Indigenous peoples in Quebec () total eleven distinct

ethnic groups An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, rel ...

. The one

Inuit Inuit (singular: Inuk) are a group of culturally and historically similar Indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwe ...

community and ten

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

communities number 141,915 people and account for approximately two per cent of the population of

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, Canada.

First Nations

Algonquian

Abenaki

The

Abenaki The Abenaki ( Abenaki: ''Wαpánahki'') are Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands of Canada and the United States. They are an Algonquian-speaking people and part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Eastern Abenaki language was pred ...

comprise two

communities named the Odanak First Nation (in

Odanak Odanak is an Abenaki First Nations reserve in the Central Quebec region, Quebec, Canada. The mostly First Nations population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 481. The territory is located near the mouth of the Saint-François River at its co ...

, near Sorel) and the Wolinak First Nation (in Wôlinak, near

Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières (, ; ) is a city in the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice River, Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence River, Saint Lawrence rivers, on the north shore of the Sain ...

). They are approximately 1,900 people on the two reserves.

Anishinaabeg

The Algonquin, who refer to themselves as ''

Anishinaabe The Anishinaabe (alternatively spelled Anishinabe, Anicinape, Nishnaabe, Neshnabé, Anishinaabeg, Anishinabek, Aanishnaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples in the Great Lakes region of C ...

g'', comprise nine First Nations who live in communities located in the

Outaouais Outaouais (, ; also commonly called The Outaouais) is a region of western Quebec, Canada. It includes the city of Gatineau, the municipality of Val-des-Monts, the municipality of Cantley, Quebec, Cantley and the Papineau Regional County Municipal ...

and

Abitibi-Témiscamingue Abitibi-Témiscamingue () is an administrative region located in western Québec, Canada, along the border with Ontario. It became part of the province in 1898. It has a land area of and its population was 147,082 people as of the 2021 cens ...

regions of Quebec. These First Nations communities are: *

Abitibiwinni First Nation The Abitibiwinni First Nation () is an Algonquian First Nation in the Canadian province of Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province s ...

in Pikogan * Algonquins of Barriere Lake in Lac-Rapide *

Kebaowek First Nation Kebaowek First Nation is a First Nations in Canada, First Nations band government in Quebec, Canada. Its only Indian reserve, reserve has the same name, Kebaowek or Eagle Village First Nation - Kipawa Indian Reserve. The community is affiliated ...

(Eagle Village First Nation - Kipawa) in

Kebaowek Kebaowek or Eagle Village First Nation - Kipawa Indian Reserve, is a First Nations reserve in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in C ...

*Kitcisakik First Nation (

Kitcisakik Anicinape Community The Kitcisakik Anicinape Community, which the official name is ''communauté anicinape de Kitcisakik'', is an Indian band of the Algonquin First Nations in Quebec, Canada. The majority of its members lives on the Indian settlement of Kitcisakik, a ...

) in

Kitcisakik Kitcisakik or Grand-Lac Victoria Indian Settlement is an Indian settlement of the Kitcisakik Anicinape Community located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec, Canada. It is geographically located within the territory of La Vallée-de- ...

* Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg in Kitigan Zibi *Long Point First Nation in Winneway * Nation Anishinaabe du Lac Simon in Lac-Simon *

Timiskaming First Nation Timiskaming (former official designation Timiskaming 19) is a First Nations reserve in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec, Canada, just north of the head of Lake Timiskaming. It belongs to the Timiskaming First Nation, an Algonquin ...

* Wolf Lake First Nation in Hunter's Point The Algonquin number approximately 12,000 people.

Atikamekw

The three

Atikamekw The Atikamekw are an Indigenous people in Canada. Their historic territory, ('Our Land'), is in the upper Saint-Maurice River valley of Quebec (about north of Montreal). One of the main communities is Manawan, about northeast of Montreal. ...

(sometimes spelled Atikamek) bands live in four communities located in the

Mauricie Mauricie () is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making tourism in Mauricie popular. The region has a land area of 35,860.05 km2 (13,845.64 sq mi) and a popu ...

region of Quebec. These First Nations are: * Atikamekw of Opitciwan in Obedjiwan * Atikamekw of Manawan in Manawan * Wemotaci Atikamekw Council in

Wemotaci Wemotaci (designated as Weymontachie 23 until 1997) is a First Nations reserve on the north shore of the Saint-Maurice River at the mouth of the Manouane River in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada. Together with the Obedjiwan and the Couco ...

and Coucoucache Indian Reserve No. 24 The Atikamek number approximately 4,900 people.

