Attawapiskat First Nation - History

History

Attawapiskat is home to the Mushkego or Omushkego James Bay Cree. The location of the town has been a gathering place for local Native people for centuries. Originally it was a seasonal camp that was visited in the spring and summer to take advantage of the prime fishing on one of the main drainage rivers of James Bay. Historically, in the wintertime, families left the location to live in other trapping, hunting and gathering sites along the coast, inland or on Akamiski Island.

Attawapiskat was entered into official treaty with Canada and the Province of Ontario relatively late, in 1930 (Treaty 9 adhesion), and the majority of the First Nation members moved to the community as late as the mid-1960s. Traditional structures, thinking and interpretation of life were maintained in a deeper fashion than for many less isolated First Nations communities. Some elders still lead a traditional life on the land, moving into the community only over Christmas season Some families, although having their home base in the community, are still using the land extensively as their economic and social basis. The vast majority of community members are involved in the yearly goose hunts in fall and spring. Therefore there is still an awareness of traditional way of life among most of the Attawapiskat First Nation members.

Attawapiskat has grown from a settlement of temporary dwellings, such as tents and teepees, in the 1950s to a community with permanent buildings, which were constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Traditional harvesters from Attawapiskat First Nation continue to regularly hunt caribou, goose, and fish along the Attawapiskat River, while tending trap lines throughout the region (Berkes et al., 1994; Whiteman, 2004). This goes beyond subsistence hunting and fishing. It comprises an important part of local culture and identity (Inf. #2, 4).