Oujé-Bougoumou, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Oujé-Bougoumou is the newest Cree
community located on the shores of Lake Opemisca, in the Jamésie region of Quebec
, Canada
. It has a population of 606 people (Canada 2006 Census
).
Oujé-Bougoumou (referred to as "Oujé" by local residents) is accessible by a 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) paved road (gravel before 2008), linking to Route 113
not far from Chapais
. Along with the neighbouring towns of Chibougamau
and Chapais, Oujé-Bougoumou is serviced by the Chibougamau/Chapais airport
located approximately 42 kilometres (26.1 mi) away on Route 113.
area had been marginalized in the 20th century by many forced relocations. After decades of relocations, this band
gained recognition by the government and was given land to construct a new permanent village. It was designed by architect Douglas Cardinal
(famous for the Canadian Museum of Civilization
in Gatineau, Quebec) and was built in 1992. It has won recognition and awards for its modern concepts combining economic sustainability, environmental conservation, and design.
A cultural institute named Aanischaaukamikw is in construction, official opening is set for November 11, 2011 (11-11-11). The name Aanischaaukamikw (âniscewikamikw in the southern dialect) translated into English conveys the meaning "heritage center" (âniscew-, meaning 'ancestry' + -kamikw, meaning 'room' or 'building'). It is to be developed into a multi-purpose cultural institution with the purpose of bringing cultural programs of the region together by adapting and including the programs currently offered by the James Bay Cree Cultural Education Center and those of the Cree Regional Authority.
The Aanischaaukamikw institute will also have the task of collaborating on the research of the Cree language currently undertaken by the Cree School Board.
On November 9, 2009 under the Canadian Economic Action Plan, it was announced that a combined sum of $3.2 million will invested into the development of the Aanischaaukamikw Cultural Institute. The funding would be allocated from the budgets of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Economic Development Agency, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
in certain urban areas, the planners decided to implement a community wide district heating system. The heating for the village is produced in a central boiler house. The boiler house is equipped with two boilers. One boiler has duel fuel capabilities, both wood and oil, and the second boiler for peaking and standby oil firing only.
The wood-fired boiler is fully automatic from fuel in-feed to ash removal. The system has built-in telecommunications modem for remote troubleshooting and supervision. The wood supply is actually a by-product from the nearby sawmills that would normally be considered as waste. If the wood supply becomes limited due to severe weather conditions, the boiler can be operated on oil.
From the boiler house, the heat is piped via an underground hot water distribution network with supply and return pipelines in a closed circuit. Each building is connected to the network via a customer heat transfer station that regulates and measures the energy taken from the distribution system. Each building is directly connected to the distribution system. From there each building gets a supply of hot water and in cooler weather, heating.
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 Opemisca, in the Jamésie region of 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 has a population of 606 people (Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
).
Oujé-Bougoumou (referred to as "Oujé" by local residents) is accessible by a 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) paved road (gravel before 2008), linking to Route 113
Quebec route 113
Route 113 is a north/south two lane highway in northern Quebec, Canada. It starts at Route 117 just north of Louvicourt and continues north and north-east roughly until Waswanipi from where it continues east until it ends at Route 167 in Chibougamau...
not far from Chapais
Chapais, Quebec
Chapais is a community in the Canadian province of Quebec, located on Route 113 near Chibougamau in the Jamésie region. It is surrounded by, but not a part of, the municipality of Baie-James. The community was first settled in 1929, when prospector Léo Springer discovered deposits of copper, silver...
. Along with the neighbouring towns of Chibougamau
Chibougamau, Quebec
Chibougamau is a town in central Quebec, Canada, located on Lake Gilman. It has a population of 7,563 people , which makes it the largest community in northern Quebec...
and Chapais, Oujé-Bougoumou is serviced by the Chibougamau/Chapais airport
Chibougamau/Chapais Airport
Chibougamau/Chapais Airport is located southwest of Chibougamau, Quebec, Canada, or about halfway to Chapais along Route 113.-Incidents:On October 25, 2007 at approximately 0900 local. A Beech King Air 100A operating as "Cree" 501 crashed on approach into Chibougamau . Both pilots were fatally...
located approximately 42 kilometres (26.1 mi) away on Route 113.
History
The Cree in the ChibougamauChibougamau, Quebec
Chibougamau is a town in central Quebec, Canada, located on Lake Gilman. It has a population of 7,563 people , which makes it the largest community in northern Quebec...
area had been marginalized in the 20th century by many forced relocations. After decades of relocations, this band
Band society
A band society is the simplest form of human society. A band generally consists of a small kin group, no larger than an extended family or clan; it has been defined as consisting of no more than 30 to 50 individuals.Bands have a loose organization...
gained recognition by the government and was given land to construct a new permanent village. It was designed by architect Douglas Cardinal
Douglas Cardinal
Douglas Joseph Cardinal, OC is a Canadian architect.Born of Métis and Blackfoot heritage, Cardinal is famous for flowing architecture marked with smooth lines, influenced by his Aboriginal heritage as well as European Expressionist architectureIn 1953, he attended the University of British...
(famous for the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
in Gatineau, Quebec) and was built in 1992. It has won recognition and awards for its modern concepts combining economic sustainability, environmental conservation, and design.
Education
While a majority of the youth attend the English and Cree immersion school, Waapihtiiwewan School, operating in Oujé-Bougoumou, some families elect to send their children to French schools in the nearby towns instead.A cultural institute named Aanischaaukamikw is in construction, official opening is set for November 11, 2011 (11-11-11). The name Aanischaaukamikw (âniscewikamikw in the southern dialect) translated into English conveys the meaning "heritage center" (âniscew-, meaning 'ancestry' + -kamikw, meaning 'room' or 'building'). It is to be developed into a multi-purpose cultural institution with the purpose of bringing cultural programs of the region together by adapting and including the programs currently offered by the James Bay Cree Cultural Education Center and those of the Cree Regional Authority.
The Aanischaaukamikw institute will also have the task of collaborating on the research of the Cree language currently undertaken by the Cree School Board.
Leisure
In addition to the local Petaapin Youth Center, there is also a sports complex hosting a swimming pool, a competition grade ice rink, and weight training facilities. Just outside the village lies a motocross course that can be converted to a snocross course in the winter.Economy
The economy of Oujé-Bougoumou is focused mainly in mining exploration, trapping, tourism, construction, outfitters, and the cultivation of blueberry farms.On November 9, 2009 under the Canadian Economic Action Plan, it was announced that a combined sum of $3.2 million will invested into the development of the Aanischaaukamikw Cultural Institute. The funding would be allocated from the budgets of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Economic Development Agency, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Innovation
Being a relatively new community, the planners for the community were able to look into new ideas for urban development. Using examples of teleheatingDistrict heating
District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
in certain urban areas, the planners decided to implement a community wide district heating system. The heating for the village is produced in a central boiler house. The boiler house is equipped with two boilers. One boiler has duel fuel capabilities, both wood and oil, and the second boiler for peaking and standby oil firing only.
The wood-fired boiler is fully automatic from fuel in-feed to ash removal. The system has built-in telecommunications modem for remote troubleshooting and supervision. The wood supply is actually a by-product from the nearby sawmills that would normally be considered as waste. If the wood supply becomes limited due to severe weather conditions, the boiler can be operated on oil.
From the boiler house, the heat is piped via an underground hot water distribution network with supply and return pipelines in a closed circuit. Each building is connected to the network via a customer heat transfer station that regulates and measures the energy taken from the distribution system. Each building is directly connected to the distribution system. From there each building gets a supply of hot water and in cooler weather, heating.