Entre nature et culture : la nécessaire reconnaissance des territoires de très faible densité au Québec et au Canada
Between nature and culture: the necessary recognition of very low density territories in Quebec and Canada

Summary/Abstract: Quebec, as well as all of Canada, even Alaska or Russia, contain vast uninhabited northern spaces. This assertion, which makes sense to the majority of Quebecers and their English-speaking neighbours, is nevertheless fraught with questionable assumptions from Western culture. In reality, these territories have either been occupied, travelled through or named by Aboriginal people for centuries. These relatively light forms of appropriation, at least in terms of ecological footprint, call into question the concept of “ecumene”, in particular because of its binary dimension. In this context, this article aims to discuss the foundations of the concept of “ecumene” and, by extension, “wilderness”. It seems obvious that the term “ecumene” is used in a simplistic way and that it should be adapted to describe the various possible ways of inhabiting the world, particularly in a northern environment. In the end, we advocate the necessary recognition of territories of very low density, such as northern spaces, in order to maintain harmonious relations with the natives.

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