 The Jesuit Relations reported on the presence of "Excomminquois" in the region since 1611.It presented them however as an enemy nation of the French and distinguished them from the Montagnais of the region who were recognized as friends.It is assumed that they likely were Mi'kmaq tribes that from the middle of the 16th century onwards sporadically left their territory around Chaleur Bay and visited the North Shore of the Saint Lawrence Gulf.