Indigenous Laval: Nations, Land and Community
An introduction to Laval: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
About Laval
Laval had 438,366 residents in the 2021 census, making it the third-largest city in Quebec. It covers all of Île Jésus, separated from Montreal by the Rivière des Prairies. The Rivière des Mille Îles marks its northern edge. The city was created on August 6, 1965, when 14 municipalities merged. Its name honours François de Laval, the first Catholic bishop of Quebec and a former seigneur of the island. About 3,310 residents identified as Indigenous in 2021. Laval grew from farmland into an industrial centre, though a farming sector still remains. Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, metallurgy and food production now anchor its economy. Three metro stations have linked it to Montreal's subway since 2007. Parks along both rivers give the city green space and water access.
Laval history
People have used Île Jésus for thousands of years. A Lamoka-style projectile point found in 1963 may be more than 3,000 years old. Pottery from the Middle Woodland period has also been found on the island. By the mid-1500s, Iroquoian villages stood near Montreal, though none are documented on Île Jésus itself. Algonquin hunting camps remained in the island's west through the 17th century. The Jesuits received the seigneury of Île Jésus in 1636. French settlers arrived at the island's eastern tip later that century. Saint-François-de-Sales became the first parish in 1702. Conflict slowed settlement, and the population fell from 49 to 13 between 1692 and 1698. The Great Peace of Montreal in 1701 opened the way for more land grants and farms. By 1823, Saint-Martin and Sainte-Rose had become the largest parishes. In the early 1900s, Kahnawake artisans sold crafts at L'Abord-à-Plouffe. Kanien'kehá:ka children also lived with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd on the island in that era. In 1965, 14 municipalities merged to form the City of Laval. The merger led to planned growth, including the Cité de la Santé hospital and a new downtown.
Treaty and territory
No treaty was signed for Île Jésus, where Algonquin families kept hunting camps into the 17th century. Neighbouring Montreal institutions recognize the region as unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory, and the 1701 Great Peace of Montreal shaped relations here.
Nearby: Montreal · Kanesatake · Kahnawake · Terrebonne · Boisbriand · Deux-Montagnes
Indigenous Laval today
In the 2021 census, 3,310 Laval residents identified as Indigenous, about 0.77% of the population. Two Kanien'kehá:ka communities lie within a short drive of the city. Kanesatake lies on the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains, west of Laval. Its registered population was 2,751 in 2022, with about 1,364 living on the territory. The community adopted elected governance in 1991, the year after the 78-day Oka Crisis. Kahnawake sits on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, facing Montreal. About 7,965 people lived there in 2022, governed by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. Its Karihwanoron Mohawk Immersion School teaches children in Kanien'kéha. The community's powwow is held each July on Kateri Tekakwitha Island. Urban Indigenous people from Laval can also turn to the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, founded in 1974. It serves members of Quebec's ten First Nations, plus Inuit and Métis people. Its programs include adult education, a day centre, street outreach and an Indigenous health clinic. In February 2024 it launched the Atónhnhets Cultural Services Program.
Life in Laval
Laval blends suburban neighbourhoods with rivers, parks and industry. The Centre de la nature and the Mille-Îles River Park offer green space inside the city limits. Historic churches from the 1850s still stand in the older parishes. The Cosmodôme science museum and space camp is one of the city's best-known attractions. The Musée Armand-Frappier honours the legacy of scientist Armand Frappier. Shoppers head to the Carrefour Laval shopping centre. Hockey has a home at Place Bell, where the Laval Rocket play in the American Hockey League. The team is affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens and moved to Laval in 2017. The economy leans on biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, including the Biotech City research park. Collège Montmorency, founded in 1969, enrols more than 8,800 full-time students in Chomedey.
Laval seasons and weather
Laval has a humid continental climate. January averages about −10 degrees, and July averages a little over 21 degrees. The city gets roughly 174 cm of snow and close to 1,000 mm of total precipitation a year. A hoodie and toque carry you through long winters, and a light tee suits humid summer days by the rivers.
More on the region: Indigenous Quebec · all of Canada.
Keep learning in the XUSI Journal
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit: What’s the Difference?
- How to Write a Land Acknowledgement That Means Something
- Orange Shirt Day & the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- National Indigenous Peoples Day and History Month: A Guide
- All Journal articles
Laval questions
Do you ship XUSI clothing to Laval?
Yes. Orders of $90 or more ship free to Laval and anywhere else in Canada. Orders under $90 show the shipping cost at checkout. Every order leaves our Saskatoon shop within 1 to 3 business days.
Can you print custom shirts for a Laval school or community group?
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design. Every order gets a full quote before anything is printed, and design help is included. We print in Saskatoon and ship the finished order to you in Laval.
Is Laval on treaty land?
No treaty was signed for Île Jésus. Algonquin families kept hunting camps here into the 1600s, and nearby Kanien'kehá:ka communities include Kanesatake and Kahnawake. Our own shop is on Treaty 6 land in Saskatoon, and our designs carry Cree words with stories on our meanings page.
What should I wear for a Laval winter?
Laval's January averages about −10 degrees, with around 174 cm of snow each year. We suggest the Black Oni long sleeve as a base with a heavyweight hoodie or Revitalize Culture crewneck on top. Add a winter coat and toque for waits on the platform or walks by the river.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Sources for this page
Indigenous clothing from XUSI
From the Mille-Îles River to the Montmorency metro, Laval residents can wear Indigenous-designed tees, hoodies and hats from XUSI, printed in our Saskatoon shop and shipped across the country to Île Jésus.
Laval has cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers, so we build around layers. A heavyweight hoodie handles a January walk from the Montmorency metro to class. For a Laval Rocket game at Place Bell, the Revitalize Culture crewneck keeps you warm in the stands. When summer returns, a heavyweight cotton tee suits paddling or strolling along the Mille-Îles River. The Golden Era ringer tee and an A-frame snapback work for weekends at the Centre de la nature. Our women's baby rib tee layers well under a light jacket through spring and fall.
