This article is about the Innu First Nations reserve at the mouth of the Olomane River. For the Romaine River and the associated hydroelectric project, see Romaine River.
La Romaine is only accessible by boat or via the La Romaine Airport. It is serviced by a nursing station, community radio station, arena, community and recreation centre, municipal water and sewer system, fire station, and an aboriginal police force.[1]
The name La Romaine is the French adaptation of the word Ulaman. Before its spelling was standardized, the place has also been called in times past: Fort Romaine, Olomanshibu, Olomenachibou, Ulimine, Ouromane, Olomanoshibou, Olomano, Romaine, La Romaine, Grande-Romaine, Gethsémani-d'Olumen, Gethsémani, Uanaman Hipiht, Ulamen Shipit, and Ulaman Shipu. These names applied sometimes to the old post, sometimes the village or the reserve, or sometimes to the river that flows through the place. Except for Gethsémani, all these variations have the same source: Unaman Shipu, from unaman meaning "vermilion" or "red ochre", and shipu meaning "river". Deposits of this material are found on the banks of the Olomane River.[5]
History
Since time immemorial, the Innu indigenous people would leave their inland winter hunting grounds to gather at the mouth of the Olomane River during the summer. Circa 1710, the French set up a fishing and trading post there that was taken over by the Labrador Company in 1780, followed by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1822. Around 1850, French Canadians from elsewhere in Quebec began to settle the area, and gradually concentrating in La Romaine when several smaller outposts were abandoned. In 1886, the local post office opened.[5][6]
The trading post was closed in 1925. The Innu of the Basse-Côte-Nord (Lower North Shore) were one of the last nomadic indigenous groups in North America, and were known for their birch bark canoes and traditional travel by canoe or snowshoe. But contact with white settlers and the market economy led to the permanent settlement of the Innu.[6]
On March 11, 1955, the Government of Quebec sold 100 acres (40 ha) of land to the federal government and on May 31, 1956, the Romaine reserve was established. It was expanded in 2001 with lands bought in 1993.[7]
Demographics
Population
Canada census – La Romaine, Quebec community profile
Notes: 2021 census info not available. References: 2021[8] 2016[9] 2011[10] earlier[11][12]
Historical census populations – La Romaine
Year
Pop.
±%
1976
535
—
1981
583
+9.0%
1986
644
+10.5%
1991
758
+17.7%
1996
833
+9.9%
Year
Pop.
±%
2001
944
+13.3%
2006
926
−1.9%
2011
1,016
+9.7%
2016
977
−3.8%
2021 census info not available. Source: Statistics Canada[13]
As of May 2022, the band counted 1,243 members, of whom 1,165 persons are living in the community.[3] In the 2016 census, the number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents are 264 out of a total of 296. Mother tongues of the residents on the reserve are:[14]
English as first language: 0%
French as first language: 2.0%
English and French as first language: 0%
Other (Montagnais (Innu)) as first language: 97.4%
Economy
The local economy is based mostly on arts and handicrafts, trapping, outfitters and tourism. Other businesses on the reserve are primarily community businesses such as arts and handicrafts, and a convenience store.[1]
Education
There is only one school on the reserve, École Olamen, that provides pre-Kindergarten to Secondary grade 5, and had an enrolment of 292 students in 2008-2009.[1]