Cree

The

Cree The Cree, or nehinaw (, ), are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people, numbering more than 350,000 in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada, First Nations. They live prim ...

are the most populous nation in the Algonquian-language family. The majority live in Quebec and

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, but Cree also live in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

, and

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...

. There are 10 Cree First Nations communities in northern Quebec. They are the: * Cree Nation of Chisasibi in

Chisasibi Chisasibi (; meaning Great River) is a village and Classification of municipalities in Quebec#Aboriginal local municipal units, Cree reserved land (TC) on the eastern shore of James Bay, in Eeyou Istchee, an equivalent territory (ET) in Nord-d ...

* Cree Nation of Eastmain in

Eastmain Eastmain (; ) is a Cree community located on the east coast of James Bay at the mouth of the Eastmain River, Quebec, Canada. It is a small coastal Cree village with a population of 924 people in the 2021 Canadian Census up from 866 people at ...

* Cree Nation of Mistissini in

Mistissini Mistissini ( meaning Big Rock) is a Cree town located in the south-east corner of the largest natural lake in Quebec, Lake Mistassini. The town is inside the boundaries of the Baie-James Municipality and is the second largest Cree community ...

* Cree Nation of Nemaska in Nemaska *

Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation is a Cree First Nations in Canada, First Nation of Canada. It is headquartered in the Cree village of Oujé-Bougoumou, located on the shores of Opémisca Lake, in the Eeyou Istchee (territory), Eeyou Istchee territory e ...

in Oujé-Bougoumou * The Crees of the Waskaganish First Nation in

Waskaganish Waskaganish (/, Little House; ) is a Cree community of over 2,500 people at the mouth of the Rupert River on the south-east shore of James Bay in Nord-du-Québec, Canada. Waskaganish is part of the territory referred to as " Eeyou Istchee" ( ...

* Cree Nation of Waswanipi in Waswanipi * Cree Nation of Wemindji in

Wemindji Wemindji () is a small Cree community on the east coast of James Bay at the mouth of the Maquatua River in Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Cree Nation of Wemindji. The community is located within the federal riding of Abitibi—Baie-Ja ...

* Cree Nation of Whapmagoostui in

Whapmagoostui Whapmagoostui (, "place of the beluga") is the northernmost Cree village in Quebec, Canada, located at the mouth of the Great Whale River () on the coast of Hudson Bay in Nunavik. About 906 Cree with about 650 Inuit, living in the neighbourin ...

* Washaw Sibi Eeyou in

Amos Amos or AMOS may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Amos'' (album), an album by Michael Ray * Amos (band), an American Christian rock band * ''Amos'' (film), a 1985 American made-for-television drama film * Amos (guitar), a 1958 Gibson Fl ...

The Cree of Quebec number approximately 25,000 people.

Malecite

The Malécite (or

Maliseet The Wolastoqiyik, (, also known as the Maliseet or Malecite () are an Algonquian-speaking First Nation of the Wabanaki Confederacy. They are the Indigenous people of the Wolastoq ( Saint John River) valley and its tributaries. Their terri ...

, in an older English spelling) in Quebec comprise one First Nation, the

Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk (Viger) First Nation The Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, formerly known as Maliseet Viger 1 First Nation, is an Algonquian People of the Wəlastəkwewiyik (Maliseet) Nation in Quebec, Canada. As of May, 2024 they were reported as having a registered population ...

, whose members live in two communities located in the

Bas-Saint-Laurent The Bas-Saint-Laurent (, 'Lower Saint-Lawrence) is an administrative region of Quebec located along the south shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River in Quebec. The river widens at this place, later becoming a bay that discharges into the Atlan ...

region of Quebec. The communities are Cacouna and Kataskomiq. They number approximately 570 people.

Mi'kmaq

The

Mi'kmaq The Mi'kmaq (also ''Mi'gmaq'', ''Lnu'', ''Mi'kmaw'' or ''Mi'gmaw''; ; , and formerly Micmac) are an Indigenous group of people of the Northeastern Woodlands, native to the areas of Canada's Atlantic Provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Bru ...

(or Micmac, in an older English spelling) live in the Canadian

Maritime provinces The Maritimes, also called the Maritime provinces, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The Maritimes had a population of 1,899,324 in 2021, which makes up 5.1% of ...

and the Quebec region of the

Gaspé Peninsula The Gaspé Peninsula, also known as Gaspesia (, ; ), is a peninsula along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River that extends from the Matapedia Valley in Quebec, Canada, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is separated from New Brunswick on it ...

