Before 1600

It is believed that the Laurentians are the ancestors of the Algonquins. The communities changed progressively, they dispersed or joined other groups in the South. About the year 1000, the occupation of this territory became more restricted. The climate modified and the North Americans became accustomed to a mini ice age. The population lived more in the South but travelled to the North Territories to hunt.

About 100 years later, the groups gather together again and begin to settle again in the North, they became the Algonquin Nations. The first Europeans who visited the St-Laurent Valley and the Ottawa Valley met them.

During his travel in America in 1534, Jacques Cartier met the Iroquois who lived in the St-Laurent Valley.  The second European groups lived there at the beginning of the year 1600, and met with the Montagnais, Hurons and Algonquins. It seems that during the 16 century, this second European group became more numerous and pushed the Iroquois southward towards the Great Lakes.

At the end of the 16-century,

the Hurons (Wendat) occupied the Ottawa territory. They set-up many villages. They cultivated the land, fished and traded. A group of about 50 people lived near the St-Patrice Lake, North West of Fort-Coulonge.

The Algonquins, those from the Allumettes Islands and the Petite-Nation, nomad people, are also living in the Valley and in the Northern territory. They hunted and trap.

The Iroquois lived in the South of the Valley. They base their social and political structure on Mother Earth. They cultivate, corn, pumpkin and tobacco. They were warriors well trained to defend their interests.

The Outaouais or Hair-Dressed, lived in the North region of the Huron Lake, near the Népissing Lake. The river is now called by this name because it leads to the Great Lakes.

Maurice Thibaudeau, 2000