The Algonquins

History
Formerly called Algoumequin by the Maliseets and Micmacs, then Algonquins by the ­Europeans, Anishnabe “the real men” is the appellation preferred by the Algonquins to identify themselves. Their traditional territory extended from Lac des Deux Montagnes, in the vicinity of Montréal, to the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region and Ontario, where they controlled the Ottawa River, the principal fur trade route. This nomadic tribe’s environment was seriously disturbed in the early 20th century when settlers, prospectors and lumberjacks congregated in Abitibi. However, the Algonquins’ close relationship to nature has enabled them to preserve their culture and keep it alive. To this day, several families spend the entire winter in their hunting grounds just as their ancestors did in the previous century.

Population and language
Québec Algonquins number 8,293, with a little more than half living in their nine ­communities (two in Outaouais and seven in Abitibi-Témiscamingue). The remaining number have settled in cities, mainly in Montréal, Ottawa, Val-d’Or and Senneterre. There are also some ­Algonquin communities in Ontario. The Algonquin language has survived and is spoken by 60% of the population, and depending on the community, the second language is either English or French.

Art and culture
Moose skin and fur clothing, birch bark baskets, beaded embroidery and the tikinagan (a traditional baby-carrier used today only by Algonquins, Crees and Atikamekw) are Algonquin handicraft treasures.

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The Micmacs

History
Living at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, the sea gateway to Québec, the Micmacs were the first to welcome the new European arrivals in the 16th century. Their fishing and navigational skills made them valuable collaborators of explorers and merchants. Traditional allies of the French, they participated with them in numerous battles, including the Battle of the Restigouche in the Baie-des-Chaleurs. Today, they focus on developing natural resources and tourism, always highlighting their history by developing their ancestral sites and practising the traditional art of salmon fishing.

Population and language
Among the 4,540 Micmacs now living in Québec, almost 60% reside within the two ­communities of Listuguj, Gesgapegiag, the third one in Gaspé having no territory as such. Approximately 15,000 Micmacs live in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, 40% of whom are still able to communicate in their ancestral tongue.

Art and culture
The Gaspé Micmacs keep the memory of their traditions alive through their handicraft ­specialties, including baskets made of ash and sweet vernal grass, animal skin clothing and beautiful articles trimmed with pearls. The interpretation centres which they have founded help familiarize visitors with the lifestyle of their ancestors.

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The Maliseets

History
The traditional hunting and fishing grounds of the nomadic Maliseets were located along the southern shores of the St. Lawrence River. In an attempt to settle conflicts arising after the ­arrival of colonists in the 17th century, these nomadic people were offered arable land in Viger, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent area. Preferring their freedom, the Maliseets dispersed throughout Québec following the sale of their lands toward the end of the 19th century. It was only ­recently, in 1987, after considerable research to discover their origins, that 130 Maliseets banded together to form a national council. The Maliseet nation was officially recognized in 1989 as the eleventh Aboriginal nation in Québec, and it is now hard at work to give new life to its traditions and its rights.

Population and language
There are 701 Maliseets in Québec, but none live permanently in either of their two ­communities situated in Cacouna and Whitworth. Québec Maliseets speak French.

Art and culture
Magnificent objects from the Maliseet culture have been preserved in a number of museums, including ancient articles of clothing embroidered with pearls and moose hair. In Cacouna, where the crafts have been revived, there is a historic house.

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The Atikamekw

History
Called Têtes-de-Boule, “round heads,” in the 18th and 19th centuries because of the shape of their headdress, the Atikamekw have gone back to their original name which means “white fish,” for the pollan-type fish which was the basic food in their diet. Found only in Québec, with close ties to the forest, these nomadic tribes established important relationships with the Algonquins, the Crees and the Innus (Montagnais). The Atikamekw were active in the fur trade in the time of the Hudson Bay trading posts. Later, the harnessing of rivers, forestry operations, and the building of the railway had a considerable effect on their environment and forced them to modify their lifestyle. The Atikamekw nation is now concentrating on economic development, education and tourism, respecting as usual their traditions and the environment.

Population and language
The three Atikamekw communities of Weymontachie (Wemotaci), Obedjiwan (Opitciwan) and Manawan are situated in the upper Mauricie area and in the Lanaudière in the very heart of ­Québec. They account for more than 80% of the 5,224 Atikamekw listed in the most recent census. They have kept the use of their ancestral tongue and also speak French.

