saint Lawrence River....
(the Grand River), less than 10 km (6.2 mi) from the river's mouth. Chisasibi is one of nine Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
villages in the region, and is a member of the Grand Council of the Crees
Grand Council of the Crees
The Grand Council of the Crees , or the GCC, is the political body that represents the approximately 16,357 Crees or “Iyyu” / “Iynu” of the Eeyou Istchee territory in the James Bay and Nunavik regions of Northern Quebec, Canada...
of Quebec. The territory surrounding Chisasibi is part of the Municipality of Baie-James
Baie-James, Quebec
The Municipality of Baie-James is in northern Quebec, Canada, to the east of James Bay. It covers 297,329.66 square kilometers of land, making it the largest incorporated municipality in Canada — only eight unorganized territories are larger...
, of which parts are jointly managed with the Cree Regional Authority.
The surface area of the town is 491.63 square kilometres (189.8 sq mi). The surface area of Chisasibi Cree Territory Category I Land (land exclusively for Cree use) is 828.18 square kilometres (319.8 sq mi).
History
The Cree have lived in the region for many centuries but were nomadic. In 1803, the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
founded Fort George, a trading post on the north shore which was relocated to the largest island in the mouth of La Grande River in 1837. Fort George became a permanent village as the local Cree population abandoned their nomadic way of life in the early 20th century and settled nearby. In 1940, its population was about 750 and grew to almost 2,000 in 1980.
In the mid 1970s, the construction of the James Bay hydro-electric project
James Bay Project
The James Bay Project is a series of hydroelectric development with a combined installed capacity of over 16,000 megawatts built since 1974 for Hydro-Québec by the on the La Grande and other rivers of Northern Quebec....
began, diverting upstream rivers into La Grande watershed, increasing its flow significantly, resulting in erosion of Fort George Island (also called Governor's Island) and disruption to the formation of a solid ice cover in winter. In response, the Quebec Government built a new community on the mainland's south shore, relocating the population and some 200 houses to the new site in 1981. The village was renamed Chisasibi (official name: Cree Nation of Chisasibi). At the same time, the Fort George Relocation Corporation was formed to oversee the relocation.
The Cree Nation of Chisasibi
La Grande River
La Grande River is a river in northwestern Quebec, Canada, which rises in the highlands of north central Quebec and flows roughly west to drain into James Bay. It is the second largest river in Quebec, surpassed only by the Saint Lawrence River....
, connects Chisasibi to the James Bay Road (French: Route de la Baie James). The James Bay Road (formerly part of Route 109
Quebec route 109
Route 109 is a Quebec provincial highway that runs through the western regions of Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec. It begins at Route 117 in Rivière-Héva, proceeding north approximately to Amos. From there, the highway extends to Matagami, where the road continues northwards as James Bay...
) was built from 1971 to 1974 as part of the James Bay hydroelectric project and connects Matagami
Matagami, Quebec
Matagami is a small town in Quebec, Canada. It is located north of Amos, on Matagami Lake, at the northern terminus of Route 109 and the start of the James Bay Road . The town had a population of 1,555 in the Canada 2006 Census.-History:Matagami was founded in 1963 with the development of mining...
to Radisson
Radisson, Quebec
Radisson is a small village situated near the Robert-Bourassa hydroelectric power station on the La Grande River in the James Bay region of Quebec...
. Chisasibi Airport
Chisasibi Airport
Chisasibi Airport is located northwest of Chisasibi, Quebec, Canada.-External links:* on COPA's Places to Fly airport directory...
is located just west of the village and Air Creebec
Air Creebec
Air Creebec Inc. is a regional airline based in Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada. It operates scheduled and charter services to 16 destinations in Quebec and Ontario. Its main base is Val-d'Or Airport, with a hub at Timmins/Victor M. Power Airport.- History :...
operates scheduled service from this airport. Though this is the most northern village, it's not where the road ends. From LG-1 (The Grand River hydrogenerating station), the road continues north to a location called Longue Pointe (Long Point). It is the furthest one can go by road east of the Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
.
Many Cree in Chisasibi engage in hunting, trapping, and fishing activities but all catch is meant for local consumption. Other economic activity includes local services (health care and education), employment by Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
and some hospitality services. An elected Chief and Council help administer the Cree Nation of Chisasibi Office.
Other Cree villages near Chisasibi are Whapmagoostui
Whapmagoostui, Quebec
Whapmagoostui |beluga]]") is the northernmost Cree village in Quebec, located at the mouth of the Great Whale River on the coast of Hudson Bay in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. About 500 people, mostly Inuit, live in the neighbouring northern village of Kuujjuarapik. The community is only accessible by...
, 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) to the north in Nunavik
Nunavik
Nunavik comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Covering a land area of 443,684.71 km² north of the 55th parallel, it is the homeland of the Inuit of Quebec...
, on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay near the Northern village of Kuujjuarapik
Kuujjuarapik, Quebec
Kuujjuarapik is the southernmost Inuit village at the mouth of the Great Whale River on the coast of Hudson Bay in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. About 800 people, mostly Cree, live in the adjacent village of Whapmagoostui. The community is only accessible by air and, in late summer, by boat...
, and Wemindji
Wemindji, Quebec
Wemindji is a small Cree community on Paint Hills Bay off James Bay at the mouth of the Maquatua River in Quebec, Canada. The community has a population of 1238 people ....
, about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) to the south.
Demographics
The population of Chisasibi comprises approximately 4000 Cree, about 250 Inuit, and 300 non-native people. Statistics Canada's 2006 Census shows a total population of 3,972. The Median age of the population is 24.1 years old, the percentage of the population aged 15 and over is 66.2, and the total number of census families was 960.Population growth:
- Population in 2006: 3972
- Population in 2001: 3467
- 2006 to 2001 change: 14.6%
- Population in 1996: 3251
- Population in 1991: 2306
Total private dwellings (excluding seasonal cottages): 788 (total: 885)
Languages
CreeCree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
and Inuit
Inuit language
The Inuit language is traditionally spoken across the North American Arctic and to some extent in the subarctic in Labrador. The related Yupik languages are spoken in western and southern Alaska and Russian Far East, particularly the Diomede Islands, but is severely endangered in Russia today and...
are spoken as the first language in Chisasibi, in addition to English, as a primary language for official dealings. Only 7.8% of the residents of Chisasibi speak one or both of the official languages
Official Languages Act (Canada)
The Official Languages Act is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives English and French equal status in the government of Canada. This makes them "official" languages, having preferred status in law over all other languages...
as a mother tongue. There has been criticism of the Quebec language policy
Legal dispute over Quebec's language policy
The legal dispute over Quebec's language policy began soon after the enactment of the Charter of the French Language by the National Assembly of Quebec in 1977....
with respect to native languages, particularly Cree, many related to Hydro-Québec's hydroelectric dam project in the James Bay region.
Mother tongues:
- Other as first language (predominantly Cree): 92 %
- English as first language: 4 %
- French as first language: 3.5 %
- English and French as first language:<1 %