Nemaska, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Nemaska 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 consists 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 kilometres (37.3 mi) northeast from the former site. The nearby Hydro-Québec
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.
Nemaska is accessible by air (from Hydro-Québec's Nemiscau Airport
) and by car over the gravel North Road (Route du Nord
). About 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east from the village is the huge Hydro-Québec substation of Nemiscau.
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
community located on the shores of Lake Champion, in 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 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
Grand Council of the Crees
The Grand Council of the Crees , or the GCC, is the political body that represents the approximately 16,357 Crees or “Iyyu” / “Iynu” of the Eeyou Istchee territory in the James Bay and Nunavik regions of Northern Quebec, Canada...
and Cree Regional Authority.
Nemaska is a new and modern village that consists of Cree families originally living at the Nemiscau
Nemiscau, Quebec
Nemiscau is a semi-permanent Cree settlement in northern Quebec, Canada, on Lake Nemiscau. There is no road or airplane access.Nemiscau is the former site of a Hudson's Bay Company post until 1970...
trading post on Lake Nemiscau
Lake Nemiscau
Lake Nemiscau is a lake in north-western Quebec, Canada, on the Rupert River. The abandoned settlement of Nemiscau is on the north shore, but in recent years, Cree people have been re-establishing Nemiscau as a summer residence. The nearest village is the town of Nemaska, about 60 km northeast....
(51°19′N 76°55′W). When 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...
post closed there in 1970, the residents were dispersed until the new village of Nemaska was built in 1980, over 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) northeast from the former site. The nearby Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
electrical substation
Electrical substation
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...
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.
Nemaska is accessible by air (from Hydro-Québec's Nemiscau Airport
Nemiscau Airport
Nemiscau Airport is located southeast of Nemaska, Quebec, Canada, along Route du Nord at km 294. It was built and is operated by Hydro-Québec to serve their large electrical substations of Nemiscau and Albanel. Air Creebec has scheduled flights to and from this airport at the discretion of...
) and by car over the gravel North Road (Route du Nord
Route du Nord
The Route du Nord is an isolated wilderness road in central Quebec, Canada, connecting Chibougamau with the James Bay Road at km 275. It is long, all of it unpaved...
). About 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east from the village is the huge Hydro-Québec substation of Nemiscau.