ekimondo – the Directory of Responsible Destinations and Traveling

Quebec’s Aboriginal People – Meeting the Atikamekw: by Inês Lopes

Written by ines August 13th

The second entry in this series entitled “Quebec’s Aboriginal People”. This week, we will meet the Atikamekw, a nation I had the opportunity to stay with for a few weeks; a nation with moving values, culture and a great sense of humour. It is a rather difficult task to describe a nation in such few words, but here is an overview.

The Atikamekw – A Few Words on Their History and Territory
“Atikamekw” means “white fish” (in reference to the whitefish that was their main source of food). Venison, fish and some agricultural products such as corn made up their staple diet. An interesting fact is that we owe the discovery of maple syrup to the Atikamekw. In fact, the Atikamekw have long been boiling maple sap to make sugar and syrup. The Atikamekw have made themselves a place between the territories of the Anishnabe, the Crees and the Innus. They played an active part in the fur trade for some time. Logging, railway construction and hydroelectric development then changed their lifestyle. The residential schools are also a sad page in history. It is hard to believe that the goal behind this was the assimilation of the Aboriginals. They were sent to schools for many months, far from their parents. Their hair was cut, and they were forbidden to speak their native language or make any reference to their beliefs or traditions. This very sad residential schools episode had important consequences on the Atikamekw nation, as well as on the other Aboriginal nations in Quebec and Canada.

Current Population, Language and Culture
Only present in the province of Quebec, today, the Atikamekw live on three reserves: Manawan, Wemotaci and Opitciwan. Of the approximate 5,300 registered Atikamekw, more than 80% live in these communities. Others live for example in La Tuque, the Mauricie region or in the Lac St‑Jean area. They still speak their native language and their second language is French. Atikamekw art is well known, their birchbark canoes are a good example. Other birchbark creations, sculptures, paintings, and moose skin clothing also proudly represent their culture. Today, the principal source of revenue is forestry, but the community also focuses on education and tourism, which are done in keeping with traditions and the environment. The Atikamekw traditionally have an intimate relationship with nature. Sustainable nature preservation is thus an important value for this nation. Very closely tied to the forest, the Atikamekw build their lives around the seasons and certain seasonal activities such as hunting, fishing and fruit picking. Although many teenagers live by today’s modernity, many reconnect through the spirituality of their ancestors.

Tourism Among the Atikamekw: The Example of the Club Odanak
The Club Odanak is located on ancestral territory, a wooded site in the mountainous region of Haute Mauricie. Many activities are offered here throughout the year. Summer activities include canoeing, sleeping in a tepee or a shapituan, swimming, kayaking, pedal boating, horseback riding, beaver house observation, hiking, etc. Upon request, the Club can also organize presentations of traditional Amerindian songs and drums as well as an ancestral Amerindian dance. As for winter activities, ice skating, hockey, sliding, snowshoeing, hiking and skiing are offered, among other activities. In summer and winter, connection with nature is always important while practising these activities.

So if you do have the opportunity to pass by, I invite you to meet the Atikamekw people, a very welcoming nation. I hope you enjoy the activities you may participate in as much as the lessons you will learn.

References

Quebec Aboriginal Tourism Corporation
Wapikoni mobile - Atikamekw Nation (in French)
Club Odanak