- Manawan, Quebec
-
Manawan — Native reserve — 
ManawanCoordinates: 47°13′21″N 74°23′30″W / 47.2225°N 74.39167°WCoordinates: 47°13′21″N 74°23′30″W / 47.2225°N 74.39167°W Country 
CanadaProvince 
QuebecRegion Lanaudière Regional county none Settled 1870 Founded August 29, 1906 (reserve) Government[1] - Chief Paul-Émile Ottawa - Federal riding Joliette - Prov. riding Berthier Area[2] - Land 7.83 km2 (3 sq mi) Population (2006)[2] - Total 1,843 - Density 235.3/km2 (609.4/sq mi) Time zone EST (UTC-5) - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) Postal Code J0K 1M0 Area code(s) 819 Website www.manawan.com Manawan (named Manouane until 1991) is a First Nation reserve on the south-western shores of Lake Métabeskéga in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada. It belongs to the Atikamekw de Manawan band of the Atikamekw Nation.[3]
The 5 kilometres long by 2 kilometres wide reserve is an enclave within the Baie-Atibenne unorganized territory, approximately 72 kilometres (45 mi) north of Saint-Michel-des-Saints. It is accessible by gravel road.
The reserve takes its name from the Manouane River that has its source nearby. The standardized writing of the Atikamekw language spells it as Manawan, and this form was adopted on January 8, 1991. It means "place where they gather eggs".[4]
Contents
History
"Royal Family" Manowan Indian group, circa 1900
At least since 1850 and probably earlier, the shores of Lake Métabeskéga were a gathering place for Atikamekw families from Wemotaci. This location, near their winter hunting grounds, was known in the 19th century as Metapeckeka, meaning "swamp coming from a bay" (from the fact that the lake is often dotted with floating plant debris that winds blew of the banks).[4][5]
Around 1870, logging companies moved into the area, prompting several families to permanently settle on the site. A year later, the Hudson's Bay Company opened its post. But damming of Kempt, Manawan, and Châteauvert Lakes in the early 1900s inundated the old village. A new village formed downstream at the current site.[4][5]
Establishing a reserve for themselves proved difficult for the Atikamekw. The repeated requests of Chief Louis Newashish for this portion of their territory were rebuffed by the Canadian Government, saying that the Maniwaki reserve, created in 1850, was reserved for them. The Atikamekw refused to go and live there. The federal government still declined to establish a reserve, arguing that Wemotaci was also for them. After years of correspondence followed by numerous trips in birch-bark canoe to Ottawa and lengthy negotiations for federal services, the government agreed. On August 29, 1906, the Manouane Reserve was officially founded with 1,906 acres (771 ha) of land and having some 50 inhabitants.[5][6]
The Hudson's Bay Company general store closed circa 1941. The village experienced further growth in the 1950s when more families settled down as a result of growing forest exploitation and the construction of large dams. In 1973, Manawan was connected by road to Saint-Michel-des-Saints.[4]
Demographics
Population trend:[7]
- Population in 2006: 1843 (2001 to 2006 population change: 12.0 %)
- Population in 2001: 1646
- Population in 1996: 1416
- Population in 1991: 1224
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 309 (total dwellings: 354)
Mother tongue:
- English as first language: 0 %
- French as first language: 2 %
- English and French as first language: 0 %
- Other as first language: 98 %
Education
There are 2 schools on the reserve:
- École Simon P. Ottawa, pre-kindergarten to Elementary grade 6
- École César Newashish, grades Secondary 1 to Secondary 5
References
- ^ Ministère des Affaires Municipales, Régions et Occupation du territoire - Répertoire des municipalités: Manawan
- ^ a b Statistics Canada 2006 Census - Manawan community profile
- ^ Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Aboriginal Community profile: Manawan First Nation
- ^ a b c d "Manawan (Réserve indienne)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. http://www.toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/CT/toposweb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=231960. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
- ^ a b c "Histoire de Manawan" (in French). Communauté Atikamekw de Manawan. http://www.manawan.com/histoire.html. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
- ^ Natural Resources Canada - Legal Surveys Division, Historical Review - Manawan
- ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
External links
Categories:- Communities in Lanaudière
- First Nations reserves in Quebec
- Hudson's Bay Company trading posts
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