A Brief History of Nemaska

old nemaska
The original location of the Cree Nation of Nemaska.
Nemaska (Cree for Where the fish abound) is a small Cree community located on the shores of Lake Champion, in Quebec, Canada. It is the smallest Cree village with a population of 560 people (2001 Canada census). Nemaska is the seat of the Grand Council of the Crees and Cree Regional Authority.

Nemaska is a new and modern village that comprises of Cree families originally living at the Nemiscau trading post on Lake Nemiscau (51°19'N 76°55'W). When the Hudson's Bay Company post closed there in 1970, the residents were dispersed until the new village of Nemaska was built in 1980, over 60 km northeast from the former site. The nearby Hydro-Quebec electrical substation and airport, both called Nemiscau, create confusion as to the town's name. As a result many maps indicate the new site by the old name Nemiscau.

Prior to the arrival of the Europeans in the early 1600's, our people enjoyed a Nomadic existence of hunting, fishing, and harvesting within their traditional hunting grounds, a way of life that is still practiced to this very day!

Upon the advent of the fur trade, our people were drawn to this economic activity and welcomed its advantages, always ensuring that our culture would survive for our future generations. Nevertheless, we have had our share of the hardships encountered along the way in our continuous struggle to be Masters of our own destiny.

waskaganish
People of Nemaska lived in the outskirts of Waskaganish.
In the late 60's, it was a time of great turmoil in our lives; we reluctantly abandoned our beloved settlement on the shores of NEMASKAU SAKHEGUN (Nemaska Lake), because of many factors. This was mainly due to an impending James Bay Hydro-Electric Project and the closing of the Hudson's Bay Company Store (the fur trading outpost).

Even when were disbursed to other surrounding Cree settlements within the region we retained our identity as Nemaskau Eenouch. Our people maintaining, "that the land and the people are one", always knew they would return one day to their traditional territory and continue on their path of prosperity.

present day nemaska
Present day Nemaska.
The Nemaskau Eenouch have resettled themselves in their ancestral territory and developed their new community. Now, 30 years after relocation, our persistence, tenacity, determination and hard work have turned from a forest into a "Tent City in the Forest" then into a vibrant and wholesome modern community that they are more than proud to call HOME.