Lake Waswanipi is a lake in south western Quebec, Canada. The name is of Cree origin. Waswanipi is compound word composed of wâswâ- (to fish at night using a torch) and nipî (water), and is usually translated as "light over the water" referring to the traditional night-time fishing method of luring fish to light by using torches. An island in the lake was historically the location of a Cree summer village, also known by the name of Waswanipi.