Chief and Council

	Chief Alex ‘Sonny’ Batisse Chief Alex ‘Sonny’ Batisse has been involved with local leadership for many years. He has previously served the First Nation as as Chief of the community for multiple terms, as a Councillor and he was also Band Manager for the community. Chief Batisse was elected to his current term on March 15, 2025.
	Councillor Lilianne Jobson Councillor Lilianne (Lulu) Jobson has been part of First Nation leadership for many years and has held the title of Councillor for several terms. She holds the Housing Portfolio for Council. “I want to thank everyone that voted for me and to the community for their support. I look forward to working with our First Nation leadership and our administration in building a more productive and accountable organization for our people,” said Councillor Jobson. The daughter of the late Elder George Jobson, Councillor Lillian Jobson has three daughters Leahan Parrott, Kayla Landry and the late Jennifer Landry. She also has grandchildren Charlie and Weston.
	Councillor Elenore Hendrix Councillor Elenore Hendrix has served Chief and Council for many years with multiple terms as Chief and as Council member for over 20 years. She also held the position of Education Officer from 1994 to 2016. “Supporting the education of our youth and future generations has always been important to me. Our young people are our future, they are our future leaders so it is in our best interest to make sure they have everything they need to succeed,” said Councillor Hendrix. She and her spouse Claude Brisson have two daughters Jenna Hendrix-Miljours and Laurie St-Onge.
	Councillor Melanie Boucher Councillor Melanie Boucher was elected to her second term on March 15, 2025. She holds the Mining Portfolio and Community Liaison Portfolio for Council. “I’m truly honoured to have the support that our band membership has given me. I want to say congratulations to the other leaders who were elected. I look forward to working with our leadership to help grow our community,” said Councillor Boucher. She worked in the health care field before becoming a stay at home mother. She and her husband Jeff have two children Makenna and Gage. Councillor Boucher was raised on the reserve before moving away in her 20s to pursue her health care career. She has a family history of traditional teachers and political local leadership. Her late grandmother Elder Marie Boucher was a well known traditional knowledge holder of Matachewan First Nation and her father Real (Mousy) Boucher is also a Council member who has served the community for many years.
	Councillor Clara Hanson Aaniin & Miigwech for re-electing me as Councillor (Health Portfolio) for my third term. I look forward to working with the Chief and the newly elected Council. Our work ahead is considerable with prior tasks to complete and more to put forth. We can accomplish a great deal as a team for the betterment of Matachewan FN. I will continue to work diligently, attend meetings and share my reports. I will be honest, have an open mind, listen and answer to you to the best of my ability. Clara loves to spend time with her family and friends as well as her daughter Emily, whom she enjoys exploring restaurants, watching movies/sports and in taking trips together.
	Councillor Tommy Fox Councillor Tom Fox rejoined Council on March 15, 2025 for his third term. “I’m honoured and thankful to have been given this support by our community. I am committed to fostering a stronger, more transparent, and more engaged community. Our First Nation deserves a Chief and Council that is structured, accountable, and responsive to their needs. Together, we can build a stronger, more transparent, and more engaged First Nation. I am dedicated to ensuring that Chief and Council serves the people effectively and honourably,” said Councillor Fox. He is hopeful to see continued development of the community. “Our treaties need to be honoured and we should be engaging with governments in a nation to nation relationship. First Nations are sovereign nations and should be engaged as such,” said Councillor Fox He is an Underground Development Miner with Agnico Eagle. Councillor Fox was born and raised in Kirkland Lake but spent the majority of his early years with his family in Matachewan and their traditional home at Floating Bridge. His father is Phil Fox Sr and his mother is Claire Trudel Fox. Councillor Fox enjoys spending time with his daughter Haydan and grand children Peyton and Crew.
	Councillor Andrew (Andy) Buffalo Councillor Andrew (Andy) Buffalo was elected to his first term on Council on March 15, 2025. He holds the Economic Development Portfolio for Council. His traditional spirit name is Makwa (Black Bear) and he is part of the bear clan. “I want to serve my community by being fair, honest, transparent and in treating all members fairly, regardless if you live on or off reserve. I bring with me some knowledge of the mining and environmental aspects associated with the reclamation of our land. My vision is to see our community expand to offer more affordable housing, and employment opportunities,” said Councillor Buffalo. His great grandfather Jocko Buffalo, nephew to Granny Fox and great grandmother Edna Commando both settled on the northeastern shores of Fredrickhouse Lake, in Buffalo Bay, where his grandmother Alice Buffalo and her siblings were born and raised. Councillor Buffalo spends half his time in Matachewan FN and the other half in in Timmins. He is married to Debbie Proulx Buffalo and they have five children, eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and the dog Jax.
	Councillor Real Boucher Councillor Real Boucher has rejoined Matachewan FN Council. He holds the Community Liaison Portfolio for Council. He has served his community in this position for multiple terms in the past. A well known community leader, he at one point held the Community Wellness Portfolio. He brings much experience from the resource development sector. “There is a lot more happening for our community in terms of mining and other resource development projects. We need to be involved but we have to do so in a way that honours our treaty rights. It is also important that we hold on to our Native values and protect the land so that future generations can enjoy what we have always had,” said Councillor Boucher. He wants to see more community infrastructure developed including more fire services for the First Nation. Boucher explained that more local services are essential as the First Nation grows and expands. He is an underground miner who has worked in the mining industry for many years. He is married to Emilia Boucher and the couple have two daughters Melanie and Holly.
	Councillor Charlie Thomas Councillor Charlie Thomas was elected to his first term on Council on March 15, 2025. He holds the Forestry Portfolio for Council. His main message during his election was to see the community work towards building more housing for families and to provide more transparency, openness and communication to its members. “I want to thank everyone that supported me and who voted for me to be on council. I am looking forward to working with everyone and in working towards building our community,” said Councillor Thomas. His mother is Florence Louise Dafoe and father is John Paul Thomas. He was born and raised in Matachewan along with his siblings Ellen, Arthur, Homer, Jerry and Rose and the late Peter, Richard and Robert. Councillor Thomas, who is now retired, worked in the wood products industry for 30 years and at a plywood manufacturing plant for 15 years. He spends part of his time in Matachewan and the other in Atikokan, Ontario where he has lived and worked for many years.
	Councillor Mary Batisse Councillor Mary (Batisse) Presseault was elected to her first term on Council. She holds the Social Services Portfolio and Education Portfolio for Council. She is happy to take on her new role and she is thankful to everyone who voted for her and has supported her journey to First Nation leadership. She is a well known in the community as she worked for many years at the First Nation office as Receptionist and Administrative Assistant. She hopes to see the development of projects and programs to assist members in social and health issues and in addictions treatment and supports with an emphasis on Indigenous perspectives. “I am grateful to be representing my community in this role. I would like to see more help and supports being developed for our adult members of the community, especially in the areas of addictions and healthy living. We have many programs for our youth and our Elders but we also need to strengthen supports for those people in the middle to build an overall stronger community for everyone of all ages,” said Councillor Presseault. She is married to Dean Presseault and they have three children Ryan, Brandon and DJ and grandchildren Maxwell, Jackson and Hunter as well as the late baby Keaton.