Eastmain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eastmain
ᐄᔅᒣᐃᓐ (Îsmein)
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Terre réservée crie (Cree reserved land)
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Wabannutao Eeyou School
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 Eastmain
Location in Quebec
Eastmain
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Nord-du-Québec |
| Territory | Eeyou Istchee |
| Formed | 1978 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 160.43 km2 (61.94 sq mi) |
| • Land | 148.99 km2 (57.53 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 924 |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Within the AST legislated time zone boundary but observes EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Postal Code |
J0M 1W0
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| Area code(s) | 819 and 873 |
| Website | Eastmain.ca |
Eastmain (Cree: ᐄᔅᒣᐃᓐ/Îsmein) is a Cree community in Quebec, Canada. It is located on the eastern coast of James Bay. This small village is at the mouth of the Eastmain River.
In 2021, about 924 people lived in Eastmain. Another Cree name for the community is ᐙᐸᓅᑖᐤ/Wâpanûtâw. This name means Lands east of James Bay.
You can reach Eastmain by air through the Eastmain River Airport. You can also drive there on a gravel road. This road connects to the James Bay Road and takes about one hour.
The community was greatly affected by the James Bay Project. In 1980, this project changed the flow of the Eastmain River. About 90% of its water was sent to the La Grande River.
Contents
History of Eastmain
Like other villages along Hudson Bay and James Bay, Eastmain grew around a trading post. This trading post was set up by the Hudson's Bay Company. It was first called East Main House. Many Cree people settled there because it made trading easier for them.
Who Lives in Eastmain?
As of May 2022, the Eastmain nation had 943 members. Most of them, 830 people, lived in the community. There were 223 homes where people lived regularly.
Most people in Eastmain speak Cree as their first language.
- English is the first language for 11.0% of residents.
- French is the first language for 1.2% of residents.
- Cree is the first language for 86.1% of residents.
- Other Indigenous languages are the first language for 1.6% of residents.
The number of people living in Eastmain has grown over the years:
- In 2001: 614 people
- In 2006: 650 people
- In 2011: 767 people
- In 2016: 866 people
- In 2021: 924 people
Climate in Eastmain
Eastmain has a subarctic climate. This type of weather is common for places along the eastern shore of James Bay.
Summers in Eastmain are mild and often rainy. Days are warm, but nights can be cool. Winters are very cold and get a lot of snow. On average, about 261.3 centimeters (over 8 feet) of snow falls each year.
| Climate data for La Grande Rivière Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | 1.8 | 4.8 | 11.1 | 21.8 | 33.9 | 37.5 | 44.3 | 35.5 | 31.6 | 28.3 | 11.7 | 7.6 | 44.3 |
| Record high °C (°F) | 1.4 (34.5) |
5.0 (41.0) |
11.3 (52.3) |
22.3 (72.1) |
32.6 (90.7) |
35.0 (95.0) |
37.3 (99.1) |
31.2 (88.2) |
27.1 (80.8) |
23.5 (74.3) |
12.3 (54.1) |
7.4 (45.3) |
37.3 (99.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −18.5 (−1.3) |
−15.9 (3.4) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
0.6 (33.1) |
10.3 (50.5) |
17.3 (63.1) |
20.4 (68.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
4.8 (40.6) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
2.2 (36.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −23.2 (−9.8) |
−21.6 (−6.9) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
4.3 (39.7) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.2 (57.6) |
13.1 (55.6) |
8.1 (46.6) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−16.0 (3.2) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −28.0 (−18.4) |
−27.3 (−17.1) |
−20.7 (−5.3) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
4.2 (39.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
7.6 (45.7) |
3.8 (38.8) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−19.9 (−3.8) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −40.9 (−41.6) |
−44.6 (−48.3) |
−39.7 (−39.5) |
−31.4 (−24.5) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−6.6 (20.1) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−29.2 (−20.6) |
−40.3 (−40.5) |
−44.6 (−48.3) |
| Record low wind chill | −56 | −57 | −51 | −40 | −24 | −12 | −3 | −6 | −10 | −20 | −40 | −53 | −57 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 30.9 (1.22) |
21.9 (0.86) |
29.4 (1.16) |
32.7 (1.29) |
39.0 (1.54) |
65.3 (2.57) |
78.5 (3.09) |
91.1 (3.59) |
110.6 (4.35) |
87.3 (3.44) |
67.9 (2.67) |
42.6 (1.68) |
697.2 (27.45) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.1 (0.00) |
1.2 (0.05) |
3.4 (0.13) |
12.7 (0.50) |
27.9 (1.10) |
62.6 (2.46) |
78.5 (3.09) |
91.0 (3.58) |
106.9 (4.21) |
56.2 (2.21) |
11.6 (0.46) |
1.7 (0.07) |
453.8 (17.87) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 33.1 (13.0) |
23.0 (9.1) |
28.6 (11.3) |
21.0 (8.3) |
11.9 (4.7) |
2.6 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.0) |
4.0 (1.6) |
32.4 (12.8) |
60.3 (23.7) |
44.4 (17.5) |
261.3 (102.9) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 16.3 | 12.5 | 11.9 | 10.8 | 12.1 | 12.4 | 14.1 | 16.2 | 20.2 | 20.6 | 22.0 | 19.7 | 188.9 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 11.6 | 14.0 | 16.3 | 19.5 | 12.7 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 92.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 16.4 | 12.3 | 11.5 | 8.5 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 11.8 | 20.5 | 19.6 | 109.8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 06:00 / 15:00 LST) | 71.8 | 71.4 | 74.0 | 78.5 | 78.2 | 78.4 | 84.3 | 88.2 | 90.8 | 89.9 | 88.4 | 80.6 | 81.2 |
| Average afternoon relative humidity (%) (at 06:00 / 15:00 LST) | 73.1 | 68.3 | 60.3 | 57.9 | 53.1 | 50.3 | 54.7 | 59.6 | 68.9 | 75.8 | 83.5 | 80.3 | 65.5 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada | |||||||||||||
What People Do in Eastmain
Eastmain has almost 1000 people, so many jobs are in the services sector. This means people work in businesses that help others.
Some of these jobs include:
- A restaurant inside a hotel.
- Other private businesses.
- A construction company with a gas station and garage.
Eastmain is also home to the Cree Regional Trappers Association. This group helps Cree trappers keep their traditional activities alive.
Other services in the community include:
- Emergency services.
- A local radio station.
- A post office.
- Local schools.
- Government service offices.
- A sports and recreation complex.
- A local development company.
- Local medical services, including a clinic.
Education in Eastmain
The Cree School Board runs the Wabannutao Eeyou School. Its Cree name is ᐧᐋᐸᓅᑖᐤ ᐄᔨᔫ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐅᑲᒥᒄ.
