Manawan

"Manawan" means "place where we gather eggs" in Atikamekw language. The real name of the location of the village of Manawan is Metapeckeka, which means "where swamps emerge" or "savannah that emerges from a bay".[4]

The Indian Reserve of Manawan is an enclave within the Baie-Atibenne unorganized territory in Lanaudière, Quebec. It is located at 113 kilometres (70 mi) northeast of Mont-Laurier and it covers an area of 774 hectares (1,910 acres). It is linked by a gravel road to Saint-Michel-des-Saints to the south which is the closest service centre. The main city the closest to the village is Montreal.

Atikamekw of Manawan circa 1900

At least since 1850 and probably earlier, the shores of Lake Métabeskéga were a gathering place for Atikamekw families from Wemotaci. 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).[4][5]

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.[4][5]

Establishing a reserve for themselves proved difficult for the Atikamekw. The repeated requests of Chief Louis Néwashish 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 1,906 acres (771 ha) of land and having some 50 inhabitants.[5][6]

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.[4]

Land history

Aerial view of Manawan in 1971

• 1861-01-31: Act of 1861, aside land not exceeding 93,080 hectares (230,000 acres) for the use of Indians.
• 1906-05-25: Surveying land for reserve Manowan. Undivided land. Area: 771.32 hectares (1,906.0 acres).
• 1906-08-29: Order in Council 532, transfer of the management and administration of the Government of Quebec to Government of Canada. Undivided land. Area: 771.32 hectares (1,906.0 acres).

Current Situation

• Lands undivided, land acquired under the 1861 Act Transferring the management and administration of the Government of Quebec to Government of Canada by Order in Council 532 (1906-1908. - 29). Area: 771.32 hectares (1,906.0 acres)[7]

Historic populations:[11]

• Population in 2021: 2000
• Population in 2016: 2060
• Population in 2011: 2073
• Population in 2001: 1646
• Population in 1996: 1416
• Population in 1991: 1224

Mother tongue:[2]

• English: 0.2%
• French: 2.4%
• Atikamekw: 97.1%
• Other: 0.2%

Agora of the Otapi High School

There are 2 schools on the reserve:

• École Simon P. Ottawa (Simon P. Ottawa School), pre-kindergarten to Elementary grade 6
• École secondaire Otapi (Otapi High School), grades Secondary 1 to Secondary 5

• Atikamekw of Manawan
• Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw
• André Quitich

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manawan.

• 100 year anniversary of the Manawan reserve
• Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw