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 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. At the same time, the Fort George Relocation Corporation was formed to oversee the relocation.
Chisasibi is the most northern Cree village accessible by road, and the northernmost community with year-round road access in eastern North America. A paved road, running from Radisson, and parallel to the Grand River, connects Chisasibi to the James Bay Road. The JamesBay Road was built from 1971 to 1974 as part of the James Bay hydroelectric project and connects Matagami to Radisson. Chisasibi Airport is located just west of the village and Air Creebec operates scheduled service from this airport. Though this is the most northern village, this is not where the road ends. From LG-1, the road continues north to a location called Longue Pointe. It is the farthest one can go by road east of the Hudson Bay. Many Cree in Chisasibi engage in hunting, trapping, and fishing activities but all catch is meant for local consumption. Other economic activity includes local services, employment by Hydro-Québec and some hospitality services. An elected Chief and Council help administer the Cree Nation of Chisasibi Office. Other Cree villages near Chisasibi are Whapmagoostui, to the north in Nunavik, on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay near the Northern village of Kuujjuarapik, and Wemindji, about to the south.
Demographics
The population of Chisasibi comprises approximately 4,000 Cree, about 250 Inuit, and 300 non-native people. Statistics Canada's 2011 Census shows a total population of 4,484. 2006 Census shows the median age of the population is 24.1 years old, the percentage of the population aged 15 and over is 66.2, and the total number of census families was 960. Total private dwellings : 788
Languages
and Inuit are spoken as the first language in Chisasibi, in addition to English, as a primary language for official dealings. Only 7.8% of the residents of Chisasibi speak one or both of the official languages as a mother tongue. There has been criticism of the Quebec language policywith respect to native languages, particularly Cree, many related to Hydro-Québec's hydroelectric dam project in the James Bay region. Mother tongues:
Other as first language : 92%
English as first language: 4%
French as first language: 3.5%
English and French as first language:<1 %
Education
The Cree School Board operates Waapinichikush Elementary School and the James Bay Eeyou School, a high school. Eeyou opened in 1980. Previously the school provided boarding services for high school students for students from other villages of the James Bay region: Eastmain, Whapmagoostui, and Wemindji as at the time all high school classes in the region were in Chisasibi. Eeyou has 398 students.
Climate
Chisasibi has a subarctic climate, typical of the central latitudes of Quebec, with very cold and snowy winters and mild, rainy summers.
