Matimekosh, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Matimekosh is a First Nations reserve on Lake Pearce in the Côte-Nord
region of Quebec
, Canada. Together with the Lac-John Reserve
, it belongs to the Innu
Nation of Matimekush-Lac John. It is an enclave in the centre of the Municipality of Schefferville
, and geographically within the Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality
but administratively not part of it. Matimekosh means "small trout".
Matimekosh is only accessible by airplane via the Schefferville Airport
or by train via Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
with a connection to Labrador City. It is serviced by a nursing station, community radio station, library, arena, community centre, and an aboriginal police force, while water, sewer, and fire protection services are provided by the municipality of Schefferville.
indigenous people for hunting and trapping, but they did not permanently reside there. Because of mining development in the early 1950s, some 200 Naskapi
from Fort Chimo were relocated to Schefferville in 1955 and settled near the train station in shacks built with scavanged materials. In 1956, a dozen Innu families from Maliotenam, near Sept-Îles
, arrived and set up an encampment at Knob Lake, near the present airport. They served as guides for geological exploration work, and helped on the railway construction from Sept-Îles.
In 1957, the Schefferville municipal authorities moved the Innu and Naskapi to a site on John Lake
, some four miles north-north-east of Schefferville, where they lived in poverty without water, sewage, electricity, schools, and medical facility. Initially living in tiny shacks, by 1962 Indian and Northern Affairs had built 30 houses for them.
In 1967, the Government of Canada purchased land from the reluctant Municipality of Schefferville a marshy 37 acres (15 ha) site on Pearce Lake north of the town centre. On August 21, 1968, this land became a reserve for the Innu and Naskapi, but they didn't relocate there until 1972 following long and difficult negotiations.
In the 1970s, the Naskapi began negotiations for a settlement of their Aboriginal claims. In 1978, they ceded any rights or interests to the Matimekosh Reserve as a prerequisite to the Northeastern Québec Agreement that provided for the formation of their own reserve. In 1983, they moved to the nearby Kawawachikamach Reserve
and left the Innu as the sole occupants of the Matimekosh Reserve.
In 1982, the Iron Ore Company of Canada
closed its mines near Schefferville and most of the town's population left. In 1985 and 1995, the Government of Canada purchased more land in the defunct Municipality of Schefferville and added this to the reserve in 1996 and 1998, bringing redevelopment to the reserve through the recovery of some of the town's infrastructure.
Population trend:
Economic development is promoted by the organization Corporation de développement économique Matimekush - Lac John.
Côte-Nord
Côte-Nord is the second largest administrative region by land area in Quebec, Canada, after Nord-du-Québec...
region of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada. Together with the Lac-John Reserve
Lac-John, Quebec
Lac-John is a First Nations reserve on John Lake in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada, about north-east from the centre of Schefferville. Together with the Matimekosh Reserve, it belongs to the Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John...
, it belongs to the Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
Nation of Matimekush-Lac John. It is an enclave in the centre of the Municipality of Schefferville
Schefferville, Quebec
Schefferville is a town in the Canadian province of Quebec. Schefferville is in the heart of the Naskapi and Innu territory in northern Quebec, less than 2 km from the border with Labrador on the north shore of Knob Lake. The town has an incorporated area of . It is located within the...
, and geographically within the Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality
Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Caniapiscau is a regional county municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. The regional county municipality seat is Fermont. It is located in the northwest corner of the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. It has a land area of and a 2006 census population of 3,948 inhabitants, two-thirds of whom lived...
but administratively not part of it. Matimekosh means "small trout".
Matimekosh is only accessible by airplane via the Schefferville Airport
Schefferville Airport
Schefferville Airport, , is located adjacent to the community of Schefferville, Quebec, Canada.-Airlines and destinations:*Air Inuit -External links:*...
or by train via Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. is a Canadian short line railway that stretches 134 miles through the wilderness of western Labrador and northeastern Quebec. It connects Emeril Junction, Labrador with the community of Schefferville, Quebec on the interprovincial boundary...
with a connection to Labrador City. It is serviced by a nursing station, community radio station, library, arena, community centre, and an aboriginal police force, while water, sewer, and fire protection services are provided by the municipality of Schefferville.
