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Portrait of the Naskapi Nation

The Naskapi were a nomadic people whose survival depended almost exclusively on caribou. That animal’s migration determined their movements. In the 17th century they lived south of Ungava Bay in the region of the present-day Inuit community of Kuujjuaq. The opening of a trading post in the Schefferville region in the first half of the 19th century prompted them to begin trapping fur animals. In 1957 the community was relocated from the Kuujjuaq region, known as Fort-Chimo at the time, to the Schefferville area where they shared a territory with the Matimekush Innu for a few years. In 1978, while the Convention de la Baie James was being negotiated with the Cree, the Naskapi signed the Convention du Nord-Est québécois. In 1984 they settled in a new village about 20 km from Schefferville, near Labrador. Kawawachikamach is the Naskapi nation’s only community. It means "the winding river that changes into a large lake".


  • History
    10:28 min - The Naskapi are traditionally nomads. Presentation of their voyage from Kuujjuaq to Schefferville.
    Historical image of a group of Naskapi in James Bay
  • Organization
    13:46 min - The Naskapi nation began negotiations with the Quebec government in 1966 at the same time as the Baie-James Cree, and ...
    The Naskapi nation’s flag
  • Social Structure
    14:36 min - With the adoption of the Convention du Nord-Est québécois, a social infrastructure was born. The Naskapi nation has only one ...
    Panoramic view of the community of Kawawachikamach
  • Justice and Spirituality
    7:56 min - Even though the nation and the village are quite modern, traditional values still exist, especially when it comes to matters ...
    A small group of people exit a sweat lodge


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