Aboriginal peoples in Quebec

Aboriginal peoples in Quebec total 11 distinct ethnic groups. The 10 First Nations and the Inuit communities number 141,915 people and account for approximately 2% of the population of Quebec, Canada.

Inuit

The Inuit communities of Quebec are located in the northernmost part of the province, in an area known as Nunavik. There are Inuit communities at:

First Nations

Algonquian

Abenakis

The Abenakis comprise two First Nations communities named the Odanak First Nation (in Odanak, near Trois-Rivières) and the Wolinak First Nation (in Wôlinak, near Trois-Rivières). They number approximately 1,900 people.


The Algonquins, who refer to themselves as Anishinaabeg, comprise 9 First Nations who live in communities located in the Outaouais and Abitibi-Témiscamingue regions of Quebec. These First Nations communities are:

The Algonquins number approximately 8,600 people.

Atikamekw

The 3 Atikameks (sometimes Atikamekws) bands live in 4 communities located in the Mauricie region of Quebec. These First Nations are:

The Atikamek number approximately 4,900 people.

Crees

The Crees are the most populous nation in the Algonquian family. The majority live in Quebec and Ontario, but they are also found in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. There are 10 Cree First Nations communities in northern Quebec. They are the:

The Crees of Quebec number approximately 18,000 people.

Malecites

The Malecites (or Maliseet, in an older English spelling) comprise one First Nation, the Première Nation Malecite de Viger, whose members live in 2 communities located in the Bas-St-Laurent region of Quebec. The communities are Cacouna and Whitworth. They number approximately 570 people.

Mi'kmaqs

The Mi'kmaq (or Micmac, in an older English spelling) live in the Canadian Maritime provinces and the Quebec region of the Gaspé Peninsula (French=Gaspésie). In Quebec, they number approximately 4,300 people and comprise 3 First Nations communities:

Innus

The Innus (formerly referred to as the Montagnais) comprise 9 First Nations in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. These First Nations are:

The Innus number 13,800 people.

Naskapis

The Naskapis live in northern Quebec. They comprise one First Nation, the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, based in Kawawachikamach. They number approximately 570 people.

The Naskapis are recognized as a distinct nation by the governments of Quebec and Canada; however, they are often considered to be Innus living in a remote area.

Their main language is Naskapis and their second language is English. The Naskapi committee is known as the NLMB (The Naskapi Local Management Board)

Iroquoian

Wendats

The members of the Huron-Wendat Nation in Wendake, a reserve enclosed within Quebec City. Their original homeland was in Ontario. They number about 2,800 people.

Mohawks

The Mohawks of Quebec number approximately 13,000 people. They comprise the three following First Nations:

Recognized rights

See also

External links