Eastmain


Eastmain is a Cree community located on east coast of James Bay at the mouth of the Eastmain River, Quebec, Canada. It is a small coastal Cree village with a population of 866 people in the 2016 Canadian Census up from 767 people at the 2011 Canadian Census. Its alternate Cree name is ᐙᐸᓅᑖᐤ/Wâpanûtâw, meaning Lands east of James Bay.
Like the other coastal villages on Hudson and James Bay, Eastmain was settled around a Hudson's Bay Company trading post, which was originally called East Main House. Some Cree settled there for ease in trading.
Eastmain is accessible by air and by car over a gravel road linking it to the James Bay Road.
The Eastmain community was greatly affected by the James Bay Project, which in 1980 diverted 90% of the Eastmain River to the La Grande River.

Education

The Cree School Board operates the Wabannutao Eeyou School.