A Message from Matawa First
Nations CEO
I want to extend New Year’s
greetings to all of the Matawa
First Nations membership. As we
start a new year there remains
much reason for the Matawa
people to remain optimistic.
I call 2011 a year of preparation,
as there is much work to do in
terms of ensuring the Matawa
people are prepared for what is
to come. As things continue to
heat up in the area known as the
Ring of Fire, opportunities are
endless for our communities and
we must act on pursuing them.
The new Matawa First Nations
organization Kiikenomaga
Kikenjigewen will take the lead
in the challenge of preparing
our membership, working with
our people including the youth,
to make sure that we have
the education and training to
participate in this development.
Meantime while the Matawa
Chiefs, the Matawa Technical
Committee and new Matawa
staff such as the Ring of Fire
Coordinator, will work with
Industry and Government on
agreements for our communities
that include benefts such as
revenue sharing, employment,
and protecting the land that we
call home.
In the year ahead, Matawa also
needs to place focus on the
creation of additional entities
and partnerships in regards to
the possibility of railroad, hydro
and all weather roads, coming
into our territory that will
forever change our way of life
on the land.
Throughout 2011, I have also
made it one of my number
one priorities to ensure
Matawa membership is more
informed about what is going
on in the Matawa First Nations
territory, especially in terms of
development and mining.
o as we head into the second
month of 2011- I say to our
people- the days of our First
Nations missing out on economic
development opportunities are
over. Our people will no longer
accept living in poverty while
other Canadians grow wealthy
from our lands.
Matawa First Nations was
formed as a tribal council in
1988 and 2011 is a year our
communities will focus on
returning to our original roots
and uniting as one so we can
prosper together.
Gichi Miigwech,
David Paul Achneepineskum
Chief Executive Offce
