The Cree Nation of Wemindji app is now available

The Cree Nation of Wemindji, ᐐᒥᓂᒌ (Wîminicî) in Cree, takes its name from the Cree words "wiimin uchii," meaning "ochre hills," after the red pigment found in the hills around the community. It has also been known in French as Nouveau-Comptoir. The community sits at the mouth of the Maquatua River on the east coast of James Bay, in Eeyou Istchee, and is one of the nine Cree communities under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement signed in 1975.

Families first lived at the Old Factory trading post (Paakumshumwashtikw). The Old Factory Band was established in 1951 on an island 45 km north of the present site. The community moved from the Old Factory River in 1958, and the official move took place in the summer of 1959.

Wemindji has always kept up, practised and valued its traditional way of life, and it continues to pass Cree oral traditions, ceremonies and history on to young people. Since the early 1980s the community has run its own housing, water and sewer, road maintenance and construction work. Local activity has included outfitting and adventure tourism and an arts and crafts shop.

A chief, a deputy chief and five councillors make up the council and are elected every four years. Reports on the 2025 elections name Chief Frank Atsynia and Deputy Chief Charlotte Ottereyes-Ratt. The Nation belongs to the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and the Cree Nation Government, and it is negotiating self-governance with the Government of Canada. Learn more at wemindji.ca.