Natashquan 1

Natashquan (officially Natashquan 1 and known in Innu as Nutashkuan) is a First Nations reserve in the Canadian province of Quebec, belonging to the Natashquan Innu band. The reserve is located on the north shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence at the mouth of the Natashquan River, 336 kilometres (209 mi) east of Sept-Îles and has been accessible by Route 138 since 1996.

Natashquan
First Nations reserve
Natashquan
Location in Côte-Nord region of Quebec.
Coordinates: 50°08′N 61°48′W
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionCôte-Nord
Regional countynone
Formed1953
Government
 • ChiefFrançois Bellefleur
 • Federal ridingManicouagan
 • Prov. ridingDuplessis
Area
 • Land0.65 km2 (0.25 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)[2]
 • Total810
 • Density1,246.5/km2 (3,228/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Within the AST legislated time zone boundary but observes EST [3])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code
G0G 2E0
Area code(s)418 and 581

The reserve should not be confused with the adjacent but distinct township of Natashquan just to the north and east.

The community is serviced by a nursing station, community radio station, municipal water and sewer system, fire station, and an aboriginal police force.[4]

The site was mapped in 1684 by Louis Jolliet who called it Noutascoüan. It was subsequently spelled as Nontascouanne (1734), Natasquan (1831), Nataskwan (1844), Natashkwan (1846), Natosquan (1857), Nataskouan (1858), and taking its current form, Natashquan, circa 1895. This name, spelled Nutahkuant or Nutashkuan in the contemporary Innu language, is usually translated as "where the black bear is taken" or "where one hunts for bear."[5]

History

Historically, the nomadic Innu lived on their hunting grounds of the interior during the winter and would move to the coast in the summer for salmon fishing and seal hunting. From as early as 1710, a trading post was established on the left (south) bank of the Natashquan River and later on the opposite bank to conduct fur trade with the indigenous. They gathered at the post during their annual migration and began to settle there permanently. The post was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company in the middle of the 19th century, but abandoned circa 1914 due to lack of profitability.[5][6]

In 1909, the first land survey was conducted for the creation of a reserve. In 1952, the first 20.5 acres (83,000 m2) of land were bought by the Government of Canada and transferred for the use by the Innu on 31 March 1953. The reserve was incrementally enlarged in 1954, 1970, and 1993.[7]

Demographics

As of December 2009, the band counted 984 members, of which 920 persons lived on the reserve.[4] There are 177 private dwellings that are occupied by usual residents, out of a total of 181. The mother tongue of the residents is:[2]

  • English as first language: 0%
  • French as first language: 1.9%
  • English and French as first language: 0%
  • Other as first language: 98.1%

Population trend:[8]

  • Population in 2006: 810 (2001 to 2006 population change: 6.4%)
  • Population in 2001: 761
  • Population in 1996: 639
  • Population in 1991: 598

Climate

Natashquan has a subarctic climate (Dfc), typical of communities along the Gulf of St Lawrence. Summers are mild and rainy, with mild days and cool nights. Winters are cold with extremely heavy annual snowfall, averaging 140 inches (356 cm). Natashquan receives around 1,900 hours of sunshine per year.[9]

Climate data for Natashquan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)		 6.7
(44.1)		 12.8
(55.0)		 17.8
(64.0)		 23.9
(75.0)		 26.4
(79.5)		 28.9
(84.0)		 28.3
(82.9)		 26.1
(79.0)		 19.4
(66.9)		 14.4
(57.9)		 9.4
(48.9)		 28.4
(83.1)
Average high °C (°F) −7.9
(17.8)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −2
(28)		 3.3
(37.9)		 9.6
(49.3)		 15.2
(59.4)		 18.7
(65.7)		 18
(64)		 13.8
(56.8)		 7.9
(46.2)		 2
(36)		 −4.8
(23.4)		 5.5
(41.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)		 −12.7
(9.1)		 −7.1
(19.2)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 5.4
(41.7)		 10.8
(51.4)		 14.5
(58.1)		 13.8
(56.8)		 9.6
(49.3)		 3.9
(39.0)		 −1.9
(28.6)		 −9.7
(14.5)		 1.1
(34.0)
Average low °C (°F) −19.1
(−2.4)		 −18.2
(−0.8)		 −12
(10)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 1
(34)		 6.3
(43.3)		 10.3
(50.5)		 9.5
(49.1)		 5.3
(41.5)		 0
(32)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 −14.5
(5.9)		 −3.4
(25.9)
Record low °C (°F) −42.8
(−45.0)		 −37.2
(−35.0)		 −33.7
(−28.7)		 −22.5
(−8.5)		 −12.8
(9.0)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 1.1
(34.0)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −15
(5)		 −31.7
(−25.1)		 −35
(−31)		 −42.8
(−45.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 95.7
(3.77)		 67.4
(2.65)		 95.2
(3.75)		 81.7
(3.22)		 88.6
(3.49)		 86.2
(3.39)		 99
(3.9)		 96
(3.8)		 100.5
(3.96)		 107.9
(4.25)		 106.4
(4.19)		 105.3
(4.15)		 1,129.9
(44.52)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 18.8
(0.74)		 12.5
(0.49)		 27.7
(1.09)		 47.2
(1.86)		 83.6
(3.29)		 86.2
(3.39)		 99
(3.9)		 96
(3.8)		 100.4
(3.95)		 102.2
(4.02)		 70.5
(2.78)		 29.4
(1.16)		 773.5
(30.47)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 79.1
(31.1)		 55.8
(22.0)		 66.9
(26.3)		 33.3
(13.1)		 4.5
(1.8)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 5.5
(2.2)		 34.4
(13.5)		 76.8
(30.2)		 356.3
(140.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 19.1 15.8 15.7 14.5 13.9 13.0 14.3 13.2 14.3 15.2 15.1 17.7 181.8
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 2.5 2.4 4.5 8.5 13.2 13.0 14.3 13.2 14.3 14.4 9.0 4.4 113.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 18.4 14.9 13.6 9.3 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.03 2.2 9.2 16.1 85.53
Mean monthly sunshine hours 104.7 125.3 148.2 161.4 214.2 219.3 236.8 228.2 166.0 125.4 96.8 87.2 1,913.5
Source: Environment Canada[10]

Economy

Natashquan's economy is mostly based on arts and handicrafts, trapping, tourism, and some construction, transport, and commercial fishing. In all there are some 20 businesses on the reserve. The Band council owns a boat and holds a crab-fishing licence.[4]

Local economic development is promoted by and the responsibility of the Corporation de développement économique de Natashquan.

Education

There is only one school on the reserve, École Uauitshitun, that provides pre-Kindergarten to Secondary grade 3.[4]

See also

References
  1. Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire – Répertoire des municipalités: Natashquan réserve indienne Archived 16 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Statistics Canada 2006 Census – Natashquan (indian reserve) community profile
  3. National Research Council Canada – Time Zones & Daylight Saving Time Archived 17 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Natashquan First Nation". Aboriginal Community profiles. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  5. "Natashquan (Réserve indienne)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  6. "Natashquan (Municipalité de canton)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  7. Natural Resources Canada – Legal Surveys Division, Historical Review – Natashquan land title history
  8. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  9. Canada, Environment and Climate Change (19 January 2011). "Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000 Station Data - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada". climate.weather.gc.ca. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  10. Environment Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 20 March 2012



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