Wôlinak from its original name, “W8linak” is located on the Bécancour River in the Centre-du-Québec region. Its name means “the river of long detours” in the Waban-Aki language. The reserve – Wolinak 11 – covers almost one square kilometer and is home to some 200 residents.
In the 17th century, when they first settled in the region, they were nomadic, camping by the riversand living from hunting, gathering and fishing. In 1680, Abenaki and Sokokis families from Namesokântsik (Mégantic) settled on the banks of the Puante River, later named after M. de Bécancour, Baron de Portneuf. Its population, which numbered 600, declined over time as a result of wars, epidemics and the territorial appropriation of French settlers and Jesuits.
Wôlinak was later founded in 1704 by an Abenaki band originally from Maine. The land was granted to them in 1708, but they were dispossessed several times, before settling around 1735 on the adjacent land they occupy today.
Since 2022, the community has partly owned a casino, Le Grand Royal Wôlinak.
Her family pow wow takes place at the end of August, behind her little church on street Kolipaïo.