Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John

Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John (or La Nation Innu Matimekush-Lac John in French) is a First Nation band government based out of Schefferville, Quebec, Canada. The members of the band are Innu people and speak the Innu language, an Algonquian language which is a member of the Cree–Montagnais–Naskapi dialect continuum.

Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John
Band No. 87
Band flag
PeopleInnu
HeadquartersSchefferville
ProvinceQuebec
Land[1]
Main reserveMatimekosh
Other reserve(s)
Lac-John
Land area0.889 km2
Population (October 2019)[2]
On reserve851
On other land60
Off reserve127
Total population1038
Government[3]
ChiefRéal McKenzie
Council
  • Beau André
  • Frédéric Cluny
  • Nathalie Gabriel
  • Anita McKenzie
Tribal Council[4]
Mamuitun Tribal Council
Website
Matimekush.com

Location

Schefferville is in northern Quebec less than 2 km (1.2 mi) from the border with Labrador. It is located within the Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality in the Côte-Nord (or North Coast) region of Quebec. The Nation controls two Indian reserves:[5] Matimekosh 3 is a 65.4-hectare (162-acre) enclave in the center of the Town of Schefferville;[6] and Lac-John is 23.5 hectares (58 acres) located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Schefferville.[7] Schefferville, and hence the reserves, is not connected to the North American highway system. The community is accessible via air through Schefferville Airport or via rail on Tshiuetin Rail Transportation which is partially owned by the band.

Population

As of October 2019, the Nation had a registered population of 1,038 people with 851 people living on the two reserves.[8] For Statistics Canada's 2016 Canadian Census, Matimekosh had 613 residents up 13.5% from 540 residents found in the 2011 Canadian Census.[9] Lac-John had 33 residents in 2016 up 57.1% from 21 in 2011.[10] In the 2016 Census, 94.6% of the band spoke an Indigenous language at home with 86.8% first learned an Indigenous language. 7.0% can speak only English, 54.3% can speak only French, 27.9% can speak both, while 10.9% cannot speak either official language.[11]

Governance

The Nation has a five member council with a chief and four councilors. For the 2019–2022 tenure, Réal McKenzie is the chief.[12][13]

References
  1. "First Nation Detail". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.
  2. "First Nation Detail". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.
  3. "First Nation Detail". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.
  4. "First Nation Detail". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.
  5. "Reserves/Settlements/Villages". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.
  6. "Matimekosh 3". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  7. "Lac John Reserve". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  8. "Registered Population". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.
  9. "(Code 2497808) Census Profile". 2016 census. Statistics Canada. 2017.
  10. "(Code 2497810) Census Profile". 2016 census. Statistics Canada. 2017.
  11. "Languages characteristics". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.
  12. "Réal McKenzie redevient chef de Matimekush-Lac John" [Réal McKenzie becomes Chief of Matimekush-Lac John]. Radio-Canada (in French). 5 July 2019.
  13. "Governance". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019.

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