History
The region was regularly visited by InnuInnu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
indigenous people for hunting and trapping, but they did not permanently reside there. Because of mining development in the early 1950s, some 200 Naskapi
Naskapi
The Naskapi are the indigenous Innu inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan, which comprises most of what other Canadians refer to as eastern Quebec and Labrador, Canada....
from Fort Chimo were relocated to Schefferville in 1955 and settled near the train station in shacks built with scavanged materials. In 1956, a dozen Innu families from Maliotenam, near Sept-Îles
Sept-Îles, Quebec
For the islands in north of Brittany, see JentilezSept-Îles is a city in the Côte-Nord region of eastern Quebec, Canada. It is the northernmost town in Quebec with any significant population...
, arrived and set up an encampment at Knob Lake, near the present airport. They served as guides for geological exploration work, and helped on the railway construction from Sept-Îles.
In 1957, the Schefferville municipal authorities moved the Innu and Naskapi to a site on John Lake
Lac-John, Quebec
Lac-John is a First Nations reserve on John Lake in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada, about north-east from the centre of Schefferville. Together with the Matimekosh Reserve, it belongs to the Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John...
, some four miles north-north-east of Schefferville, where they lived in poverty without water, sewage, electricity, schools, and medical facility. Initially living in tiny shacks, by 1962 Indian and Northern Affairs had built 30 houses for them.
In 1967, the Government of Canada purchased land from the reluctant Municipality of Schefferville a marshy 37 acres (15 ha) site on Pearce Lake north of the town centre. On August 21, 1968, this land became a reserve for the Innu and Naskapi, but they didn't relocate there until 1972 following long and difficult negotiations.
In the 1970s, the Naskapi began negotiations for a settlement of their Aboriginal claims. In 1978, they ceded any rights or interests to the Matimekosh Reserve as a prerequisite to the Northeastern Québec Agreement that provided for the formation of their own reserve. In 1983, they moved to the nearby Kawawachikamach Reserve
Kawawachikamach, Quebec
Kawawachikamach is an Naskapi/Iyiyiw First Nations reserve and community at the south end of Lake Matemace , approximately northeast of Schefferville, Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach. The village was built by the Naskapi/Iyiyiw from 1980 to 1983...
and left the Innu as the sole occupants of the Matimekosh Reserve.
In 1982, the Iron Ore Company of Canada
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Iron Ore Company of Canada is a Canadian-based producer of iron ore. The company was founded in 1949 from a partnership of Canadian and American M.A. Hanna Company...
closed its mines near Schefferville and most of the town's population left. In 1985 and 1995, the Government of Canada purchased more land in the defunct Municipality of Schefferville and added this to the reserve in 1996 and 1998, bringing redevelopment to the reserve through the recovery of some of the town's infrastructure.
Demographics
As of December 2009, the band counted 845 members, of which 760 persons are living in the community. The reserve counted 164 private dwellings occupied by usual residents, out of a total of 195. Mother tongues are:- English as first language: 1.9 %
- French as first language: 7.5 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 90.6 %
Population trend:
- Population in 2006: 528 (2001 to 2006 population change: 17.6 %)
- Population in 2001: 449
- Population in 1996: 147 (or 397 when adjusted for 2001 boundaries)
- Population in 1991: 389
Economy
The local economy is based mostly on goods and services. Other businesses on the reserve are primarily community businesses providing services such as a convenience store, pharmacy, heavy equipment, auto mechanics, camping equipment, plumbing, gas station, outfitters.Economic development is promoted by the organization Corporation de développement économique Matimekush - Lac John.