Natashquan is a First Nations reserve in the Canadian province of Quebec, belonging to the Natashquan Innu band. The reserve is located on the north shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence at the mouth of the Natashquan River, east of Sept-Îles and has been accessible by Route 138 since 1996. The reserve should not be confused with the adjacent but distinct township of Natashquan just to the north and east. The community is serviced by a nursing station, community radio station, municipal water and sewer system, fire station, and an aboriginal police force. The site was mapped in 1684 by Louis Jolliet who called it Noutascoüan. It was subsequently spelled as Nontascouanne, Natasquan, Nataskwan, Natashkwan, Natosquan, Nataskouan, and taking its current form, Natashquan, circa 1895. This name, spelled Nutahkuant or Nutashkuan in the contemporary Innu language, is usually translated as "where the black bear is taken" or "where one hunts for bear."
History
Historically, the nomadic Innu lived on their hunting grounds of the interior during the winter and would move to the coast in the summer for salmon fishing and seal hunting. From as early as 1710, a trading post was established on the left bank of the Natashquan River and later on the opposite bank to conduct fur trade with the indigenous. They gathered at the post during their annual migration and began to settle there permanently. The post was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company in the middle of the 19th century, but abandoned circa 1914 due to lack of profitability. In 1909, the first land survey was conducted for the creation of a reserve. In 1952, the first of land were bought by the Government of Canada and transferred for the use by the Innu on 31 March 1953. The reserve was incrementally enlarged in 1954, 1970, and 1993.
Demographics
As of December 2009, the band counted 984 members, of which 920 persons lived on the reserve. There are 177 private dwellings that are occupied by usual residents, out of a total of 181. The mother tongue of the residents is:
English as first language: 0%
French as first language: 1.9%
English and French as first language: 0%
Other as first language: 98.1%
Population trend:
Population in 2006: 810
Population in 2001: 761
Population in 1996: 639
Population in 1991: 598
Climate
Natashquan has a subarctic climate, typical of communities along the Gulf of St Lawrence. Summers are mild and rainy, with mild days and cool nights. Winters are cold with extremely heavy annual snowfall, averaging 140 inches. Natashquan receives around 1,900 hours of sunshine per year.
Economy
Natashquan's economy is mostly based on arts and handicrafts, trapping, tourism, and some construction, transport, and commercial fishing. In all there are some 20 businesses on the reserve. The Band council owns a boat and holds a crab-fishing licence. Local economic development is promoted by and the responsibility of the Corporation de développement économique de Natashquan.
Education
There is only one school on the reserve, École Uauitshitun, that provides pre-Kindergarten to Secondary grade 3.