Art and culture
Besides being specialized in the making of all kinds of objects from birch bark, including their famous lightweight, profiled canoes, the Atikamekw produce remarkable sculptures and ­paintings as well as moose skin clothing. They have become masters in the production of ­blueberry paste and the popular maple syrup which has become one of Canada’s specialties.

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The Abenakis

History
Driven from their ancestral lands in New England in the 17th century, the Abenakis settled for good in Québec where they founded two communities on the lower shore of the St. Lawrence River, near Trois-Rivières, the Odanak “welcome” and Wôlinak “the bay.”

Population and language
The Abenaki nation, whose original name is Wabanaki, meaning “the land of the rising sun,” has today 1,965 members, only 20% of whom live in their two communities. All have now adopted French as their common language. A few elderly members can still communicate in the Abenaki tongue.

Art and culture
The Abenaki basket-making crafts using strips of ash and sweet vernal grass are renowned. A few artists still know the secrets of traditional dances, of producing masks symbolizing the sun and corn, and totems dedicated to tribal guard animals. The Abenaki Museum, the first Amerindian museum in Québec, contains an impressive collection of artifacts and works of art.

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The Innu - Montagnais

History
The Montagnais appellation was given to their nation by their European trading partners, based on the area where they lived, i.e., the low mountains of the North Shore. However, they always referred to themselves as Innu, meaning “men” in the broad sense of the word. The Innu were nomadic people; hunters, fishers and gatherers, who traditionally moved from their summer camps on the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River to the rich hunting grounds in the heart of Québec-Labrador and nearby Lac Saint-Jean, travelling up the Saint-Jean, ­Romaine, George, Sainte-Marguerite and Mistashipu rivers. The Innu were the first to establish a political and cultural entity to foster the progress of Aboriginal self-awareness.

Population and language
The Innu (Montagnais) nation, with its 14,304 members, is the most populous Amerindian ­nation in Québec. Approximately 70% of them live in nine communities, most of which are on the North Shore, with one near Lac Saint-Jean and another to the north of Schefferville. In addition to French, almost all Montagnais speak Innu, their ancestral tongue.

Art and culture
In addition to producing remarkable sculptures in wood, caribou antlers and stone, the Innu exhibit impressive talent in the fields of painting, drawing, engraving and handicrafts (leatherwork, beading, furs and basketry). Caribou and salmon are two very important animals to Innus. They boast great musicians, many of whom are renowned internationally.

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The Naskapis

History
Dedicated almost exclusively to the exploitation of caribou, the culture of the nomadic Naskapi hunters led them to wander across their vast northern lands, following the migration of caribou herds. Until the 19th century, the Naskapis occupied an area south of Ungava Bay, near the existing Inuit community of Kuujjuaq, gradually transferring their activities to the vicinity of Schefferville, where a new trading post incited them to take part in the fur trade. In 1957, the community’s relocation to the Schefferville area became official, and there they share lands with the Innu-Montagnais of Matimekush. Making full use of their hunting skills and their age-old familiarity with the land, the Naskapis have taken responsibility for organizing hunting and fishing expeditions as well as excursions through taiga and tundra.

Population and language
The sole community of the Naskapis nation, inaugurated in 1984, is called Kawawachikamach. It is home to almost all its 780 members. The Naskapis still speak their native language, while also mastering English.

Art and culture
Naskapi craftsmanship is characterized by its widespread reliance on the use of caribous in a variety of forms and for many purposes—Naskapi clothing, sculptures and jewellery use caribou antlers, skin, horns and bones as a base.

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The Inuit

History
In Canada, the Inuit live in the distant Arctic lands stretching from the Bering Strait to ­Greenland. In Québec, their ancestral homeland is called Nunavik “the immense place where we live,” situated north of the 55th parallel between Hudson Bay and Labrador. Brave and ingenious people, the Inuit, over thousands of years, have developed their own customs—diet, clothing and social mores—to adapt to the rigorous climate and the very special fauna and flora in the area. In 1975, the signing of the James Bay and Northern Québec agreement by the Inuit gave a jump start to their financial development. Today, they prosper mainly through air transport and the marketing of foodstuffs, in response to international demand, particularly for caribou and Arctic char. The modernization of their northern villages was accomplished thanks to the initiative of newly developed Inuit institutions.

