Natashquan, Quebec (municipality)
Encyclopedia
Natashquan is a township municipality
and village in Minganie Regional County Municipality
, Côte-Nord
region, Quebec
, Canada
. It should not be confused with the adjacent but separate Innu
reserve
of Natashquan.
The township is named after the Natashquan River
, that had already been mapped and named in the 17th century. It comes from the Innu language, meaning "where one hunts for bear".
In addition to the village of Natashquan itself, the municipality also includes the small community of Pointe-Parent (50°07′49"N 61°48′02"W) that is located on the Natashquan River, directly adjacent to the Natashquan Reserve. It is home to some fishermen homes and was served by a post office from 1953 to 1976. Once also known as Pointe-du-Poste and Village-du-Poste, Pointe-Parent was named after priest Pierre-Clément Parent (1733-1784) who served as missionary in Tadoussac and Labrador and died in Natashquan.
and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
, straddling both banks of the Little Natashquan River, some 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) east of Havre-Saint-Pierre
. The township is bordered on the east and south by the estuary
of the Natashquan River, and encompasses an area that is riddled with numerous small ponds and lakes.
had visited the area in 1534 and a trading post already existed in 1710 at the mouth of the Natashquan River, the settlement of Natashquan in the eponymous township was not founded until 1855 when the first settlers arrived. They were Acadians from the Magdalen Islands
, particularly from Amherst Island (île du Havre Aubert). That same year, the Notre-Dame-de-Natashquan Mission was founded on the west bank of the Little Natashquan River. In 1869, the township was officially established, and in August 1872, the post office opened. In 1907, the place was incorporated as a township municipality. For many decades Natashquan was dependent on fishing, but nowadays few fishermen remain.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 124 (total dwellings: 155)
Mother tongue:
, and is served by Natashquan Airport
and Natashquan (Lac de l'Avion) Water Aerodrome
.
(Köppen
Dfc) that is just short of being classed as a humid continental climate
(Köppen Dfb).
, one of Quebec's most iconic songwriter
s.
Types of municipalities in Quebec
The following is a list of the types of local and supralocal territorial units in Quebec, including those used solely for statistical purposes, as defined by the Institut de la Statistique du Québec....
and village in Minganie Regional County Municipality
Minganie Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Minganie is a regional county municipality of Quebec in Canada. The regional seat is Havre-Saint-Pierre. Anticosti Island is included within this region. It has a land area of ....
, Côte-Nord
Côte-Nord
Côte-Nord is the second largest administrative region by land area in Quebec, Canada, after Nord-du-Québec...
region, 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 should not be confused with the adjacent but separate 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...
reserve
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...
of Natashquan.
The township is named after the Natashquan River
Natashquan River
The Natashquan is a river in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. It has its source just south of the boundary between the Atlantic and Saint Lawrence watersheds. It flows south-east to the Labrador–Quebec border from where it flows southward...
, that had already been mapped and named in the 17th century. It comes from the Innu language, meaning "where one hunts for bear".
In addition to the village of Natashquan itself, the municipality also includes the small community of Pointe-Parent (50°07′49"N 61°48′02"W) that is located on the Natashquan River, directly adjacent to the Natashquan Reserve. It is home to some fishermen homes and was served by a post office from 1953 to 1976. Once also known as Pointe-du-Poste and Village-du-Poste, Pointe-Parent was named after priest Pierre-Clément Parent (1733-1784) who served as missionary in Tadoussac and Labrador and died in Natashquan.
Geography
The community is located on the north shore of the Jacques Cartier StraitJacques Cartier Strait
The Jacques Cartier Strait is a strait in eastern Quebec, Canada, flowing between Anticosti Island and the Labrador Peninsula. It is one of the two outlets of the Saint Lawrence River into its estuary, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
, straddling both banks of the Little Natashquan River, some 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) east of Havre-Saint-Pierre
Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec
Havre-Saint-Pierre is a town situated on Pointe-aux-Esquimaux, which is on the Quebec north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Canada...
. The township is bordered on the east and south by the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the Natashquan River, and encompasses an area that is riddled with numerous small ponds and lakes.
History
While Jacques CartierJacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer of Breton origin who claimed what is now Canada for France. He was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, which he named "The Country of Canadas", after the Iroquois names for the two big...
had visited the area in 1534 and a trading post already existed in 1710 at the mouth of the Natashquan River, the settlement of Natashquan in the eponymous township was not founded until 1855 when the first settlers arrived. They were Acadians from the Magdalen Islands
Magdalen Islands
The Magdalen Islands form a small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with a land area of . Though closer to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, the islands form part of the Canadian province of Quebec....
, particularly from Amherst Island (île du Havre Aubert). That same year, the Notre-Dame-de-Natashquan Mission was founded on the west bank of the Little Natashquan River. In 1869, the township was officially established, and in August 1872, the post office opened. In 1907, the place was incorporated as a township municipality. For many decades Natashquan was dependent on fishing, but nowadays few fishermen remain.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 264 (2001 to 2006 population change: -27.9 %)
- Population in 2001: 366
- Population in 1996: 356
- Population in 1991: 380
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 124 (total dwellings: 155)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0 %
- French as first language: 96.2 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 3.8 %
Transport
Natashquan is the eastern terminus of Quebec Route 138Quebec route 138
Route 138 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Quebec, following the entire north shore of the Saint Lawrence River past Montreal to the eastern terminus in Natashquan on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The western terminus is in Elgin, at the border with New York State south-west of Montreal...
, and is served by Natashquan Airport
Natashquan Airport
Natashquan Airport, , is located adjacent to Natashquan, Quebec, Canada.-Airlines and destinations:...
and Natashquan (Lac de l'Avion) Water Aerodrome
Natashquan (Lac de l'Avion) Water Aerodrome
Natashquan Water Aerodrome, , is a private airport located southeast of Natashquan, Quebec, Canada.-References:...
.
Climate
Natashquan experiences a borderline subarctic climateSubarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfc) that is just short of being classed as a humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Köppen Dfb).
Famous residents
Natashquan was the birthplace of Gilles VigneaultGilles Vigneault
Gilles Vigneault, is a Canadian poet, publisher and singer-songwriter, and well-known Quebec nationalist and sovereigntist.A poet deeply rooted in his native Quebec, Vigneault has become an icon at home and Quebec ambassador abroad...
, one of Quebec's most iconic songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s.