(French=Gaspésie). In Quebec, they number approximately 4,300 people and comprise three First Nations communities: * Gaspe First Nation in Gaspé * Gesgapegiag First Nation in Gesgapegiag * Listuguj Miꞌgmaq First Nation in Listuguj

Innu

The

Innu The Innu/Ilnu ('man, person'), formerly called Montagnais (French for ' mountain people'; ), are the Indigenous Canadians who inhabit northeastern Labrador in present-day Newfoundland and Labrador and some portions of Quebec. They refer to ...

(formerly referred to as the Montagnais) comprise nine First Nations in the

Côte-Nord Côte-Nord (Region 09) (, ; ) is an List of regions of Quebec, administrative region of Quebec, on the Quebec-Labrador peninsula, Quebec-Labrador Peninsula, Canada. The region runs along the St. Lawrence River and then the Gulf of St. Lawrence, ...

region of Quebec. These First Nations are: * Pessamit Innu Band (also known as ''bande des Innus de Pessamit'' or Betsiamites First Nation) in

Pessamit Pessamit (formerly Betsiamites, or Bersimis), is a First Nations reserve and Innu community in the Canadian province of Quebec, located about southwest from Baie-Comeau along the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River at the mouth of the Betsi ...

* Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John (also known as ''La Nation Innu Matimekush-Lac John'') in Lac-John and Matimekosh * Innue Essipit (known also as Essipit First Nation, or ''Montagnais Essipit'') in Essipit *

Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam is an Innu First Nations in Canada, First Nations band government in Quebec, Canada. It is based in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Sept-Îles in the Côte-Nord region on the North shore of the Saint Lawrence River. It ow ...

Maliotenam Maliotenam (Mani-Utenam in Innu-aimun) is a First Nations reserve in Quebec, located adjacent to the city of Sept-Îles. Together with Uashat some distance away, it forms the Innu The Innu/Ilnu ('man, person'), formerly called Mont ...

and Uashat * Innus of Ekuanitshit (also known as ''Les Innus d'Ekuanitshit'' in Mingan * Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation (also known as ''Première nation des Pekuakamiulnuatsh'', ''Montagnais du Lac St.-Jean'', or ''Ilnuatsh du Pekuakami'') in

Mashteuiatsh Mashteuiatsh is a First Nations reserve in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada, about north from the centre of Roberval. It is the home to the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation. It is located on a headland jutting out on the w ...

Première Nation des Innus de Nutashkuan A premiere, also spelled première, (from , ) is the debut (first public presentation) of a work, i.e. play, film, dance, musical composition, or even a performer in that work. History Raymond F. Betts attributes the introduction of the fi ...

(also known as ''Montagnais de Natashquan'', Montagnais of Natashquan or Nutashkuan Innu First Nation) in Nutashkuan * Montagnais de Pakua Shipi in Pakuashipi * Montagnais de Unamen Shipu in La Romaine The Innu number approximately 18,000 people.

Naskapi

The

Naskapi The Naskapi (Nascapi, Naskapee, Nascapee) are an Indigenous people of the Subarctic native to the historical region St'aschinuw (ᒋᑦ ᐊᔅᒋᓄᐤ, meaning 'our Clusivity, nclusiveland'), which was located in present day northern Qu ...

live in northern Quebec. They comprise one First Nation, the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, based in Kawawachikamach. They number approximately 1,000 people. The Naskapi are recognized as a distinct nation by the governments of Quebec and Canada; however, they are often considered to be Innu living in a remote area. Their main language is

and their second language is English. The Naskapi committee is known as the NLMB (The Naskapi Local Management Board).

Iroquoian

Wendat

The Wendat, members of the

Huron-Wendat Nation The Huron-Wendat Nation (or Huron-Wendat First Nation) is an Iroquoian-speaking nation that was established in the 17th century. In the French language, used by most members of the First Nation, they are known as the . The French gave the nickn ...

, live in Wendake, a reserve enclosed within

Quebec City Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...

. Their original homeland was in

. They number about 2,800 people. Their original language was Wendat, in the Iroquoian-language family.

Mohawk

The Mohawk of Quebec number approximately 13,000 people. They comprise the three following

, which were established at these locations in the colonial period: * Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke in

Kahnawake The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory (, in the Mohawk language, ''Kahnawáˀkye'' in Tuscarora) is a First Nations reserve of the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, across from Montreal. Establi ...

and

Doncaster Doncaster ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, Yorkshire, River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest se ...

* Mohawks of Kanesatake in

Kanesatake Kanesatake () is a Mohawk (''Kanien'kéha:ka'') settlement on the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains in southwestern Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers and about west of Montreal. People who reside in ''Kan ...

*Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne in

Akwesasne The Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne ( ; ; ) is a Mohawk Nation (''Kanienʼkehá:ka'') territory that straddles the intersection of international (United States and Canada) borders and provincial (Ontario and Quebec) boundaries on both banks of the St ...

