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Portrait of a Nation

With a population of 18,000 aggregated in 11 communities in Labrador and Quebec’s boreal forest, the Innu make up a nation whose language, Innu-aimun, and culture, Innu-aitun, are most definitely alive.

The communities are, from west to east : Mashteuiatsh (Pointe-Bleue, on the western shore of Lac Saint-Jean), Essipit (Les Escoumins), Pessamit (Betsiamites), Uashat mak Mani-utenam (Sept-Îles & Malioténam), Matimekush-Lac John (Schefferville), Ekuanitshit (Mingan), Natashquan, Unaman-shipu (La Romaine) and Pakut-shipu (St. Augustin). The two Innu communities in Labrador are Tshishe-shastshit (Goose Bay) and Natuashish (formerly Utshimassit-Davis Inlet).

With the exception of Mashteuiatsh and Matimekush-Lac John, situated far inland, Innu communities are established on the North Shore of the Estuary and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. They can be found all along the 900 kilometres between the Escoumins River, east of the mouth of the Saguenay, and the Saint-Augustin River, west of the Labrador border.

Communities

  • Ekuanitshit (E-kou-a-nit-shit)
    Population 538 people
    Territory Name Mingan Reserve
    Latitude 50.290381
    Longitude -64.022226
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  • Essipit (Es-si-pit)
    Population 425 people
    Territory Name Essipit Reserve
    Latitude 48.342958
    Longitude -69.399261
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  • Mani-utenam (Ma-ni-ou-te-nam)
    Population 3 728 people
    Territory Name Maliotenam Reserve
    Latitude 50.21514
    Longitude -66.200867
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  • Mashteuiatsh (Mass-teu-i-atsh)
    Population 4 941 people
    Territory Name Mashteuiatsh Reserve
    Latitude 48.567634
    Longitude -72.254162
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  • Matimekush (Ma-ti-mé-kosh)
    Population 839 people
    Territory Name Matimekosh Reserve and Lac John Reserve
    Latitude 54.806374
    Longitude -66.812239
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  • Natashquan (Na-tash-kou-an)
    Population 957 people
    Territory Name Natashquan Reserve
    Latitude 50.132244
    Longitude -61.800156
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  • Pakut-shipu (Pa-kou-a Shi-pi)
    Population 309 people
    Territory Name Saint-Augustin Settlement
    Latitude 51.222529
    Longitude -58.665619
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  • Pessamit (Pes-sa-mit)
    Population 3 609 people
    Territory Name Betsiamites Reserve
    Latitude 48.944151
    Longitude -68.646183
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  • Tshishe-shastshit (Shesh-ah-shee)
    Population 694 people
    Territory Name Tshishe-shastshit
    Latitude 53.518369
    Longitude -60.14225
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  • Unaman-shipu (U-na-men shi-pu)
    Population 1 073 people
    Territory Name La Romaine Reserve
    Latitude 50.216568
    Longitude -60.668135
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  • Uashat (Ou-a-shat)
    Population 3 728 people
    Territory Name Uashat Reserve
    Latitude 50.223488
    Longitude -66.40686
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  • Natuashish (Nat‑wah‑sheesh)
    Population 2 710 people
    Territory Name Natuashish
    Latitude 55.881377
    Longitude -60.90477
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Map (GoogleMaps) of Innu communities

Population

Distribution of the innue nation in 2008
Community Inside Reserve Outside Reserve Crown Land Total
Mashteuiatsh 2 062 2 879 0 4 941
Pessamit 2 825 779 5 3 609
Essipit 175 250 0 425
Uashat mak Mani-utenam 3 043 679 7 3 728
Ekuanitshit 514 24 0 538
Natashquan 897 57 3 957
Unaman-shipu 1 022 49 2 1 073
Pakut-shipu 22 1 286 309
Matimekush 749 90 0 839
All 11 309 4 807 303 16 419

Reference: Indian Registry, INAC, December 2008



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