Waswanipi, Quebec

Waswanipi (Cree: ᐙᔅᐙᓂᐲ or Wâswânipî) is a Cree community in the Eeyou Istchee territory of central Quebec, Canada, located along Route 113 and near the confluence of the Chibougamau and Waswanipi Rivers. It has a population of 459 people (Canada 2021 Census).[2] Waswanipi is a compound word composed of wâswân (a place to fish at night using a torch) and -pî (lake), meaning "torch-fishing lake" but colloquially translated as "light over the water"[3] referring to the traditional night-time fishing method of luring fish to light by using torches.

For the Cree village municipality of the same name, see Waswanipi (Cree village municipality).
Waswanipi
ᐙᔅᐙᓂᐲ (Cree)
Cree community
Etymology: Light over the water
Waswanipi is located in Quebec
Waswanipi
Waswanipi
Coordinates: 49°41′48″N 75°57′40″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionNorthern Quebec
TEEeyou Istchee
Government
 • TypeCree reserved land
 • ChiefIrene Neeposh
 • Deputy ChiefRhonda Oblin-Cooper
Area
[1]
 • Land385.83 km2 (148.97 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total459
 • Density1.2/km2 (3/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Postal Code
J0Y 3C0
Area code819
Websitewww.waswanipi.com
Spearing Salmon By Torchlight by Paul Kane demonstrates the practice of using light to attract fish at night, from which the village derives its name.

The original location of the village was on an island in Lake Waswanipi (49°39′N 76°29′W). It was the site of a Hudson's Bay Company trading post until 1965 when the post was closed. Its residents dispersed until 1978 when the new village of Waswanipi was built about 47 km upstream the Waswanipi River from the former location.

Languages Spoken

Waswanipi is a trilingual community, the majority of its residences speaking the Southern East Cree dialect of the Cree language. Aside from the elderly people, who tend to be monolingual Cree speakers, the majority of the population speaks, in addition to Cree, either English or French, some speaking both.

Education

The Cree School Board operates two schools: Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School (ᐧᐃᓖ ᒉᐄ ᐦᐋᐲᒑᒃ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐅᑲᒥᒄ) and Rainbow Elementary School (ᐲᓯᒧᔮᐲ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐅᑲᒥᒄ), along with Jolina Gull-Blacksmith Memorial School. As of 2017 Happyjack has 536 students.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=waswanipi&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021A00052499802 for Waswanipi, Terres réservées aux Cris
  2. "Waswanipi, Quebec (Terres réservées aux Cris)". Community profiles, Canada 2021 Census. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  3. Commission de Toponymie du Québec
  4. "Willie J.Happyjack Memorial School." Cree School Board. Retrieved on September 23, 2017.
  5. "Willie J. Happyjack Memorial School and Rainbow Elementary School ." Cree School Board. Retrieved on September 23, 2017.


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