Tour of the Community
Our Location
 Lake
Opemiska is usually a tranquil blue, a dark and translucent
shade of northern twilight. The sky is clear and pale. While
the sun is warm in summer, a cool wind blows from the southwest.
Vegetation flourishes wild. There is a fresh scent of spruce
and blueberry bushes in the air. Labrador tea , an Indian medicine,
grows in abundance on the banks of the river. Located in the
James Bay Territory between the 49th and 50th parallels, 45
minutes from Chibougamau, and about a 25-minute drive from the
nearest airport, this Cree village of about 650 people is an
extraordinary place, well worth the journey. It offers delicious
food, cultural and wilderness experiences, as well as design
and technical wonders in a natural and human environment of
breathtaking beauty. And the integrity of cultural authenticity
is maintained as cultural revival moves hand in hand with economic
development.
There is a striking harmony between the buildings, lake, vegetation,
clean air, and panoramic view of the big sky. Street signs are
in Cree syllabics, English and French. There is a different
graphic sign, rich with native symbolism above the door of each
main building. Native designs give individual character to the
residences, and the playground apparatus have the shapes of
beaver, moose, and geese.
 The
village design is circular, with the shaptuwan (traditional
meeting place for feasts) central and at the top of the hill.
The inner two rings are lined with community buildings, reflecting
the culture of sharing.
Our Buildings
If the people of Oujé-Bougoumou feel empowered by their
new home, it is because they played an intimate part in its
inception, creation, and construction, and because the village
is a living reflection of their culture and lifestyle. Canadian
Geographic (July/August 1994) labelled the new community "an
achievement never before seen in Canada - a native settlement
with architectural coherence and integrity".
Our community is a tangible expression of our pride in our
culture, and our pride in the Cree Nation. This is a place that
makes us feel truly at home. The beauty of our community inspires
us, it affirms our own culture and encourages us in our endeavour
to improve the conditions of our communities and to struggle
for the interests of the Cree Nation as a whole.
Building Locations
Quicktime VR Images
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