The original village, located on the island in Lake Waswanipi, was the site of a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post until 1965 when the post was closed and its residents dispersed. The present day Cree community of Waswanipi, located where Highway 113 crosses the Waswanipi River, came into being in the mid 1970s. Waswanipi is a word composed of two Cree words: wâswâ- (meaning to fish at night using a torch) and nipî (meaning water), and is usually translated as “light over the water” which refers to the traditional method of night-time fishing by luring fish to light using torches. The current population is about 1,400 people with 65% being under the age of 30. The current St. Barnabas Church building was constructed in 2001 and hosts regular Sunday services. The current rector of the parish serves the parish on a half time basis. He is also half time coordinator of the Mahmow Kiskinuhumahsohtaw Program, which is a Christian leadership training program for Cree parishes of the Diocese.