Eastmain (; ) is a

Cree The Cree, or nehinaw (, ), are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people, numbering more than 350,000 in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada, First Nations. They live prim ...

community located on the east coast of

James Bay James Bay (, ; ) is a large body of water located on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. It borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, and is politically part of Nunavut. Its largest island is Akimiski Island. Numerous waterways of the ...

at the mouth of the

Eastmain River The Eastmain River, formerly written East Main, is a river in west central Quebec. It rises in central Quebec and flows west to James Bay, draining an area of . The First Nations Cree village of Eastmain is located beside the mouth. Name Eastm ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, Canada. It is a small coastal Cree village with a population of 924 people in the

2021 Canadian Census The 2021 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canada, Canadian population with a reference date of May 11, 2021. It follows the 2016 Canadian census, which recorded a population of 35,151,728. The overall response rate was 98%, whic ...

up from 866 people at the

2016 Canadian Census The 2016 Canadian census was an enumeration of Canadian residents, which counted a population of 35,151,728, a change from its 2011 population of 33,476,688. The census, conducted by Statistics Canada, was Canada's seventh quinquennial census. ...

. Its alternate Cree name is ''ᐙᐸᓅᑖᐤ/Wâpanûtâw'', meaning ''Lands east of James Bay''. Eastmain is accessible by air (

Eastmain River Airport Eastmain River Airport , is located southwest of Eastmain, Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the province ...

) and by car over a gravel road linking it to the

James Bay Road The James Bay Road (), officially the Billy-Diamond Highway (), is a remote wilderness highway winding its way through the Canadian Shield in northwestern Quebec and reaches into the James Bay region. It starts in Matagami, Quebec, Matagami as an ...

, which takes around 1 hour. The Eastmain community was greatly affected by the

James Bay Project The James Bay Project () involves the construction of a series of hydroelectricity, hydroelectric power stations on the La Grande River in northwestern Quebec, Canada by government-owned corporation, state-owned public utility, utility Hydro-Qué ...

, which in 1980 diverted 90% of the Eastmain River to the

La Grande River La Grande River (, ; ; both meaning "great river") is a river in northwestern Quebec, Canada, rising in the highlands of the north-central part of the province and flowing roughly west to its drainage at James Bay. It is the second-longest rive ...

History

Like the other coastal villages on Hudson and James Bay, Eastmain was settled around a

Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...

trading post, which was originally called East Main House. Some Cree settled there for ease in trading.

Geography

Climate

Eastmain has a

subarctic climate The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a continental climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of ...

( Dfc), typical of communities along the eastern shore of the

. Summers are mild and rainy, with mild days and cool nights. Winters are cold with extremely heavy annual snowfall, averaging .

Demographics

As of May 2022, the nation counted 943 members, of which 830 persons lived in the Community. there were 223 private dwellings that are occupied by usual residents, out of a total of 280. The mother tongue of the residents is: * English as first language: 11.4% * French as first language: 1.1% *

as first language: 82.6% * Other indigenous languages: 0.6% Population trend: * Population in 1981: 328 * Population in 1986: 356 * Population in 1991: 444 * Population in 1996: 527 * Population in 2001: 614 * Population in 2006: 650 * Population in 2011: 767 * Population in 2016: 866 (2011 to 2016 population change: 12.9%) * Population in 2021: 924 (2016 to 2021 population change: 6.7%)

Economy

With a population nearing 1000, the main economic activities of the community are its services sectors. This would include a restaurant within a hotel, private businesses, and a construction company with a gas station and garage. Eastmain is also the headquarters for the Cree Regional Trappers Association, whose role is to support all local Cree Trappers by maintaining the practices of their traditional activities. Other services include its emergency service departments, local radio station, post office, local schools, government service sectors, sports and recreation complex, local development corporation, and local medical services, including a clinic.

Education

The

Cree School Board Cree School Board (CSB; ; ) is a school district in northern Quebec, headquartered in Mistissini, with an additional office in the James Bay Eeyou School in Chisasibi. While most Quebec school boards are categorized by language, CSB is categorize ...

operates the Wabannutao Eeyou School ().Wabannutao Eeyou School
."

. Retrieved on September 23, 2017.

References

External links

Cree Nation of Eastmain

{{Grand Council of the Crees Cree villages in Quebec Hudson's Bay Company trading posts Eeyou Istchee (territory)