Waswanipi is a Cree community of about 1400 people. The original Waswanipi community was located on an island downriver from the current site. In 1965 the old community effectively closed down - I am told that this happened effectively because the site was not large enough to accommodate the growing population
. I understand that some elders continued to reside at the old community site after 1965, though they did so without the presence of a store, school, hydro or other conveniences. Some families moved immediately to the current community site, which is beside a highway that crosses the Waswanipi River. Most people moved to other communities in the region - Chapais, Chibougamau, Mattagami, Senneterre.Following the signing of the first James Bay agreement involving the Quebec Cree in the 1970s, funding was provided to develop the current Waswanipi town site. Hence band members who had been scattered in the various communities of the region came to live at the new community site.
One of the first of the residents who moved to the new town site in 1965 was the Rev John Gull, who was an Anglican priest. He served the Waswanipi parish and community until his death in 1987. For a number of years after moving from the old community site, he had no church buildng at the new site - though I understand he used a church building in Miquelon, which is about a half hour drive down the highway.
A small Anglican church building was eventually erected at the new community site. A few years ago the new church building pictured here was built.
The current Chief and Council of Waswanipi made a commitment to tithe their Band Support income to the 2 churches of the community(Anglican and Pentecostal). Consequently at the present time there are no financial shortfalls in the 2 churches' programs of ministry.
