Mashteuiatsh, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Mashteuiatsh is a First Nations reserve in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec
, Canada, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north from the centre of Roberval
. It is located on a headland jutting out on the western shores of Lake Saint-Jean
known as Pointe-Bleue, in the geographic township of Ouiatchouan, and belongs to the Montagnais du Lac St-Jean Innu
band. It is geographically within the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality
but administratively not part of it.
Previously officially known as Ouiatchouan Reserve, it was renamed Mashteuiatsh in 1985, from Ka Mesta8iats, meaning "where there is a point" or "seeing one yet again at the point".
Mashteuiatsh is serviced by a health centre, community radio station, arena, library, community and sports centre, social services centre, municipal water and sewer system, fire station, and an aboriginal police force. The reserve is home to the Mashteuiatsh Amerindian Museum (Musée amérindien de Mashteuiatsh), which was founded in 1977 with a mission to preserve Innu cultural heritage.
. Circa 1775, a trading post was established there, owned by English merchants Thomas Dunn and John Gray.
In 1853, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, John Rolph, had proposed to assign the Innu living near the Peribonka River
, north of Lake Saint-Jean, a reserve of 16000 acres (6,475 ha) and the Innu residing in Métabetchouan Township
, south of Lake Saint-Jean, were allotted 4000 acres (1,618.7 ha). But because Pointe-Bleue had been their traditional site and because loggers would not respect the boundaries of the reserved lands, the Innu asked the Government of Canada to exchange these lands bordering the Peribonka and Métabetchouane Rivers for those in Ouiatchouan Township where Pointe-Bleue is. This request was granted in 1856, and the Innu were allotted an area of 23040 acres (9,324 ha), from then on officially known as Ouiatchouan Reserve.
In 1867, the Hudson's Bay Company
established there its trading post. This gave the reserve some importance, attracting an Oblate
s' mission in 1875, and even resulting in the closure of the Métabetchouan Post
in 1880. Nevertheless, the Innu showed no interest in permanent settlement. Furthermore, under insistent pressure by political and religious authorities who promoted the area's colonization by new settlers, the Innu ceded more than 15000 acres (6,070.3 ha) back to the government in 1869, and another 2400 acres (971.2 ha) in 1895. The reserve was reduced in size again in 1901 when more lots were sold off, in 1911 when the James Bay & Eastern Railway was built through it, and in 1933 when the Duke Price Power Company raised Lake Saint-Jean's water level by more than 15 feet (4.6 m), leaving only the lands bordering the lake.
In 1985 and 1986, the Lac St-Jean Innu began claiming for compensation and recovery of most of these lost lands. On February 28, 2000, a settlement agreement with the Government of Canada was signed.
Population trend:
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 618 (total dwellings: 982)
Mother tongue:
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, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north from the centre of Roberval
Roberval, Quebec
Roberval is a city on the south-western shore of Lac Saint-Jean in the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. With a population of 10,544 in the Canada 2006 Census, it is the third largest city on this lake after Alma and Dolbeau-Mistassini.It is the seat of the...
. It is located on a headland jutting out on the western shores of Lake Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean is a large, relatively shallow lake in south-central Quebec, Canada, in the Laurentian Highlands. It is situated 206 kilometres north of the Saint Lawrence River, into which it drains via the Saguenay River. It covers an area of 1003 km² Lac Saint-Jean is a large, relatively...
known as Pointe-Bleue, in the geographic township of Ouiatchouan, and belongs to the Montagnais du Lac St-Jean Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
band. It is geographically within the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality
Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality, Quebec
right|300pxLe Domaine-du-Roy is a Regional County Municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. Its seat is in Roberval, Quebec. It is named for the King of France, who at the time of the colonization of Quebec owned this land...
but administratively not part of it.
Previously officially known as Ouiatchouan Reserve, it was renamed Mashteuiatsh in 1985, from Ka Mesta8iats, meaning "where there is a point" or "seeing one yet again at the point".
