forced to give up their nomadic way of life when the American army opened a military air base here. In 1941, the HBC post closed. After the World War II in 1948, the military base was transferred to the Canadian government. And in 1955, it began operating a Mid-Canada Line radar station. Though the radar station was not operational for long and closed in 1965, it established the village permanently. In 1961, when the Quebec Government decided to give French names to northern settlements, the name Great Whale River was replaced with Grande-Baleine which itself was replaced a year later with Poste-de-la-Baleine. On June 28, 1978, the Cree Village Municipality of Poste-de-la-Baleine was officially established. The Cree village was then officially renamed Whapmagoostui on May 8, 1996, from then on replacing all other toponyms. In 2013, seven young men from the community journeyed for "Nishiyuu", in support of Idle No More. Economy Whapmagoostui was founded around a Hudson's Bay Company post. The community later became the site of a military airport, now abandoned. Hunting is still an important part of the community. Government The police services are provided by the Eeyou Eenou Police Force. Demographics Population: Population in 2021: 1,022 (2016 to 2021 population change: +0.6%) Population in 2016: 1,016 (2011 to 2016 population change: +12.6%) Population in 2011: 874 (2006 to 2011 population change: +7.6%) Population in 2006: 812 (2001 to 2006 population change: +4.4%) Population in 2001: 778 (1996 to 2001 population change: +24.3%) Population in 1996: 626 (1991 to 1996 population change: +23.2%) Population in 1991: 508 Transportation The community is only accessible by air via the Kuujjuarapik Airport and, in late summer, by boat. Education The Cree School Board operates the Badabin Eeyou School (), which includes the Meeyow Bee Nooquow School. In 1982, the school was built, and in 1989, the first high school class graduated. References Further reading Adelson, Naomi. 'Being Alive Well': Health and the Politics of Cree Well-Being. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000. Lussier, Catherine, Carole Lévesque, and Ginette Lajoie. Northern Ecosystem Initiative A Preliminary Community Perspective on Environmental Priorities, Whapmagoostui and Chisasibi. Montréal: INRS Culture et société, 2000. External links Kuujjauraapik official site Cree villages in Quebec Hudson's Bay Company trading posts Populated places on Hudson Bay Eeyou Istchee (territory) Road-inaccessible communities of Quebec 1821 establishments in the British Empire