Eeyou Istchee facts for kids

Location of Eeyou Istchee within Québec

Eeyou Istchee is a special territory in Quebec, Canada. Its name, in the East Cree language, means 'The People's Land'. This land is home to the Grand Council of the Crees, who are the Cree Nation. They represent and govern this area.

In 2012, the Quebec government and the Cree Nation made an important agreement. This agreement created the new Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government. This new government allows the people of Eeyou Istchee and the nearby area called Jamésie to work together and manage their shared land.

Eeyou Istchee covers about 5,271 square kilometers (2,035 square miles). However, the Cree people consider their traditional homeland to be much larger, covering about 450,000 square kilometers (173,746 square miles). In 2006, about 14,131 people lived in Eeyou Istchee. The biggest community is Chisasibi, a Cree village located near James Bay.

Eeyou Istchee became an official territory in 2007. Before that, it was part of the Jamésie territory. Most of Eeyou Istchee is surrounded by Jamésie. However, one Cree community called Whapmagoostui is located further north, within another territory called Kativik.

Together, Eeyou Istchee, Jamésie, and Kativik form a large region in northern Quebec called Nord-du-Québec.

Cree Communities

Eeyou Istchee is made up of several Cree communities. These communities include both "Cree reserved lands" (where most people live) and "Cree village municipalities" (which are administrative areas).

Here are the main communities in Eeyou Istchee:

• Chisasibi: This is the largest community.
• Eastmain
• Mistissini
• Nemaska
• Oujé-Bougoumou
• Waskaganish
• Waswanipi
• Wemindji
• Whapmagoostui: This community is located further north than the others.

The Grand Council of the Crees, also known as the Cree Nation Government, is in charge of governing Eeyou Istchee.

Understanding the Land

The land of Eeyou Istchee is divided into different categories based on how it is used and managed, especially for the Cree people. These categories were set up by an agreement called the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

• Category I lands: These are lands specifically set aside for the Cree people. They have special rights to hunt, fish, and trap here.
• Category II lands: On these lands, the Cree also have rights to hunt, fish, and trap. However, the government of Quebec shares control over things like forestry (trees), mining, and tourism development.
• Category III lands: These are the largest areas. The Cree have some specific hunting and harvesting rights here, but all other rights are shared with the government under special rules.

These land categories help make sure that the Cree people can continue their traditional ways of life while also allowing for other activities in the region.

See also

In Spanish: Eeyou Istchee para niños