Cree Fish Names from Eastern James Bay, Quebec

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Authors: Berkes, Fikret, Mackenzie, Marguerite
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1978
• Subjects: Animal taxonomy; Cree languages; Fishes; Traditional knowledge; Mercury; Subsistence; Toxicity; James Bay region; Québec; Baleine; Eastmain; Fort George; la Baleine; Poste-de-la-Baleine; Rupert; Wemindji; Arctic; James Bay
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65727

This paper provides a synthesis of Cree fish names as used in the eastern James Bay area communities of Mistassini, Waswanipi, Nemaska, Rupert House, Eastmain, Wemindji (Paint Hills or Nouveau Comptoir), Fort George and Great Whale (Poste-de-la-Baleine). . A systematic study is important in part because some fish species of the area have elevated levels of mercury . It is therefore important to identify the species correctly, and to check whether Cree fish names actually refer to species as recognized by western science.