Historically, the Wolastoqiyik occupied the valleys of the Wolastoq, also known as the Saint John River and its affluents, straddling the border that today separates New Brunswick, Quebec, and Maine. The traditional lifestyle of the Wolastoqiyik was semi-nomadic, centered on hunting, fishing, and trapping, and closely tied to the cycle of the seasons. Today, the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation is the only Wolastoqey Nation in Quebec. The First Nation is in Cacouna in the Lower St. Lawrence region, and Wolastokuk is its ancestral territory. 

‍

The ancestral language of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk (“people of the beautiful river”) is Wolastoqey Latuwewakon. It describes their way of life, traditions, and values. It honours the land and gives the people access to a precious heritage. The language is part of the Eastern Algonquian language family, which also includes the languages of the Mi’kmaq, Abenaki (in Quebec), and Passamaquoddy and Penobscot (in Maine).

Altough there are still speakers of the language in Maine and New Brunswick, Wolastoqiyik communities are working to preserve and promote their endangered language through various initiatives.