Meeting Eeyou Istchee Baie-James

People come to Eeyou Istchee Baie-James mainly for its breathtaking nature and vast open spaces. But the beauty of this region goes far beyond its grand landscapes. It also lies in the wonderful encounters you can have here. It's an immersion into two cultures sharing the same land, a meeting with deeply rooted communities who welcome visitors with open arms and generously share their history and traditions. That's what makes this region so unique! In Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, you experience inspiring exchanges and unforgettable connections.

One Land, Two Cultures

It's often said that to truly discover a place, you need to meet its people. Nowhere is this truer than here! To really grasp the essence of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, you need to learn about its history and the people who shape it. The unique feature of this region is that 9 Cree communities and 7 Jamésien communities live here side by side. Two distinct cultures share these lands and work hand in hand to showcase the wealth of their vast territory.

What the Jamésiens and the Crees have in common is their love for this precious land and their commitment to living in harmony with nature. This mutual respect is Eeyou Istchee Baie-James' greatest strength. It allows visitors to be warmly welcomed in every community and to experience memorable encounters.

Meeting the Crees

The Indigenous peoples of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James are an essential part of its identity. Meeting them means discovering deeply rooted traditions, listening to words filled with wisdom, tasting local flavors, and leaving inspired. Inspired by their love and respect for the land they walk, the forests they travel, and the wildlife they live alongside. Inspired by their incomparable know-how passed down from generation to generation. It also means learning more about their traditional way of life based on hunting, fishing, and trapping. Cree culture is alive and rich, and the people of the 9 communities take great pride in sharing it through their cuisine, crafts, ancestral stories, and traditional activities.

From the very first moments, what strikes visitors is their kindness and the generosity of their sharing. They are just as interested in us as we are in them and are happy to share countless stories. With a smile on their faces and laughter close at hand, they open their hearts to us, and we gladly return the gesture. Visiting the Cree communities of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James promises enriching encounters and lasting memories. It's a chance to get to know the land by speaking with people who have always lived here and watched it evolve through the years.

Meeting the Jamésiens

On the Jamésien side, you'll meet families who have been here for generations and others who answered the call of nature and made this region their home. But soon you realize that everyone here feels like part of one big family. The strong bonds between them are quickly felt. Maybe it's because of the remoteness? Or simply the shared determination to support one another and build thriving communities together. Living in the heart of such a vast wilderness certainly comes with unique realities and challenges. That may be what makes them so united!

Meeting them means discovering these realities, understanding the Jamésiens' daily life, and what makes their region different from the rest of the province. Once again, you're drawn into their stories as they recount the events that shaped Chapais or Lebel-sur-Quévillon, or the industrial past of Chibougamau. Each community has its own history worth hearing!

Out of this desire to share the stories that shaped the region came the VäHumania project. It's an invitation to experience Eeyou Istchee Baie-James in a different way, through authentic encounters led by local residents. During a group activity, they open the doors to their world, their corner of the region, and their know-how. These are Jamésien residents deeply involved in their communities and rooted in their land, offering simple yet meaningful experiences.

These activities take place in Jamésien communities and cover a wide range of themes, from astronomy workshops to art sessions to industrial tours. They bring together visitors, newcomers, and the curious alike. Most importantly, they spark wonderful connections and inspiring exchanges, creating a spirit of sharing. We had the chance to experience two of these activities during our recent visit to Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, and they were truly delightful.

We first stepped into the creative world of Jocelyne Grondin, an artist specializing in stained glass, during a hands-on workshop in her small Chapais studio. We made mosaic glass magnets while listening to the stories behind her works inspired by local places and key events in Chapais. Next, we took part in another creative activity led by Stacy-Ann Olivier. It began with a walk in nature to identify and collect boreal plants, which later inspired a clay bas-relief creation. The late-afternoon workshop wrapped up with a tasting of boreal-inspired drinks and snacks.

What we took away from these experiences is that art grounds you in the present moment and makes you forget everything else. Your mind focuses entirely on the creation forming in your hands. It's therapeutic and joyful, while also offering the perfect setting to connect with the host and fellow participants. VäHumania is all about moments of sharing that reveal the soul of the region through the people who shape it.

The region of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James is truly unique, and that's why meeting the people who live here every day is the best way to grasp its full richness. A visit to this land wouldn't be complete without those meaningful encounters with the Cree and Jamésien communities!

Article written by Marie and Sam