Mashteuiatsh is serviced by a health centre, community radio station, arena, library, community and sports centre, social services centre, municipal water and sewer system, fire station, and an aboriginal police force. The reserve is home to the Mashteuiatsh Amerindian Museum (Musée amérindien de Mashteuiatsh), which was founded in 1977 with a mission to preserve Innu cultural heritage.
History
Before Europeans arrived in the area, the site was a frequently used stopover place and camp of the indigenous InnuInnu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
. Circa 1775, a trading post was established there, owned by English merchants Thomas Dunn and John Gray.
In 1853, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, John Rolph, had proposed to assign the Innu living near the Peribonka River
Peribonka River
The Peribonka River is a river in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area in Quebec, Canada. It is long and drains an area of . It drains into Lac Saint-Jean at Pointe-Taillon National Park and is the largest tributary of this lake...
, north of Lake Saint-Jean, a reserve of 16000 acres (6,475 ha) and the Innu residing in Métabetchouan Township
Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix, Quebec
Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix is a city in Quebec, Canada, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.The city consists of the population centres of Métabetchouan, on the shores of Lac Saint-Jean at the mouth of the small Couchepaganiche River, and Lac-à-la-Croix, a few kilometres to the east on Cross...
, south of Lake Saint-Jean, were allotted 4000 acres (1,618.7 ha). But because Pointe-Bleue had been their traditional site and because loggers would not respect the boundaries of the reserved lands, the Innu asked the Government of Canada to exchange these lands bordering the Peribonka and Métabetchouane Rivers for those in Ouiatchouan Township where Pointe-Bleue is. This request was granted in 1856, and the Innu were allotted an area of 23040 acres (9,324 ha), from then on officially known as Ouiatchouan Reserve.
In 1867, 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...
established there its trading post. This gave the reserve some importance, attracting an Oblate
Oblate
An oblate spheroid is a rotationally symmetric ellipsoid having a polar axis shorter than the diameter of the equatorial circle whose plane bisects it. Oblate spheroids stand in contrast to prolate spheroids....
s' mission in 1875, and even resulting in the closure of the Métabetchouan Post
Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix, Quebec
Métabetchouan–Lac-à-la-Croix is a city in Quebec, Canada, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.The city consists of the population centres of Métabetchouan, on the shores of Lac Saint-Jean at the mouth of the small Couchepaganiche River, and Lac-à-la-Croix, a few kilometres to the east on Cross...
in 1880. Nevertheless, the Innu showed no interest in permanent settlement. Furthermore, under insistent pressure by political and religious authorities who promoted the area's colonization by new settlers, the Innu ceded more than 15000 acres (6,070.3 ha) back to the government in 1869, and another 2400 acres (971.2 ha) in 1895. The reserve was reduced in size again in 1901 when more lots were sold off, in 1911 when the James Bay & Eastern Railway was built through it, and in 1933 when the Duke Price Power Company raised Lake Saint-Jean's water level by more than 15 feet (4.6 m), leaving only the lands bordering the lake.
In 1985 and 1986, the Lac St-Jean Innu began claiming for compensation and recovery of most of these lost lands. On February 28, 2000, a settlement agreement with the Government of Canada was signed.
Demographics
As of December 2009, the band counted 4959 members, of which 2922 persons are living in the community.Population trend:
- Population in 2006: 1749 (2001 to 2006 population change: -6.0 %)
- Population in 2001: 1861
- Population in 1996: 1725
- Population in 1991: 1489
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 618 (total dwellings: 982)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0.9 %
- French as first language: 81.8 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 17.3 %
Economy
The local economy is based mostly on logging, construction, transport, and tourism. There are some 130 businesses on the reserve that provide services such as: food, hotel accommodations, sawmills, electrician, auto mechanics, taxi, arts and handicrafts, post office, excavation, plumbing, translation, camping, hardware, convenience store, restaurants.Education
There are two schools on the reserve:- École Amishk, providing pre-Kindergarten to elementary grade 6, with an enrolment of 247 students in 2008-2009
- École Kassinu-Mamu, providing secondary grade 1 to 5, with an enrolment of 230 students in 2008-2009