Nemaska
A Cree Community On Champion Lake With A Fine New Cultural Centre, A Lakeshore, A Cree Led Outfitting And Canoe Scene And A Gateway To The Nemaska And Rupert River Country. A Small Inland Community With A Strong Cree Culture · Nemaska, Quebec
Nemaska is a Cree community of roughly 750 to 850 people on Champion Lake, in the boreal forest of northern Quebec in Eeyou Istchee. The present village is newer than the old posts and camps of the Nemiscau country (confirm), and its centre is a cultural centre that draws on Cree design. It is reached by a spur road from the James Bay Road, roughly 290 to 330 km from Matagami (confirm), by the Route du Nord from Chibougamau (confirm), or by Air Creebec from the south (confirm). It is not a sightseeing town, but it is a good base for lake and river country, and for travellers who want to meet a Cree community that runs its own guiding and outfitting. Visitors find a small hotel or lodge, a store, a lakeshore and canoe routes toward the Rupert River and the Nemiscau lakes (confirm). Summer brings long light and lake days; winter brings snow, sleds and ice fishing. Ask before photographing people or camps, and ask the band office before going onto trapline land.
Nemaska, a Cree community of about 800 people on Champion Lake in the boreal forest of northern Quebec, reached by a spur road off the Route du Nord, about 300 km north of Matagami; coordinates approximate, Nemaska, Quebec, Canada
Nemaska keeps no formal visiting hours because it is a living community. The band office, the cultural centre, the store and the hotel desk keep their own hours, often roughly 9 to 5 on weekdays with shorter days at the weekend - confirm by phone before the drive. Canoe, boat and fishing trips run mainly June to September, with ice fishing and snowmobile trips from about January to March. The spring goose break and the autumn hunt take many families onto the land, so offices may be shut or quiet then. Roads are open year-round, but winter driving is slow and daylight is short.