Innus of Ekuanitshit facts for kids
| People | Innu |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Ekuanitshit |
| Province | Quebec |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Mingan |
| Land area | 38.38 km2 |
| Population (October 2019) | |
| On reserve | 623 |
| On other land | 13 |
| Off reserve | 41 |
| Total population | 677 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Jean-Charles Piétacho |
| Council |
|
| Tribal Council | |
| Regroupement Mamit Innuat | |
| Website | |
| Ekuanitshit.com | |
The Innus of Ekuanitshit are a First Nation group in Quebec, Canada. They are also known as Les Innus d'Ekuanitshit in French. Most of their community lives in a special area called a reserve. This reserve is named Mingan, and it is located on the north coast of the St. Lawrence River. As of October 2019, there were 677 registered members in their community.
About the Community
The people of Ekuanitshit are part of the larger Innu Nation. In October 2019, the community had 677 registered members. Most of these members, 623 people, lived on their reserve. About 54 members lived outside the reserve. According to information from 2016, the average age of people in the community was about 25 years old.
Where They Live
The Innus of Ekuanitshit have one main reserve called Mingan. It is also known as Ekuanitshit. This is where the main offices for their community are located. Most of their members live here.
The reserve is found along Quebec Route 138. It is about 28 kilometers (17 miles) west of Havre-Saint-Pierre. This area is in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. The reserve is at the mouth of the Mingan River, where it meets the St. Lawrence River. The land area of the reserve is about 3,838 hectares (9,484 acres). The closest large city to them is Sept-Îles.
How They Are Governed
The Innus of Ekuanitshit are led by a band council. This council is chosen through their own special election system. This system follows rules set out in Section 11 of the Indian Act. For the years 2018 to 2021, the council included Chief Jean-Charles Piétacho. There were also four councillors: Leo Basile, Rita Mestokosho, Josiane Napish, and Mario Piétacho.
Their Language
The language spoken by the Innus is called Innu-aimun. This language is part of a larger group of languages known as Algonquian languages. Other languages in this group include Cree and Naskapi.
According to the 2016 Canadian Census:
- Most people, about 95.4%, learned an Aboriginal language first.
- All members, 100%, know an Aboriginal language and speak it at home.
- When it comes to official languages, 88.1% know only French.
- About 6.4% know both French and English.
- No one reported knowing only English.
See also
