Mistissini
The Largest Cree Community In Quebec, Beside The Huge Lake Mistassini, With A Cultural Centre, An Annual Fishing And Hunting Tradition, The Lake'S Shores And Boat Trips, And A Gateway To The Otish Mountains. A Cree Community With A Long History On The Lake, Reached By Road · Mistissini, Quebec
Mistissini is the largest Cree community in Quebec, home to about 3,800 people on the south-east shore of Lake Mistassini, roughly 90 km north-east of Chibougamau by Route 167. The lake is the largest natural lake in the province, a long, island-studded sheet of cold water some 160 km in length (confirm), and the community has hunted, fished and traded on it for centuries. A trading post stood here from the 1600s, and the modern village grew around a school, a church, stores and a fish and fur economy. Cree is the daily language, French and English are widely spoken, and the community is part of Eeyou Istchee, the Cree homeland. Visitors find a cultural centre, craft sellers, a hotel, restaurants and outfitters who run fishing and hunting trips on the lake. The road is paved and open year-round, so the village is easier to reach than any other Cree community. Ask before photographing people, camps or homes, and ask the band office before going onto trapline land.
Mistissini, a Cree community of about 3,800 people on the shore of Lake Mistassini, the largest natural lake in Quebec, about 90 km north of Chibougamau by Route 167; coordinates approximate, Mistissini, Quebec, Canada
Mistissini keeps no formal visiting hours because it is a living community. The cultural centre, craft sellers, the hotel desk, stores and the band office are generally open about 9 to 5 on weekdays, with shorter weekend hours and closures for community events - confirm by phone before the drive. Outfitter trips on the lake run mainly June to September, with ice-fishing and snowmobile trips from about January to March. Goose break in spring and the hunting season in autumn take many families onto the land, so offices may be quieter then. Route 167 is open year-round, though winter driving is slow and daylight is short.