Inuit

are Indigenous Canadian peoples who were isolated from Europeans longer than other indigenous groups. This is because they live in a cold and remote part of the world called

Inuit Nunangat Inuit Nunangat (; ), formerly Inuit Nunaat (), is the homeland of the Inuit in Canada. This Arctic homeland consists of four Northern Canada, northern Canadian regions called the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (, home of the Inuvialuit and th ...

, the large territory encompassing all Inuit regions in Canada.

Nunavik Nunavik (; ; ) is an area in Canada which comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, part of the Nord-du-Québec region and nearly coterminous with Kativik. Covering a land area of north of the 55th parallel, it is the homelan ...

, the Quebec part of Inuit Nunangat, is where all of Quebec's northern village municipalities (''Municipalité de village nordique'', abbreviated as VN are located and the residents are almost all Inuit and are known as ''Nunavimmiut'' . There are 14 Inuit northern villages, all of which are coastal and regulated by the

Kativik Regional Government The Kativik Regional Government (, ARK) is the representative regional authority for most of the Nunavik region of Quebec. Nunavik is the northern half of the Nord-du-Québec administrative region and includes all the territory north of the 55 ...

: * Akulivik * Aupaluk * Inukjuak * Ivujivik * Kangiqsualujjuaq * Kangirsuk *

Kuujjuaq Kuujjuaq (; or ), formerly known as (ᓲᐃᕙᐅᖃᔾ) and by #Names, other names, is a former Hudson's Bay Company outpost at the mouth of the Koksoak River on Ungava Bay that has become the largest northern village (Quebec), northern vil ...

* Kuujjuarapik * Puvirnituq * Quaqtaq * Salluit In 2015, Quebec's Inuit numbered 12,129 people. As of 2023, 98% of Nunavik's residents speak '' Nunavimmiutitut'', a local dialect of

Inuktitut Inuktitut ( ; , Inuktitut syllabics, syllabics ), also known as Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, is one of the principal Inuit languages of Canada. It is spoken in all areas north of the North American tree line, including parts of the provinces of ...

and part of the Eskaleut language family, as their native language. They also know English and French because they are taught these languages in school.

Recognized rights

* James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement *

Charter of the French Language The ''Charter of the French Language'' (, ), also known as Bill 101 (, ), is a law in the Canadian province of Quebec defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the official language of the provincial government. It is th ...

Constitution of Canada The Constitution of Canada () is the supreme law in Canada. It outlines Canada's system of government and the civil and human rights of those who are citizens of Canada and non-citizens in Canada. Its contents are an amalgamation of various ...

Constitution Act, 1982 The ''Constitution Act, 1982'' () is a part of the Constitution of Canada.Formally enacted as Schedule B of the '' Canada Act 1982'', enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Section 60 of the ''Constitution Act, 1982'' states that t ...

** Indigenous land claims in Canada **

Indigenous specific land claims in Canada Indigenous specific land claims in Canada, also called specific claims, are long-standing land claims made by First Nations against the Government of Canada pertaining to Canada's legal obligations to indigenous communities. They relate to the a ...

Aboriginal land title in Canada In Canada, aboriginal title is considered a ''sui generis'' interest in land. Aboriginal title has been described this way in order to distinguish it from other proprietary interests, but also due to the fact its characteristics cannot be explain ...

Canadian Aboriginal law Canadian Aboriginal law is the body of law of Canada that concerns a variety of issues related to Indigenous peoples in Canada. Canadian Aboriginal Law is different from Canadian Indigenous law: In Canada, Indigenous Law refers to the legal trad ...

** Canadian Indigenous law ** Monarchy of Canada and the Indigenous peoples of Canada *United Nations conventions, covenants, and treaties **

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples File:2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples voting map.svg , , , The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP or DOTROIP) is a legally non-binding United Nations resolution passed by the United Nations in 2007 ...

(received

royal assent Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in othe ...

on June 21, 2021) * Treaty of 1752 * Murray Treaty of Longueuil (1760) *

Royal Proclamation of 1763 The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued by British King George III on 7 October 1763. It followed the Treaty of Paris (1763), which formally ended the Seven Years' War and transferred French territory in North America to Great Britain. The ...

Jay Treaty The Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, Between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, commonly known as the Jay Treaty, and also as Jay's Treaty, was a 1794 treaty between the United States and Great Britain that averted ...

(1794)

References

External links

Map of the native communities in QuebecSecrétariat aux affaires autochtones du Québec
{{Canada topic, Indigenous peoples in