Wôlinak is a Indian Réserve Abénaquis E Canadian of the Quebec located in the regional Municipalité of county Bécancour in the administrative area of the Center-of-Quebec. Wôlinak means " the river with long the détours" in Abénaqui. It is the Nation Waban-Aki Indian.

The community of Wôlinak is located in edge of the Bécancour river, between Invaluable-Blood and Bécancour.

History

About 1600, some families of Abénakis and Sokokis went to be established on the river Puante (name given after the battle which opposed the English to the French) which later, carried the name of Mr. de Bécancour, Baron of Portneuf, which had been also established there.

Of more than 600 qu' they were at the beginning, their number decreased following the wars, with the epidemics, the usurpation of their grounds to the profit of the French colonists as to the Jesuits who are reflected part under pretext of move away them from the trade from brandy. In 1812, profiting that a certain number of Abénakis fight for the defense of the Canada, one hastens to take part of their nonoccupied grounds. On their return, shocked justifiably this usurpation, they took the weapons to defend at least their last goods.

Majority of the " sauvages" who established with Bécancour, were come from Namesokântsik (place where there are many fish), now known under the name of Mégantic. While arriving at Bécancourt, the savages fixed themselves on an island, known today under the name of Montesson island. They are the best partisans of the country and are always laid out to make races in the New England, where their only name often threw terror until in Baston (Boston). They all are Christian and a pretty vault was built to them, where they practice with much construction all the exercises of Christianity.

Wôlinak was founded in 1704 following the invitation made by the intendant Beauharnois with a band abénaquise living with the Maine. The grounds was conceded to them in 1708. They lost the Montesson island, with the successor of the lord of Bécancour, Mister de Montesson. This one maltreated them, showed them to be itself seized a ground which did not belong to them, and island drove out them which they had occupied for more than thirty years. The savages, forced to give up their first village, went to fix themselves on an small island of the river Bécancour, a few arpents higher than the current church. They there remained only some time, and were then withdrawn on another island, located with respect to the property which they occupy today. Lastly, forced by the diseases and the floods to dislodge third once, they were withdrawn, about 1735, on the ground which they currently occupy, They built one second church out of wooden there, of 60 ' length on 30 ' broad. The Father Eustace Lesueur ensured the ministry of it. As there was no yet church with Bécancourt, the Canadian came to the church from the Abénakis. After the construction of the church of Bécancourt, in December 1757, the church of the Sauvages burned, during one night extremely obscure. The cause of this disaster is remained unknown. The cross of the bell-tower, saved fire, was preserved so far. It is currently set up in the middle of the wild village. As for the bell, it is found at the Parliament of the Quebec, in Quebec.

In 1812, they still lost ground which one seized wrongfully, while they fought at the borders for the defense of their adoptive country. When they returned from this famous countryside, where they had fought so courageously, their field, divided by batches, was had by white; and one had not even held a ground corner for them to withdraw itself. Irritated of a similar injustice, they were thrown with fury on the houses, built in their village, destroyed them and defended, the weapons with the hand, this piece of ground. In this manner, they could preserve two small islands of the Bécancour river and approximately sixty arpents of ground. Here all that they could preserve of their field.

1 Drawn from the " My parish - Bécancour" , by Marcel Deshaies, C.S.V.

2 Drawn from " History of Abénakis since 1605 until our jours" , by abbot J.A. Maurault.

Municipalities bordering

Sources

• Repertory of the municipalities of Quebec
• Commission of toponymy of Quebec
• municipal Businesses and areas - regional charts

External bonds

• official Internet site of the Large Council of the nation Waban-Aki
• the Council in education of the first nations