| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| website = chisasibi.ca

| footnotes =

Chisasibi (; meaning Great River) is a village and Cree reserved land (TC) on the eastern shore of James Bay, in Eeyou Istchee, an equivalent territory (ET) in Nord-du-Québec, Canada. It is situated on the south shore of La Grande River (the Grand River), less than 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 Eeyou Istchee James Bay, of which parts are jointly managed by the municipalities of the Jamésie TE and the Cree Regional Authority of the Eeyou Istchee TE.

The land area of the town is and the area of the associated Chisasibi Cree village municipality is .

In the mid-1970s, the construction of the James Bay hydro-electric project began, diverting upstream rivers into the 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. 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 La Grande-1 generating station (LG-1), the road continues north to a location called Longue Pointe (Long Point). It is the farthest north 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 for local consumption. Other economic activity includes local services (health care and education), employment by Hydro-Québec and some hospitality services. An elected Chief, Deputy 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.

Climate

Chisasibi has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc), typical of the central latitudes of Quebec, with cold and snowy winters and mild, rainy summers.

Demographics

thumb|Homes and teepee

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, Chisasibi had a population of 4,985 living in 1,056 of its 1,281 total private dwellings an increase of 2.3% from its 2016 population of 4,872. With a land area of , it had a population density of in 2021.

As of the 2021 census the population of Chisasibi comprises 4,305 Cree, 345 other First Nations, 240 Inuit, 10 Métis, and 245 non-native people. and the James Bay Eeyou School, a high school, which has 494 students ; ). The Eeyou School opened in 1980.

Previously, the school provided boarding services for high schoolers from further afield of the James Bay region, such as Eastmain, Whapmagoostui, and Wemindji, as (at the time) all high school classes in the region were located in Chisasibi.

In addition, adult education is available in Chisasibi, including vocational and general education.

<gallery>

File:20_Chisasibi_-_Administrative_Center.jpg|Administrative Centre

File:Chisasibi_-__Church.jpg|Catholic Church

File:Chisasibi_-__Cree_girl.jpg|A Cree girl in Chisasibi

File:Chisasibi_-_stop_sign.jpg|A stop sign, written in Cree

File:16_Chisasibi_General_Store.jpg|Chisasibi General Store

File:Chisabisi Palais de Justice.jpg|Chisasibi Courthouse (2015)

</gallery>

References

  • Official website