The Atikamekw are the indigenous inhabitants of the area they refer to as Nitaskinan ("Our Land"), in the upper St. Maurice valley of Québec. Their population currently stands at around 4500. They have a tradition of agriculture as well as fishing, hunting and gathering. They have close traditional ties with the Innu people, who were their historical allies against the Inuit.

Atikamekw, a language of the Cree subgroup of Algonquian, is still in everyday use, but their land has largely been appropriated by logging companies and their ancient way of life is almost extinct. Their name, which literally means "Whitefish", is sometimes also spelt "Ahtikamekw", "Attikamekw", "Attikamek", "Attimewk" or "Atikamek". The French colonists referred to them as Têtes-de-Boules, meaning "Bowl-Heads".

External link

• Council of the Atikamekw Nation

Atikamekw | Atikamekw | アティカメク

First Nations in Quebec