Aguanish, Quebec

Aguanish is a municipality located on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in Minganie Regional County Municipality (RCM), Côte-Nord region, Quebec, Canada.

In addition to Aguanish itself, the municipality also includes the hamlet of L'Île-Michon, 3.5 km to the east.

Toponymy
The place is named after the Goynish or Aguanish River (ancien name Aguanus River), that flows through and drains into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence right at the village. This word of Innu origin came from aguanus, in turn from akwanich, from the roots akwan (shelter) and ich (small). It has undergone many different spellings, including: Goines (17th century); Guanis, Goinis (1744 map by Bellin); Goynish (1776 map by Carver); Agwanus, Aguanus or Agouanus (maps of the 19th century).

According to certains sources, Île-Michon was founded by Jean Michon, a craftsman who landed on the island opposite the village to build fishing boats.

History
In 1831, the Hudson's Bay Company opened the Nabisipi trading post (also spelled Nabaysepie, Nabaysippi, or Nabaysipieat) the mouth of the Nabisipi River (just west of the current town site). After a brief closure, it was reopened in 1832, and operated until circa 1860.

The first European inhabitants, fishermen from the Magdalen Islands, settled in the area circa 1849. They were joined in 1875 by people from Kégashka (today Kegaska) and from Nabisipi River. The place was incorporated as a municipality in 1957.

Economy
Economic activity primarily centers on crab and salmon fishing.

Transportation
Aguanish is 127 km from Havre-Saint-Pierre and 347 km from Sept-Îles on Route 138.

Until the arrival of The Whale Route (Route 138)  in 1996, the only regular means of access to the area was the boat service maintained during the navigation season by Clarke Steamship Company, Ltd.