Mattagami First Nation

Mattagami First Nation is home to the Ojibway and Oji-Cree tribes who have long occupied the Mattagami River shores and the Mattagami Lake areas as far as the Moose River head waters of the James Bay coast. A signatory to Treaty #9, Mattagami was relocated in 1921 after the original community flooded from hydro development. Translated, the Ojibway word ‘Mattagami’ means ‘Meeting Of The Waters’.

Nearly 180 members out of 580 reside today in the community, which is an 80-kilometre drive southeast of Timmins, or 20 kilometres northwest of Gogama, Ontario. The efforts of community members and students of the Mattagami school are helping to restock the community’s lake with prized fish. Since it began, the Band’s walleye fish hatchery has introduced about 7 million walleye fry into the lake system.

Pride in homeownership is evident in Mattagami First Nation with 45 privately owned homes built. Members have the opportunity to own their own homes once a housing loan is paid in full through a Certificate of Possession issued by the Nation. There is a dedicated housing department in place to manage the community’s housing portfolio of 69 units, including rentals and teacherages. Working in partnership with the Fund, Mattagami’s goal is to strengthen housing and administrative capacity, and provide more market-based homeownership options for members, benefitting generations to come.

In 1962, Mattagami First Nation made history by electing an all-women Chief and Council. Mattagami is represented at the regional level by Wabun Tribal Council and Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN).

“The vision of Mattagami First Nation as a healthy, vibrant community is very much in line with the goals of the Fund. This new partnership enables our Nation to continue growing our governing capacity as a self-sufficient community, and develop the tools needed to assist more of our members in achieving their individual potential as homeowners in our community.”
— Chief Chad Boissoneau (July 2017)

Media and website contact information:

Juanita Luke, Executive Director
Mattagami First Nation
75 Helen Street, P.O. Box 99
Gogama ON
P0M 1W0
Phone: 705-894-2072
Fax: 705-894-2887
Email: juanitaluke@mattagami.com
Website: http://mattagami.com