About the Mattagami First Nation Community

Mattagami First Nation is a small Oji-Cree community 80kms South of Timmins, Ontario via highway 144.  Mattagami consist of about 450 band members with approximately 150 living in the community.

The community is built on the Northwest side of Mattagami Lake. Mattagami, in Ojibway means “The meeting of waters." In the early 1900's these waterways were the canoe routes for fur trappers and traders.  Mattagami Lake is surrounded by tourist camps and cottages because the lake offers an excellent choice of game and fish. The community is very receptive to visitors, and we've received them from all over the world. Prior to contact with the European's, the Oji-Cree lead a nomadic existence relying on hunting, fishing and trapping.

In the 1920's as a result of hydro-electric operation, Mattagami First Nation was flooded. In 1952, an additional 200 acres of land were added to Mattagami reservation for the purpose of constructing a new town site. Mattagami is located right on the snowmobile trail system between Sudbury and Timmins.