Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach facts for kids
| People | Naskapi, Innu, Cree |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Kawawachikamach |
| Province | Quebec |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Kawawachikamach (Naskapi reserved land) |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 275.46 km2 |
| Population (October 2019) | |
| On reserve | 688 |
| On other land | 34 |
| Off reserve | 71 |
| Total population | 793 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Theresa Chemaganish |
| Council |
|
| Website | |
| Naskapi.ca | |
The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach (Naskapi: ᓇᔅᑲᐱ ᐃᔪᒡ ᐅᑕ ᑲᐛᐛᒋᑲᒪᒡ, romanized: Naskapi Iyuch Uta Kawâwâchikamach) is a self-governing First Nation group in Quebec, Canada. The people in this group are mainly Naskapi Innu. They speak the Naskapi language. This Naskapi Nation is the only Naskapi group in Quebec. There is another Naskapi group, the Mushuau Innu First Nation, located in Labrador.
Contents
Where They Live
Most members of the Naskapi Nation live in a place called Kawawachikamach, Quebec. This area is their Terres réservées aux Naskapis, which means Naskapi reserved land. It is like a special area set aside for them to live permanently.
Getting to Kawawachikamach
Kawawachikamach is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of Schefferville. Schefferville is not connected to the main road network in North America. You can get there by flying into the Schefferville Airport. You can also travel by train.
Train Travel and Ownership
The train service is called Tshiuetin Rail Transportation. It goes to Sept-Îles, Quebec. The Naskapi Nation actually owns part of this train company! This helps them connect with other places.
Understanding Their Land
The main area where the Naskapi members live is about 33.37 square kilometers (12.88 sq mi). The Nation also manages a nearby area called a Naskapi village municipality. This area is larger, about 242.09 square kilometers (93.47 sq mi). Even though it's called a "village," people don't usually live there all the time. It's more for other community uses.
Who Lives There?
As of October 2019, there were 793 people officially registered with the Naskapi Nation. Most of them, 688 people, lived on their reserved land. About 105 people lived in other places or off the reserve.
Population Growth
Back in 2016, a count showed 601 people living on the Kawawachikamach reserve. This was a small increase from 586 people in 2011. The community is slowly growing.
Languages Spoken
When it comes to languages, many Naskapi people speak more than one.
- About 70.3% of people reported speaking only English.
- Only 1.7% said they spoke only French.
- A good number, 21.5%, speak both English and French.
- Very importantly, 97.5% reported speaking an Indigenous language. The Naskapi language is the one they speak most often at home.
