James Bay Cree Gun Survey

Cree Trappers Association
(July 1998) TR1998-9e

Research Summary

This quantitative study was conducted to estimate the rate of firearm ownership and examine the characteristics of guns and firearms owners in nine East James Bay Cree communities.  The study randomly selected four of the nine areas: Chisasibi, Whapmagoostui, Ouje-Bougoumou, and Waswanipi.  It was found that the vast majority of Cree households contain one or more firearms (88%), with an average of 1.8 owners and 6.1 guns per household;  it is estimated that 12, 704 firearms are owned by approximately 3, 916 Crees (42% of the population).  The majority of gun owners are male and the most common type of firearms are rifles and shotguns;  furthermore, hunting is a universal reason for owning a firearm.  In addition, the study also examined the borrowing and transfer of firearms, safety practices, successful completion of the Firearms Safety Course and possession of valic FAC's.

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The original report is available in PDF (168 KB) for download.

The present study was funded by the Canada Firearms Centre, Department of Justice Canada. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Justice Canada.

The information may be reproduced, in whole or in part and by any means, without further permission of the Department of Justice Canada. No such reproduction shall indicate that the Department of Justice is in any way responsible for the accuracy or reliability of the reproduction, nor shall any such reproduction indicate that it was made with the endorsement of, or in affiliation with, the Department of Justice Canada.

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