Manawan, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Manawan is a First Nation reserve
on the south-western shores of Lake Métabeskéga in the Lanaudière
region of Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Atikamekw de Manawan band of the Atikamekw
Nation.
The 5 kilometres long by 2 kilometres wide reserve is an enclave within the Baie-Atibenne unorganized territory, approximately 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) north of Saint-Michel-des-Saints
. It is accessible by gravel road.
The reserve takes its name from the Manouane River that has its source nearby. The standardized writing of the Atikamekw language
spells it as Manawan, and this form was adopted on January 8, 1991. It means "place where they gather eggs".
. This location, near their winter hunting grounds, was known in the 19th century as Metapeckeka, meaning "swamp coming from a bay" (from the fact that the lake is often dotted with floating plant debris that winds blew of the banks).
Around 1870, logging companies moved into the area, prompting several families to permanently settle on the site. A year later, the Hudson's Bay Company
opened its post. But damming of Kempt, Manawan, and Châteauvert Lakes in the early 1900s inundated the old village. A new village formed downstream at the current site.
Establishing a reserve for themselves proved difficult for the Atikamekw. The repeated requests of Chief Louis Newashish for this portion of their territory were rebuffed by the Canadian Government, saying that the Maniwaki reserve
, created in 1850, was reserved for them. The Atikamekw refused to go and live there. The federal government still declined to establish a reserve, arguing that Wemotaci was also for them. After years of correspondence followed by numerous trips in birch-bark canoe to Ottawa
and lengthy negotiations for federal services, the government agreed. On August 29, 1906, the Manouane Reserve was officially founded with 1906 acres (771.3 ha) of land and having some 50 inhabitants.
The Hudson's Bay Company general store closed circa 1941. The village experienced further growth in the 1950s when more families settled down as a result of growing forest exploitation and the construction of large dams. In 1973, Manawan was connected by road to Saint-Michel-des-Saints.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 309 (total dwellings: 354)
Mother tongue:
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
on the south-western shores of Lake Métabeskéga in the Lanaudière
Lanaudière
Lanaudière is one of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec, Canada, situated immediately to the northeast of Montreal. It has a total population of 429,053 inhabitants.-Geography:...
region of Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Atikamekw de Manawan band of the Atikamekw
Atikamekw
The Atikamekw are the indigenous inhabitants of the area they refer to as Nitaskinan , in the upper Saint-Maurice River valley of Quebec , Canada. Their population currently stands at around 4500. One of the main communities is Manawan, about northeast of Montreal. They have a tradition of...
Nation.
The 5 kilometres long by 2 kilometres wide reserve is an enclave within the Baie-Atibenne unorganized territory, approximately 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) north of Saint-Michel-des-Saints
Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Quebec
Saint-Michel-des-Saints is a municipality in the Matawinie Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. It is the largest and northern-most municipality in the Lanaudière region...
. It is accessible by gravel road.
The reserve takes its name from the Manouane River that has its source nearby. The standardized writing of the Atikamekw language
Atikamekw language
The Atikamekw language , a dialect of Cree, is the language of the Atikamekw people of southwestern Quebec. It is spoken by nearly all the Atikamekw, and therefore it is among the indigenous languages least threatened with extinction according to some studies...
spells it as Manawan, and this form was adopted on January 8, 1991. It means "place where they gather eggs".
History
At least since 1850 and probably earlier, the shores of Lake Métabeskéga were a gathering place for Atikamekw families from WemotaciWemotaci, Quebec
Wemotaci is a First Nation reserve on the north shore of the Saint-Maurice River at the mouth of the Manouane River in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada...
. This location, near their winter hunting grounds, was known in the 19th century as Metapeckeka, meaning "swamp coming from a bay" (from the fact that the lake is often dotted with floating plant debris that winds blew of the banks).
Around 1870, logging companies moved into the area, prompting several families to permanently settle on the site. A year later, the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson'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...
opened its post. But damming of Kempt, Manawan, and Châteauvert Lakes in the early 1900s inundated the old village. A new village formed downstream at the current site.
Establishing a reserve for themselves proved difficult for the Atikamekw. The repeated requests of Chief Louis Newashish for this portion of their territory were rebuffed by the Canadian Government, saying that the Maniwaki reserve
Kitigan Zibi, Quebec
Kitigan Zibi is a First Nations Reserve of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, an Algonquin band. It is situated at the confluence of the Désert and Gatineau Rivers, and borders south-west on the Town of Maniwaki in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada...
, created in 1850, was reserved for them. The Atikamekw refused to go and live there. The federal government still declined to establish a reserve, arguing that Wemotaci was also for them. After years of correspondence followed by numerous trips in birch-bark canoe to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and lengthy negotiations for federal services, the government agreed. On August 29, 1906, the Manouane Reserve was officially founded with 1906 acres (771.3 ha) of land and having some 50 inhabitants.
The Hudson's Bay Company general store closed circa 1941. The village experienced further growth in the 1950s when more families settled down as a result of growing forest exploitation and the construction of large dams. In 1973, Manawan was connected by road to Saint-Michel-des-Saints.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 1843 (2001 to 2006 population change: 12.0 %)
- Population in 2001: 1646
- Population in 1996: 1416
- Population in 1991: 1224
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 309 (total dwellings: 354)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0 %
- French as first language: 2 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 98 %
Education
There are 2 schools on the reserve:- École Simon P. Ottawa, pre-kindergarten to Elementary grade 6
- École César Newashish, grades Secondary 1 to Secondary 5