Discover the Nations

Located in western Quebec, the Anishinabeg have stayed very close to their ancestral roots and lifestyle. Most still use their Algonquian mother tongue, in which their name means “real people.” 

Committed to a lifestyle and economic development that respects traditions and the environment, the Atikamekw are masters of bark work, canoe-making, and of making blueberry gummies and maple syrup! Their name means “white fish.”

The Cree, the third-most populous Nation in Quebec, is a large community that, with the Inuit, were at the center of the 1975 negotiations with the federal and provincial governments regarding hydroelectric projects in the region.

Called “Mountaineers” by early French explorers, due to their home among the small mountains of the Côte-Nord region, Innu is the most populous Nation in Quebec. In Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean (Pekuakami), they are known as the Ilnus. The innu-aimun language is still very much in use, and the culture includes various talents, such as renowned writers, poets and singers, This thousand-year-old Nation offers visitors a distinct, authentic tourism industry.

In the Inuktitut language, the word “Inuit” (the people) hearkens back to a time when the inhabitants of the Arctic thought they were the only people on Earth. The Inuit of Quebec inhabit 14 villages across the immensity of the far north. Their lifestyle and their art - sculpting in particular - are world-renowned.

The once-powerful Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation, member of the League of Five Nations, remains strongly attached to traditions and rituals. The Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk), the second-most populous Nation in Quebec, have been able to preserve their values and self-determination, despite the influence of neighbouring towns.

In the 16th century, the Mi’kmaq met the first Europeans on the coast of the Gaspé Peninsula. Help from these fishers and navigators proved crucial for explorers and merchants. The Mi’kmaq share their history and strong identity through various locations and activities, such as salmon fishing. Music is at heart of Mi’kmaq rituals, feasts, and cultural ceremonies.

Members of the Naskapi Nation have a deep knowledge of a vast boreal area. The Naskapi continue to apply their traditional know-how to hunting, fishing and tourist expeditions on the tundra and taiga. Caribou are a major theme in their craftsmanship. 

The Abenaki Nation’s name is derived from the words Waban and aki, meaning “land of the rising sun.” Located in Odanak and Wôlinak, the Abenaki people originated in southern Quebec, the modern-day states of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. They’re known for their wickerwork, traditional dances, masks, totems, and the first Indigenous museum in Quebec.

In Wendake, near Québec City, you’ll find the only recognized Huron-Wendat community in all of Canada, located near their former village of Stadacona. High-quality infrastructures have allowed the community to promote its heritage and develop the cultural tourism sector.

The Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk Nation is a community living in Cacouna, along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.  This Nation has always been known for the quality of its handicrafts: sculpture, quillwork, beadwork, and basket weaving.

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