Waskaganish (Cree for Little House) is a Cree village of about 2000 people at the mouth of the Rupert River on the south-east shore of James Bay in the Eeyou Istchee territory in Northern Quebec, Canada. Formerly called Fort Rupert, the location is one of three original Hudson's Bay Company posts on James Bay, the other two being Fort Albany on the west shore, and Moose Factory on the south.
Waskaganish has had road access to the James Bay Road since 2001. It has two school facilities: Ecole Annie Whiskeychan School (primary) and Ecole Wiinibekuu School (secondary).
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In 1668, a fort was established here by French explorer, Médard des Groseilliers, first called Charles Fort and then Rupert House and Fort Rupert. It was the first fur trading post and store of what became the Hudson's Bay Company.
In 1686 the French captured the fort from the English and not until 1776 did the HBC reestablish a post here. From then on until the early 1900s, Fort Rupert was an important trading location, supplying inland communities and other posts via the Rupert River with regular canoe brigades.
The James Bay Project impacts Waskaganish.
Billy Diamond was the chief of the Waskaganish Cree starting in 1970.[1]
Filmmaker Neil Diamond was born and raised in Waskaganish. His experiences as a child there, watching Westerns with other local children in the church basement, inspired him to make Reel Injun.[2][3]
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