What INSTITUT TSHAKAPESH does

Institut Tshakapesh is a non-profit cultural and educational organization founded in 1978 (formerly known as ICEM) and headquartered in Sept-îles/Uashat, Quebec. It serves the 11 Innu communities of Quebec and Labrador, with a stated mission to promote and preserve Innu language, culture, and heritage. The institute operates as the recognized cultural arm of the Innu Nation, coordinating programs across education, language preservation, and community engagement.

Its core offerings include educational resources for schools and teachers, the Dictionnaire Innu-aimun, the GRANDIS magazine (17 editions to date), the Sous le Shaputuan publication, the Festival Innu Nikamu music gathering, the Colloque Tshakapesh academic conference, recurring Forums Innu-Aimun, and scholarship programs. In 2024-2025 it expanded its product line with the launch of Jeu Nitassinan, a board game teaching Innu language and culture, and entered a partnership with Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) in July 2025 to digitize Innu heritage materials. Distribution occurs through community programming, a boutique (Boutique Atautshuap), and digital channels.

The institute operates as a non-profit funded by government grants, donations, and sponsorships, with 11-50 employees. Products and programs are largely free or subsidized for community members, reflecting a mandate-driven rather than commercial revenue model. There is no disclosed pricing model or revenue figure; the organization functions as a community-serving institution rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.

Name

INSTITUT TSHAKAPESH

Legal name

Institut Tshakapesh

Website

https://tshakapesh.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Institut Tshakapesh is a non-profit cultural institute founded in 1978 that promotes Innu language, culture, and heritage across 11 Innu communities in Quebec and Labrador through publications, events, educational resources, and heritage digitization partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural and Language Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Services (611), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK), General Language Schools & Institutes (EDAMAFAA), Community Engagement & Social Integration Programs (Clubs, Events, Volunteering) (EDAIAKAE)

Keywords

• Indigenous cultural preservation
• Innu language education
• Cultural heritage services
• Indigenous community programs
• Language revitalization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sept-îles

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: The institute operates as a cultural organization serving the Innu Nation, likely funded through government grants and Indigenous funding programs. Operates the Atautshuap bookstore for merchandise sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Institut Tshakapesh is a non-profit cultural organization that promotes Innu language and culture through educational programs, cultural events, publications, and digital resources. It serves 11 Innu communities across Quebec and Labrador through language education, cultural programming, artist support services, and community engagement initiatives. The institute functions as the primary coordinating body for Innu cultural preservation and revitalization efforts.

Product overview

Institut Tshakapesh is a regional cultural organization serving the Innu Nation. It offers a diverse portfolio of products and services centered on Innu cultural preservation, language transmission, and education. The organization operates primarily through cultural programs (Sous le Shaputuan cultural exchange), language learning tools (Dictionnaire Innu-aimun), educational services for member schools, annual events (Festival Innu Nikamu, Colloque Tshakapesh, GRANDIS graduation celebration), cultural competitions (Dictée innue), financial support programs for artists, an artist directory, and the Boutique Atautshuap online retail store. The organization also publishes educational materials and maintains a documentation center with archives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boutique Atautshuap Online boutique selling Innu cultural products, crafts, and merchandise to community members and the general public.
• Dictionnaire Innu-aimun Innu-Aimun dictionary providing linguistic reference for the Innu language, used by community members, students, and educators.
• Sous le Shaputuan Cultural program delivering Innu cultural content and traditional knowledge to community members.
• Festival Innu Nikamu Annual music festival celebrating Innu music and culture, open to community members and the broader public.
• Colloque Tshakapesh Conference bringing together Innu community members, educators, and cultural practitioners to discuss Innu language and culture.
• Répertoire des artistes et artisans innus Online directory of Innu artists and artisans, providing visibility and promotion for Innu cultural creators.
• Programme d'aide financière aux artistes Financial aid program providing funding support to Innu artists and artisans for their creative work.
• Vitrine culturelle innue Digital cultural showcase platform promoting Innu cultural events and activities to community members and the public.
• Jeu Nitassinan Board game related to Innu territory and culture, used for educational and cultural engagement purposes.
• Services aux élèves, aux familles et aux écoles Educational support services for Innu students, families, and schools providing language and cultural resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17 consecutive editions of GRANDIS celebrating Innu secondary school graduates
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BAnQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2025Institut Tshakapesh and BAnQ signed a collaboration agreement for a major project involving the census, preservation, digitization, dissemination, and valorization of Innu heritage. This partnership enables the digitization and wider accessibility of Innu cultural archives and historical materials.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre: Inuvialuit-led organization in the Northwest Territories dedicated to the preservation, documentation, and revitalization of Inuvialuktun language and culture. Closely comparable mandate in Indigenous cultural and linguistic preservation with similar cultural-community programming.
• Avataq Cultural Institute: Inuit cultural institute based in Nunavik (Northern Quebec) focused on preserving and promoting Inuit language, heritage, and culture. Directly analogous mission, geographic region, and operational model to Institut Tshakapesh, just for the Inuit Nation rather than the Innu Nation.
• First Nations Education Council of Quebec (FNEC / CEPN): Quebec-based council providing educational services, pedagogical materials, and student support to First Nations communities in the province. Directly comparable in educational services delivery model to Innu schools and the educational arm of Institut Tshakapesh.

Others

• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ): Quebec government agency funding arts, literature, and cultural development including Indigenous creators. Comparable as a key funding ecosystem participant that Institut Tshakapesh interacts with to support Innu artists and artisans.

Broad incumbents

• Makivik Corporation: Quebec-based Inuit organization responsible for managing the JBNQA heritage funds and supporting Inuit cultural, social, and economic programs across Nunavik. Comparable as a broader Indigenous rights-and-cultural umbrella organization operating in Quebec.
• Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (APNQL): Political advocacy organization representing the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. Operates in the same geography as Institut Tshakapesh and engages on cultural, linguistic, and educational matters, though its mandate is broader (advocacy) rather than direct cultural programming.
• Musée de la civilisation: Quebec City-based government museum with permanent and traveling exhibits on Quebec heritage including significant First Nations and Indigenous collections. Broadly comparable as a Quebec cultural institution involved in heritage interpretation and education.

Regional players

• Centre d'amitié autochtone de Sept-Îles: Indigenous friendship centre located in the same city (Sept-Îles / Uashat) as Institut Tshakapesh's headquarters, providing urban Indigenous community services including cultural, social, and educational support. Comparable as a regional Indigenous service provider but with a different urban/community focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYYKEhvJzhyzV2bbZVkBXCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/institut.tshakapesh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-tshakapesh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INSTITUT TSHAKAPESH