Canada’s smallest reserve — less than one hectare of land at Cacouna, Quebec — is home to the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, a community embracing its heritage and building for the future.
Although most of the 2,200 members live across Quebec and New Brunswick, they return each year for the annual powwow at Cacouna 22, a gathering that strengthens cultural identity.
For 17-year-old Charlie Lavoie, dancing is her way of reconnecting with her culture. Earlier this year, she won the international powwow competition in Wendake, but says the prize means less than dancing for her people: “I dance for the children who passed away. I dance for my family.”
The pride of younger generations mirrors community-led projects now taking root. A beluga observatory, launched in 2024, attracted over 23,000 visitors in its first summer. A new restaurant, Maqahamok pub, highlights seafood harvested from the Saint-Lawrence River and celebrates traditional Wolastoqiyik cuisine.
Chef Maxime Lizotte, who discovered his Wolastoqey heritage as a child, incorporates foraged herbs, mushrooms, and freshly caught seafood into the menu. He sees it as a way of honoring ancestors while showcasing culture to visitors.
Meanwhile, language revitalization efforts continue, with elders like Allan Tremblay of Tobique First Nation working to preserve Wolastoqey Latuwewakon through dictionaries and family teachings.
For councillor Kevin Morais, the projects mark a generational shift from silence about Indigenous heritage to visible pride: “It’s a window into our nation.”
As the community celebrates culture through dance, cuisine, and language, the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk are proving that even the smallest reserve can carry big dreams for the future.
