The 10 Aboriginal nations and the Inuit nation represent about 1% of the population of Quebec.
The Aboriginal people of Quebec come from two linguistic and cultural families: Algonquian and Iroquois.
Algonquian culture includes the Abenaki, Algonquin, Atikamekws, Cree, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Naskapi and Innu. Iroquois culture includes the Huron-Wendat and Mohawks.
They are located in 55 Aboriginal communities and live primarily on reserves administered by a band council.
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN in 2007, established the recognition and respect of indigenous rights and their internal self-determination.
Waban-Aki meaning People of the Land of Dawn, known as Abenakis1“In Acadia, Quebec (waban-aki nation) and the American states of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.
Atikamekw meaning White Fish2in Upper Mauricie.
Nehiyawak, meaning The people3in Bay James, in Québec4, known as Cree.
Inuit meaning Humans5in Nunavik.
Innu meaning Human Being in dialect, known as Montagnais6in Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, Schefferville.
Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk, originally a Mi’kmaq word meaning Slow talker, known as Maliseet7Malecits olf the St. Lawrence, Malecits of Viger.
Mi’kmaq, “Mi’kmaq” meaning My brothers8 in Gaspé, known as Micmacs.
Kanien’kehá:ka meaning Flint People, Mohawks9near Montreal and Cornwall, Lower St. Lawrence.
Naskapi of Kawawachikamach10on the North Coast, meaning People beyond the horizon.
Wendat meaning Islanders, known as Huron11 in Quebec..
Métis, a nation not recognized in Quebec.