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Welcome to Chisasibi
Back in Chisasibi for a fourth visit. Part of Eeyou Istchee, the community sits near the mouth of the La Grande Rivière, where the river meets the vast waters of James Bay.
53° 47′ N
Chisasibi is roughly 1,400 km and 18–20 hours by road from Montreal, with an overnight stop in Amos. Chisasibi is the northernmost Cree community in Quebec accessible year-round by road.
Beach walk
An evening walk along the beach on the edge of Chisasibi.
Evening on James Bay
Beyond the shore, James Bay stretches towards the horizon.
Canoes by the Bay
August Evening
A car makes its way along the shore in the August evening, perhaps heading to camp or simply out to enjoy the view.
House on the Waterfront
We were here in February, when snow and ice piled high along the shore and against the house itself. Returning in summer, the same waterfront feels completely transformed.
Bunchberries
Bright red bunchberries (Cornus canadensis) appear across the boreal forest floor in late summer. The berries are edible, although mild and somewhat chalky.
PetroNor
The PetroNor station feels like a small time capsule, with weathered pumps still in everyday use. An important stop to fill the tank before the drive toward Radisson.
LG-2 / Robert-Bourassa
The James Bay hydroelectric development became part of the negotiations that led to the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, a landmark agreement between the Cree and Inuit and the governments and other parties involved.
Roadside Raspberries
Picking wild raspberries along a quiet trail past the dam.
Behind the Gates of LG-2
The Robert-Bourassa development is still widely known by its original name, LG-2. The main dam rises 162 metres and stretches 2.8 kilometres. Hidden 137 metres underground is a 5,616-MW generating station, the most powerful in Hydro-Québec's system.
D-7
Walking along the trails near the dam, signs like D-7 mark pieces of the enormous network of dikes and infrastructure surrounding the Robert-Bourassa development.
Into the Boreal
Hiking up the hill near LG-2, an old wooden staircase disappears into the vegetation. Berry bushes, lichen and low northern shrubs grow everywhere among the exposed rock.
Water's Edge
Back along the shoreline in Chisasibi.
Shoreline
Sandy Beach
Fireweed & Dandelions
Fireweed is a familiar sight across the North, and are one of the first plants to bring colour back after a wildfire.
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