Nemaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nemaska
ᓀᒥᔅᑳᐤ (Nemiskâw)
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Terre réservée crie (Cree reserved land)
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 Nemaska
Location in Quebec
Nemaska
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Nord-du-Québec |
| Territory | Eeyou Istchee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 97.30 km2 (37.57 sq mi) |
| • Land | 98.42 km2 (38.00 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 832 |
| Website | Nemaska.com |
Nemaska is a small Cree community in Quebec, Canada. It sits on the shores of Lake Champion. The name Nemaska (ᓀᒥᔅᑳᐤ/Nemiskâw) means underwater point. Some people also connect it to namesiskâw, which means many fish.
About 832 people live in Nemaska, based on the 2021 census. This village is very important to the Cree people. It is where the Grand Council of the Crees and the Cree Regional Authority have their main offices. These groups act like the government for the Cree Nation.
Until May 8, 2010, the Quebec government officially called this place Nemiscau.
Contents
A New Village with an Old Name
Nemaska is a modern village, but it has a long history. The families who live here originally came from an old trading post. This old post was also called Nemiscau and was located on Lake Nemiscau.
Why the Village Moved
The original Nemiscau settlement was left behind in the mid-1970s. This happened because Hydro-Québec, a power company, planned to build a big hydro-electric project. This project would have caused the Rupert River area to flood, covering the old village. So, the community moved to its current, safer location.
Understanding the Name Confusion
Even though the new village is called Nemaska, some maps still show it as Nemiscau. This can be confusing! There is a large Hydro-Québec electrical substation and an airport nearby, both still named Nemiscau. This is why the old name sometimes appears on maps for the new village.
Getting to Nemaska
You can reach Nemaska in a couple of ways. You can fly into Hydro-Québec's Nemiscau Airport. Or, you can drive there using the gravel North Road, also known as Route du Nord. About 14 kilometers (about 9 miles) east of the village, you'll find the huge Hydro-Québec substation of Nemiscau.
Learning in Nemaska
The Cree School Board is in charge of education in Nemaska. They operate the Luke Mettaweskum School (ᓘᒃ ᒣᑕᐧᐁᔥᑲᒻ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐅᑲᒥᒄ). This school helps Cree children get a great education in their community.
