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Opitciwan First Nation

Back to Aboriginal Community Profiles Index The Nations Map
Phonetic: O-pit-chi-ouan

Geographical location of territory

Territory map
Company Name1 : Bande des Atikamekw d'Opitciwan
Chief: Mr. Paul Méquish
Councillors:

Ms. Martine Awashish
Ms. Régina Chachai
Ms. Annie Chachai
Mr. Fernand Denis-Damée
Mr. Martin Awashish
Mr. Louis-Michel Dubé
Languages: Atikamekw, french
Adress: 22, rue Amish (C.P. 135)
Obedjiwan (Québec)
G0W 3B0
Phone: 819-974-8837
819-974-1272
Fax: 819-974-8828 ou 1272
Web site: www.opitciwan.ca  


DEMOGRAPHY

Population
Number of persons
within the community		 Number of persons
outside the community		 Total

2 071

408

2 479

Reference: Indian Registry, INAC, December 2008


GEOGRAPHY

Territory Name: Obedjiwan Reserve
Type of territory: Indian reserve
Surface: 773 hectares (1 910.1 acres)
Localisation:  The community is located on the north shore of the Gouin Reservoir, 143 kilometres south of Chibougamau, approximately halfway between the Lac Saint-Jean plain and the Abitibi region.
Remoteness Factor: Year-round road access and located at more than 350 kilometres from the nearest service center.


POLITIC

Elections: Customary process
Tribal Council 2:  Conseil de la nation Atikamekw
Member of Parliament:

Mr. Jean-Yves Laforest, Bloc Québécois (BQ)
Saint-Maurice-Champlain
Provincial MNA:

Ms. Julie Boulet, Parti Libéral du Québec (PLQ)
Laviolette


ECONOMY

Economic activities are concentrated primarily in forestry, transport, arts and handicrafts, trapping, construction and trapping.

The reserve territory is home to about a dozen businesses, including: general store, video club, restaurant, garage, daycare centre, hair salon, community radio station, etc. There are also a number of companies specializing in the forestry (sawmilling and forestry services) and transport sectors.


EDUCATION

Band School3 on the territory:

School Name: École Niska
Grades: Pre-kindergarden to Elementary 6
Number of students: 522 (2007-2008)

School Name: École Secondaire Mikisiw
Grades: Secondary 1 to Secondary 5
Number of students: 245 (2007-2008)

School Enrolment 2007-2008
  Band School Provincial School Total
Pre-kindergarden

52

 

52
Kindergarden 47   47
Elementary 336   336
Secondary 329 25 354
Total : 767 25 792

Reference : Nominal Roll, INAC (2007-2008)

Number of students funded by postsecondary program4 : 69
Reference: Post-Secondary list, INAC (2007-2008)


COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURES

Fire protection: Fire station, fire engine, firefighting equipment, hydraulic spreader (jaws of life)
Police services: Provided by the Aboriginal police force recognized under an agreement between the Band council, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec.
Medical care: Nursing station managed by the Band council under a transfer agreement with Health Canada.
Waste disposal: Landfill site on reserve, collection provided by the Band council
Main community facilities: Library, community radio, youth centre, community hall, church and outdoor skating rink
Water Supply: Untreated, unfiltered groundwater; household supply water piped from water supply mains
Sewers: Wastewater sewer system, aerated lagoons
Road system: 11.3 kilometres of gravel roads
Housing Units: 371 (2007-2008)
Electricity: Provided by Hydro-Québec

Définitions:
1) Company Name: The corporate name of a company or a civil company (i.e. its name) is often made of credits, which name in a general way the company or the civil company, and of specific, which distinguishes this company from the others.
2) Tribal Council: Tribal Councils are defined as institutions established as a grouping of bands with common interests who voluntarily join together to provide advisory and/or program services to member bands.
3)

Band School:Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) funds Band councils and First Nation education authorities for the education of children in Kindergarten to Grade 12 who attend schools on reserves or who attend provincially-run schools off reserve.

Approximately 60% of First Nations students are taught on reserve, almost always in schools operated by a Band council, another First Nations organization, or a federal school.
4) Post-Secondary Education Programs: Indian Affairs and Northern Development (INAC) provides financial support to eligible Status Indians and Inuit students under broad authorities of the the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act to continue their education.

For further information on this community please call at 1-800-567-9604 or click on this link toward community profiles of Statistics Canada   (2006 Census).

Last profile update: December 9th 2008

Date Modified:2009-03-06

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