Population and language
Now known as Inuits, meaning “men, human beings” they were formerly called Eskimos, ­meaning “raw meat eaters.” There are 9,145 Inuits in Québec, most of whom live in the 14 Nunavik villages. About 60 Inuits are established in Chisasibi, a Cree community in James Bay. They all speak Inuktitut, and also communicate in English and, increasingly, in French.

Art and culture
Inuit art, with its mythological roots, inspired by northern life and featuring, among other means of expression, dances and traditional songs, is endlessly fascinating. Beautiful figures carved in steatite (soapstone) are renowned internationally. Animal skin clothing and intricate embroidery are further examples of the refinement of a people deeply attached to its ancient culture.

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The Crees

History
The land of the Crees is located in the basin of James Bay between the boreal forest and the taiga. In this area, which is not suited for farming, the nomadic Cree tribes acquired impressive hunting, fishing and trapping skills, as well as a steadfast determination to ­protect the ­environment. Having been important participants in the fur trade, they were also in the forefront of the 1975 negotiations with the federal and provincial governments covering ­hydroelectric operations in their area. These discussions represented a decisive turning point in their lives and fostered an increased desire for self-determination. In fact, since that time, the Crees of Québec have taken complete responsibility for their own affairs and have experienced remarkable economic growth.

Population and language
Nine communities account for almost the entire 13,027 Crees spread throughout the most northern part of the province still accessible by road. The newest settlement, Oujé-Bougoumou, inaugurated in 1993, won a United Nations award for its architecture combining traditional and modern styles in a tasteful and original way. The Cree nation is second in demographic importance (there are Crees also in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan). The majority of the population uses its original tongue in daily communications and English, which has long been their second language. A growing number of young Crees are now learning French.

Art and culture
The Crees, with their long cultural heritage, have become masters in the art of creating moose skin clothing and gloves tastefully decorated with pearls and embroidery. Their famous decoys ­consisting of birds carefully made from tamarack branches, are true assets to a decor. ­Sculpture, painting and music are also fields in which a great number of Cree artists stand out.

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The Huron-Wendat

History
Originally from the Great Lakes, and more particularly from Georgian Bay, the Huron-Wendat established themselves in the Québec area in 1650. The Huron name was given to them by the Europeans because of their headdress in the form of a boar’s head known in French as “hure,” whereas Wendat, or “island people,” is the name they have always given themselves because of their origin. For a time, the Wendat nation enjoyed great prosperity, acting as liaison people between Europeans and Amerindians. They lived in about twenty villages where their 40,000 members were divided into four clans: deer, stone, bear and cord, before being decimated by internecine wars and disease. Modern-day Huron-Wendat are descendants of the cord clan and, relying on their strong cultural heritage, are dedicated to the development of their skills while preserving their traditions.

Population and language
There remains only one Huron community in the whole of Canada, the Wendake community, also known as the Huron Village or Village-des-Hurons, a suburb of Québec City, in existence for more than 300 years. It is there that 1,100 of the 2,873 Huron-Wendat live. Although some members of the nation are making an effort to revive their ancestral language, most primarily speak French.

Art and culture
The Wendake community is rich in tourist attractions, including its church, which has been ­classified as a historical monument, its French Regime style houses, and its reconstructed ­traditional village. The pride the Huron-Wendat have for their heritage, their business sense and their craftsmanship are all evidence of the ancestral vigour of these Amerindian businesspeople.
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The Mohawks

History
Members of the Iroquois Confederation of the Five Nations, the Mohawk nation’s strength is the result of a well-structured social organization and a sedentary tradition imbued with spiritual values. Their lands formerly extended over a large portion of New England. Today, they are located in Québec, Ontario and the state of New York. In spite of their proximity to large cities and to the influence of urban society, the Mohawks have succeeded in preserving their traditions while assuming control over their own education, health and police force. Their ability to work in high places, providing manpower for bridge building and the construction of skyscrapers, has become legendary throughout America.

Population and language
The Mohawk nation, with its 10,718 members, is the third most populous in Québec. Most reside in the three Mohawk communities of Akwesasne, Kahnawake and Kanesatake. Of their members, 15% can still speak their ancestral tongue, while English is the common language.

Art and culture
Skilled sculptors and painters, the Mohawks are also famous for their jewellery and basketry. Each of their communities, located near Montréal, welcomes numerous visitors seeking to retrace the nation’s history and to admire its handicrafts, including ornate animal skin clothing adorned with silver jewels, intricate beadwork and sculpted Iroquois stones.

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