Chisasibi, Quebec
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Chisasibi ᒋᓵᓰᐲ |
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|---|---|
| Cree Nation of Chisasibi | |
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| Coordinates: 53°47′00.00″N 78°53′45.00″W / 53.7833333°N 78.8958333°WCoordinates: 53°47′00.00″N 78°53′45.00″W / 53.7833333°N 78.8958333°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Eeyou Istchee |
| Established | 1980 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Cree Territory |
| • Chief | Davey Bobbish |
| Area | |
| • Land | 828.18 km2 (319.76 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 4,484 |
| • Density | 4.8/km2 (12/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) |
| Postal Code | J0M 1E0 |
| Area code(s) | 819 |
| Website | chisasibi.org |
Chisasibi (Cree: ᒋᓵᓰᐲ/Cisâsîpî meaning Great River) is a village on the eastern shore of James Bay, in the Eeyou Istchee territory in northern Quebec, Canada. It is situated on the south shore of La Grande River (the Grand River), less than 10 km (6.2 mi) from the river's mouth. Chisasibi is one of nine Cree villages in the region, and is a member of the Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec. The territory surrounding Chisasibi is part of the Municipality of Baie-James, of which parts are jointly managed with the Cree Regional Authority.
The surface area of the town is 491.63 square kilometres (189.82 sq mi). The surface area of Chisasibi Cree Territory Category I Land (land exclusively for Cree use) is 828.18 square kilometres (319.76 sq mi).
The Cree have lived in the region for many centuries but were nomadic. In 1803, the Hudson's Bay Company founded Fort George, a trading post on the north shore which was relocated to the largest island in the mouth of La Grande River in 1837. Fort George became a permanent village as the local Cree population abandoned their nomadic way of life in the early 20th century and settled nearby. In 1940, its population was about 750 and grew to almost 2,000 in 1980.
In the mid 1970s, the construction of the James Bay hydro-electric project began, diverting upstream rivers into La Grande watershed, increasing its flow significantly, resulting in erosion of Fort George Island (also called Governor's Island) and disruption to the formation of a solid ice cover in winter. In response, the Quebec Government built a new community on the mainland's south shore, relocating the population and some 200 houses to the new site in 1981. The village was renamed Chisasibi (official name: Cree Nation of Chisasibi). At the same time, the Fort George Relocation Corporation was formed to oversee the relocation.
Chisasibi has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc), typical of the central latitudes of Québéc, with very cold and snowy winters and mild, rainy summers.
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