How about we step back in time at Domaine des Sept Îles? This place isn’t just a location. It’s a story etched in the land itself.
Domaine des Sept Îles echoes with tales of indigenous gatherings. It whispers stories of fur traders and resource exploitation. The Domaine des Sept Îles represents more than just a geographical location. It embodies a rich history intrinsically linked to the natural resources of its territory.
Initially, the land served as the cradle of the Innu people. It later welcomed trappers and fishermen. Eventually, it became a hub for forestry and mining operations. The Innu, deeply connected to nature, held a spiritual reverence for the land. They possessed an intricate knowledge of plants. They lived primarily by hunting, fishing and gathering berries. Families would gather here during the summer. They celebrated with festivities and religious practices. They traded furs and prepared for their return inland for the autumn.
The Domaine des Sept Îles became known as Uashat. Uashat means “Great Bay”. It served as a crucial meeting point. Today, the Innu people maintain a strong presence. Over 3000 members reside in two villages. Uashat is adjacent to Sept-Îles. Mani-Utenam lies 14 km east of the municipality.
Around 1625, Cardinal Richelieu recognized the commercial potential of the area. Fur became the primary commodity. The Innu’s traditional hunting practices transformed. Their way of life underwent significant changes. By 1650, trading posts dotted the landscape along the Saint Lawrence. Indigenous people exchanged their furs for European goods. French ships arrived laden with supplies and departed full of valuable furs.
Colonial authorities established the Domaine du Roy. It was a vast area reserved for the exclusive fur trade. Settlement was restricted. Only authorized traders could interact with the native population. François Bissot was the first Frenchman to settle here in 1661. He became a concessionaire in 1668. His fief included Île aux Œufs, Sept-Îles and the mainland of Mingan. Despite resistance, Bissot’s descendants continued to develop the post. They expanded its activities.
The flourishing fur trade attracted the English. They fiercely contested control with the French. Between 1692 and 1761, the trading post was attacked, demolished and rebuilt twice. The English ultimately prevailed in 1760.
An inventory in 1786 provides a glimpse into the Domaine de Sept-Îles. It included a dwelling, a store for dry goods and a food warehouse. There was also a cooper’s shop, a stable, a bakery with an oven, a canoe shed and a wharf.
A real community developed over time. The first school opened in 1878. The first church for white settlers followed 20 years later. New companies exploited the magnetic sand of the Moisie River. They also traded in furs, marine grass and cod. Whale oil was also highly sought after at the time.
In 1905, a Norwegian company built a whale oil factory in Pointe-Noire. It was located on the peninsula bordering Sept-Îles Bay. Small steamships with harpoons roamed the river from July to October. They brought back about 75 whales per season. The whale blubber was melted for food and lighting. The meat and bones were processed into fertilizer. Whalebone was used to make corsets.
Steam Whaling produced over 900000 liters of oil per year. The company employed 60 people plus 20 seasonal Norwegian fishermen. It was mistakenly believed that the owners had shipwrecked at the end of the 1913 season. They simply never returned. The factory closed the following year.
Today, Domaine des Sept Îles stands as a testament to the past. It is a vibrant blend of cultures and industries. It connects the stories of the Innu, the fur traders and the resource pioneers. It beckons us to remember. It urges us to appreciate the ever-changing landscape.