Native American Nations in Eastern Canada (Part VI)

Quebec Province is just to the east of Ontario Province in Canada and borders the Maritime Provinces that include Newfoundland (containing Labrador), New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.

Over 50 separate bands of First Nations peoples live in Quebec, speaking a mix of French, their Native languages and English. The large number of Native American groups in Quebec is similar size of First Nations populations in Ontario, but likely has experienced a large amount of French Influence that is more dominant in Quebec than English influence.

In addition to the chart of bands at the right, many Cree groups inhabit Quebec as well:

• Chisasibi Mandow Agency
• Cree Nation of Eastmain
• Cree Nation of Mistissini
• Cree Nation of Nemaska
• Crees of Northern Quebec
• Cree Nation of Waskaganish
• Cree Nation of Waswanipi ("Light on the Water")
• Cree Nation of Wemindji
• Cree Nation of Whapmagoostui
• Ouje-Bougoumou Crees

The Mohawk Nation, a strong political group in Quebec, is recognized in Canada as a First Nation, but not in the USA:

• Mohawks of Kahnawake
• P.O. Box 720, Kahnawa'kehró:non Raonenhóntsa, J0L 1B0
• (450) 632-7500

♣ Other First Nations in Quebec

A lovely Cree First Nation tradition of old is the child's Walking-Out Ceremony. This ceremony is conducted in the spring and begins one morning at dawn. The meaning of this ceremony is that the Cree child touches Mother Earth in first contact. He/she is walking outside and touching nature and the universe for the first time. The child is introduced to Mother Nature by meeting the sunrise and carrying all of the implements that symbolize the role he or she will play in a lifetime.

The First Snowshoe Walk is performed in winter to symbolize that the child is ready to travel with adults on his or her own and does not need to be a burden to carry. The child is usually age five or six for this ceremony. This would be done traditionally when the family moved to a winter lodge. Parents or grandparents would prepare the first snowshoes for the child and ensure that when the day came for the move, everything was ready, incuding provisions.The parents now walk the child to the lodge as of old and everyone joins a feast there to honor the child's First Snowshoe Walk.

First Kill

There is no frivolous killing among the Cree. All life is sacred.

When a boy or girl is still very young, each will hunt with parents' help and secure a small bird or game animal (boys) or a fish (girls) that is accepted and cooked by the eldest grandmother in the family. The family gives thanks for this food and celebrates the child's achievement and food offering to the family.

These lovely rites of passage help to make childhood memorable and sacred.

♣

Other Pages in the Series:

• Native Americans Part I

• Native Americans Part II

• Native Americans Part III

• Native Americans Part IV

• Native Americans Part V

• National Pow Wow of the United States

• Native Americans in Western Novels

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NEW BRUNSWICK (NB)

• New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council. Fredericton NB

• Union of New Brunswick Indians http://www.unbi.org/

• Big Cove Cultural Centre (Mi'kmaq) Big Cove County NB
• Buctouche Micmac Band (Mi'kmaq) Buctouche NB
• Burnt Church First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Legaceville, NB
• Eel Ground First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Eel Ground, NB
• Eel River Bar First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Dalhousie NB
• Fort Folly First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Dorchester NB
• Indian Island First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Rexton, NB
• Kingsclear First Nation (Maliseet) Fredericton NB
• Madawaska Maliseet First Nation (Maliseet) Madawaska Maliseet First Nation, NB
• Oromocto First Nation (Maliseet)Oromocto NB
• Pabineau First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Bathurst NB
• Red Bank First Nation (Micmac) Red Bank, NB
• St. Mary's Indian Band (Maliseet) Fredericton NB
• Wolastokwik 'Negoot-gook (Maliseet) Maliseet Nation at Tobique. Perth, NB
• Woodstock Indian Nation (Maliseet) Woodstock First Nation, NB.

NEWFOUNDLAND

• Miawpukek First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Baie d'Espoir. Conne River, Nfld.
• LABRADOR: Innu Nation. Sheshatshiu, Labrador
• Labrador Metis Nation Labrador.

NOVA SCOTIA

• Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs http://www.apcfnc.ca/

• (Elsipogtog First Nation)
• 249 A Unit Main Street, Elsipogtog, New Brunswick E4W 2X2
• Telephone: (506) 523-1996 / Fax: (506) 523-1929

• Micmac Association of Cultural Studies

• P.O. Box 961 Sydney NS B1P 6J4
• 902-567-1752 / FAX 902-567-2137

• Union of Nova Scotia Indians

• P.O. Box 961 Sydney, NS B1P 6J4
• (902) 539-4107 / FAX 902-564-2137

• Acadia First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Yarmouth, NS
• Afton First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Afton, Antigonish County, NS
• Annapolis Valley First Nation (Mi'kmaq)
• Bear River First Nation
• Chapel Island First Nation (Mi'kmaq)
• Chapel Island, NS
• Eskasoni First Nation (Mi'kmaq) East Bay, NS
• Horton First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Hansport, NS
• Membertou First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Sydney, NS
• Millbrook First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Truro, NS
• Pictou Landing First Nation [Language: MicMac; English] Trenton, NS
• Shubenacadie First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Shubenacadie, NS
• Wagmatcook First Nation (Mi'kmaq)Baddeck, NS
• Whycocomagh First Nation (Mi'kmaq) Whycocomagh, NS

Prince Edward Island

• Abegweit First Nation Mount Stewart, PE Is. Language:MicMac;English
• Lennox Island First Nation Lennox Island, Prince Edward Is. Language: MicMac;English