Indigenous Saguenay: Nitassinan, Nations and Community
An introduction to Saguenay: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
About Saguenay
Saguenay had 144,723 residents in the 2021 census, making it Quebec's eighth-largest city. Its metro area counted 161,567 people. The city was formed on February 18, 2002, by merging Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie, Laterrière and several smaller municipalities. It now has three boroughs: Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie. Saguenay spreads across more than 1,100 square kilometres of land along the Saguenay River. It sits in the Saguenay Graben, a low basin in the Canadian Shield with a milder climate than the land around it. The Innu have lived around the fjord for millennia. The name Saguenay may come from the Innu word Saki-nip, described as where water flows out. Aluminum, pulp and paper built the modern city, and the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi anchors its education sector.
Saguenay history
The Innu lived around the Saguenay Fjord for millennia before Europeans arrived. They call their homeland Nitassinan and speak Innu-aimun, part of the Cree–Montagnais–Naskapi language family. Families followed caribou, moose and other game, moving with the seasons. Historical records name Innu bands north of Chicoutimi and near Tadoussac, west of the lower Saguenay River. The name Chicoutimi is described as meaning the end of the deep water. The French set up a trading post at Chicoutimi in 1676. In 1845, Chicoutimi was incorporated as a municipality. Pulp and paper mills later drove strong industrial growth in the 20th century. Between 1925 and 1928, the world's largest aluminum plant was built at Arvida, then a separate town. In 1942, Alcan opened the Shipshaw hydroelectric station, the largest in the world at the time. Aluminum remains central, and Rio Tinto still runs a plant at Arvida. In 1996, the Saguenay flood caused about $1.5 billion in damage. In 2002, Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie and Laterrière merged into the new City of Saguenay. Innu treaty talks continue under an agreement-in-principle signed on March 31, 2004.
Treaty and territory
Saguenay lies within Nitassinan, the ancestral homeland of the Innu. No treaty has been concluded here, and the Pekuakamiulnuatsh, Essipit and Nutashkuan Innu are negotiating one under a 2004 agreement-in-principle with Canada and Quebec.
Nearby: Mashteuiatsh · Alma · Roberval · Saint-Fulgence · Saint-Honoré · Tadoussac
Indigenous Saguenay today
The Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation is the Innu nation of the region. Its community of Mashteuiatsh sits on a point on the western shore of Lac Saint-Jean, about 6 km north of Roberval. The reserve was set up in 1856, when the Innu asked to exchange other lands for this traditional gathering site. The community was long called Pointe-Bleue and adopted the name Mashteuiatsh in 1985. About 2,010 people lived there in 2021. The Nation is led by Chief Clifford Moar and belongs to the Mamuitun Tribal Council. The Musée amérindien de Mashteuiatsh opened in 1977 to preserve Innu cultural heritage. It sits in the same region as Saguenay, on the shore of Lac Saint-Jean. Through the Petapan group, Mashteuiatsh, Essipit and Nutashkuan are negotiating a treaty with Canada and Quebec. Their 2004 agreement-in-principle covers Nitassinan, where Innu harvesting continues, and Innu Assi, lands under direct Innu control. It also sets out self-government, Innu courts and a share of at least 3% of resource royalties. Each Nation will hold a referendum before any final treaty takes effect.
Life in Saguenay
The Saguenay Fjord defines the city. Its deep, cliff-lined waters draw visitors, and more than 50,000 cruise passengers came in 2017. La Baie is the port where many of them step ashore. Industry still shapes daily life. Aluminum production at Arvida and hydroelectric power from Shipshaw carry on a century of heavy industry. Pulp and paper were also key to the region's growth. Hockey fans follow the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, who have played in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League since 1973. Film lovers gather for the Saguenay International Short Film Festival. The Université du Québec à Chicoutimi enrols about 6,500 students and serves as the region's main university. The city sits in a sheltered basin of the Canadian Shield, where the fjord cuts deep into the rock.
Saguenay seasons and weather
Saguenay winters are severe, with temperatures dropping below −20 degrees on about 43 days a year. January highs average near −10 degrees, and that month alone brings over 60 cm of snow. Summers are pleasant, with July highs averaging about 24 degrees. A warm hoodie, toque and heavy layers are essentials here.
More on the region: Indigenous Quebec · all of Canada.
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- All Journal articles
Saguenay questions
Do you ship XUSI clothing to Saguenay?
Yes. Orders of $90 or more ship free to Saguenay 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 Saguenay team or 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 everything in Saskatoon and ship the finished order to you in Saguenay.
Is there a treaty covering Saguenay?
No treaty has been concluded yet. Saguenay is in Nitassinan, the Innu homeland, and three Innu Nations are negotiating under a 2004 agreement-in-principle. Our own shop sits on Treaty 6 land in Saskatoon, and our designs carry Cree words and stories you can read on our meanings page.
What should I wear through a Saguenay winter?
Saguenay drops below −20 degrees on about 43 days a year. We suggest the Black Oni long sleeve as a base, topped with a heavyweight hoodie or the Revitalize Culture crewneck. Add a good parka, mitts and a toque when you head outside for long.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
Indigenous clothing from XUSI
Along the deep waters of the Saguenay Fjord, people in Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie can wear Indigenous-designed tees, hoodies and hats from XUSI, shipped from our print shop in Saskatoon.
Saguenay winters are long and severe, so we plan around serious layers. The Black Oni long sleeve makes a good base under a heavyweight hoodie on frigid walks through Chicoutimi. For a Saguenéens game, our Revitalize Culture crewneck keeps you warm in the stands. When summer returns to the fjord, a heavyweight cotton tee suits hikes above the water or a stroll in La Baie. An A-frame snapback helps on bright summer days along the Saguenay River. The Golden Era ringer tee is an easy pick for film festival evenings.
