Stargazing at Chisasibi’s new Waastooskuun Inn

After four years of planning, the Chisasibi Business and Development Group Inc. (CBDG) and the community of Chisasibi proudly unveiled a brand new hotel August 1 to serve the people of the Cree Nation and visitors to the James Bay.

Located at 1 Aschishtuu Road about 20 minutes outside the centre of town, the three-story Waastooskuun Inn offers high-end hospitality with all of the amenities you might expect at a big city hotel, plus the benefits of life in the Grand Nord. Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, complimentary coffee, a fitness room and a shuttle service are all included in your stay, along with easy access to nature and outdoor activities. There’s even a sky deck for stargazing and taking in the hotel’s namesake, the northern lights.

Even more impressive is the short time in which the construction of the hotel was completed.

“Projects around here usually take quite a lot of time to develop,” said Waastooskuun manager Ida Rednose. “To see the hotel come alive this quickly was just amazing – it was built within eight months! Having this size of a project realized within a year I think is a new record for Chisasibi.”

While the idea to build a hotel originated with Chisasibi Chief Davey Bobbish about four years ago, Rednose said, it was the CBDG, specifically president Jimmy Fireman, who got the ball rolling.

The grand opening was memorable. “We had a sunrise ceremony and a smudging ceremony right after,” Rednose said. Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come, Bobbish and Fireman gave opening speeches. They then cut a banner, unveiled a plaque and shared a huge cake prepared by local resident Donna House.

Waastooskuun opened just in time for this year’s Cree Nation AGA. Rednose noted that the response from their first visitors was overwhelmingly positive.

“[The week we opened] there were young people who came in and said, ‘We just came from the south and it feels like we’re still in the south!’” she said. “They said the hotel was just like hotels they would expect to stay at in Montreal.”

The building consists of 24 single queen rooms, 12 double queens, three single queens with kitchenettes, one king suite, and four adapted rooms. The hotel employees pay attention to detail and aim to please.    

“Having a dress code in the building is something new for us in Chisasibi,” said Rednose. “But we look very professional. We’ve received a lot of praise, especially the housekeeping. We get a lot of good comments from the guests. They appreciate what we do.

“I feel proud. It’s so nice to see,” Rednose concluded. “It’s really beautiful.”

Check out the Waastooskuun Inn on Facebook or online at www.waastooskuun.com and call toll-free at 1-844-855-3335 for reservations.