Skip to main content

ᐊᔅᒌ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐄᐦᑖᐧᐃᓐᐦ

Territory & Communities

iiyiyiu aschii

The James Bay territory consists of more than 300,000 km2 (1/5 of the province of Québec) extending from the 49th to the 55th parallel. More than 15,000 Cree live in nine coastal and inland communities: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé-Bougoumou, Waswanipi, Waskaganish, Wemindji and Whapmagoostui.  

Historically, the James Bay Cree were two distinct regional groups that were joined by economics and kinship. Five thousand years later, the Cree still refer to these two groups as wiinibeyk iiyuu (“salt water person”), and nuuchcimiihc iiyuu (“inland person”).

Our Communities

ᒋᓵᓰᐲ
Chisasibi

"The great river"

Youth schools Adult Education

Cree Nation of Chisasibi

ᓀᒥᔅᑳᐤ
Nemaska

"Where the fish abound"

Youth schools Adult Education

Cree Nation of Nemaska

ᐆᒉᐳᑯᒨ
Oujé-Bougoumou

"The place where people gather"

Youth schools Adult Education

Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation

ᐙᔅᑳᐦᐄᑲᓂᔥ
Waskaganish

"Little house"

Youth schools Adult Education

Cree Nation of Waskaganish

ᐧᐋᐧᓵᓂᐲ
Waswanipi

"Lake where we are fishing under torch" /
"Light on the river"

Youth schools Adult Education

Cree First Nation of Waswanipi

ᐧᐄᒥᓂᒌ
Wemindji

"Red ochre mountain"

Youth schools Adult Education

Cree Nation of Wemindji

Road Map