An Atikamekw woman applies fir resin to a birch-bark canoe as a child watches intently.
The Indigenous communities in Haute-Mauricie belong to the Atikamekw Nation. Traditionally, each family occupied a territory on which they hunted, trapped, fished and gathered berries and medicinal plants. These activities, which are popular among First Nations communities both for fun and to feed their families, are rooted in tradition. They are also linked to the duty to remember and the legacy of knowledge that is passed down through oral tradition from generation to generation.
Every September, crowds gather at the traditional Wemotaci Pow-Wow and pay tribute to the First Nations.
Fur became a valuable bargaining chip among the Indigenous communities as the Europeans adored beaver pelts. Hudson’s Bay Company was formed and trading posts were gradually set up across the territory, in Rivière-aux-Rats around 1685 and in La Tuque in 1700.
The Atikamekw way of life has always been punctuated by the seasons. Did you know that First Nations peoples observe six seasons? As the seasons change, travel habits and primary activities change. Would you like to learn the names of the seasons in Atikamekw? Nipin (summer) is followed by Takwakin (fall), Pitcipon (pre-winter), Pipon (winter), Sikon (pre-spring) and Miroskamin (spring).
The Atikamekw language is one of the best protected languages and 95% of Atikamekw speak their native language. Animals and nature inspire the highly descriptive vocabulary. Here’s an example. Falcons are called kekekw in reference to the sound that the bird makes when it cries. Similarly, the word for owl is ohomisiw. Did you know that the Atikamekw language is the only First Nations language to use the letter R in the French alphabet? Founded in 1986, the Institut linguistique atikamekw (Atikamekw Linguistic Institute) allowed for the standardization of spelling and its modernization which is required for everyday objects such as cars, computers and televisions.
The three Atikamekw band councils currently represent 23% of the La Tuque population, which is one in four individuals. Thousands of La Tuque Atikamekw live in harmony with the Allophone community.
