Chief and Council

Chief Alex (Sonny) Batisse

Chief Alex ‘Sonny’ Batisse has been involved with local leadership for many years.

He has previously served Council as Chief of the community for multiple terms and he has also served as First Nation Councillor. He has also held the title First Nation Band Manager for the community.

Councillor Lilianne Jobson

Councillor Liliane (Lulu) Jobson has been elected to her second term as First Nation Councillor for Matachewan First Nation.

“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.

Currently, the First Nation is working towards further developing its organization and in creating more policies and procedures to guide administrative staff.

“Developing our organization creates less confusion for all of us and it allows us to better communicate what needs to be done for our community,” said Councillor Jobson.

The daughter of Elder George Jobson, Councillor Jobson has three daughters Leahan Parrott, Jennifer Landry and Kayla Landry and a four year old grand daughter Charlie.

Councillor Elenore Hendrix

Councillor Hendrix has served Chief and Council for many years with multiple terms as Chief and Council member for over 20 years.

“It’s great to see the development happening in our community and to see a new group of younger leaders joining our Council. I’m looking forward to my new term on Council and to keep the best interests of our members both on and off reserve at the forefront,” said Councillor Hendrix.

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 Stan Fox

Councillor Stan Fox has been elected to his second term as First Nation Councillor for Matachewan First Nation.

“I want to thank the membership who voted me to my first time on council and I want to congratulate the other leaders who were elected. I look forward to working with everyone to build our community and bring our people together,” said Councillor Fox.

He is an Underground Miner with Kirkland Lake Gold at the Holt Mine. He is a career miner with over 30 years of experience in the mining industry. He gained his interest in the mining industry from his father Philip Fox and his grandfather Thomas Fox, one of the signatories of the Treaty 9 document in Matachewan First Nation in 1906.

Councillor Fox’s family includes his siblings Jenny, Philip, Chrissy, Trevor, Doreen and Tom. He lives with his wife Valerie in Kirkland Lake.

Councillor Barney Batise

Councillor and Elder Barney Batise has joined Matachewan First Nation leadership for another two year term. Councillor Batise is a former Chief of Matachewan FN and over the years, he has served his community in a variety of roles and responsibilities. Batise is a founding member of Wabun Tribal Council in 1990 representing Matachewan First Nation. He is a recognized Elder and political leader in the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN) organization and territory.

He is supportive of resource development that creates benefits for his community but with the balance of maintaining cultural practices and in protecting the environment.

“Our people’s participation in economic development is important but we also have to remember to preserve our cultural past. We have to look beyond and keep in mind future generations to come,” commented Councillor Batise in an interview in the past.

Councillor Batise and his wife Doreen spend as much time as possible with their children Shawn, Jason, Fabian and Sherry Wiestche, as well as their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Councillor Adrian Boucher

Councillor Adrian Boucher has been elected to his second term as First Nation Councillor for Matachewan First Nation.

“I am grateful to our community members for their support and encouragement. I want to see our community grow and build on all the good work our people have done. I hope to do my best to represent our people and I look forward to working with our leadership,” said Councillor Boucher.

Originally involved in the construction and building industry, Councillor Boucher helped to build many of the homes in Matachewan First Nation.

His brothers Real and Leonil were previous Councillors for the community and their mother Elder Marie Boucher is recognized for promoting and supporting Aboriginal culture and heritage. Councillor Adrian Boucher is married to Ann and they have two sons Brady and Michael and grandchildren Bailey, Pheonix, Landon and Halem.

Councillor Clara Hanson

“Thank You to all the Band Members who voted me in as a Councillor for my first term. I look forward to working with our newly elected Chief and Council for us as a Team to put forward positivity, honesty, good work ethics and too make great things happen for all our Band Members!”

Clara is very family oriented and loves to spend time with her daughter Emily.

Councillor Chelsea Daley

Councillor Chelsea Daley has been elected for her first term as First Nation Councillor for Matachewan First Nation

“I would like to give a big thank you to all who have supported and encouraged me during the election. I am looking forward to serving this term in a positive and respectful way. It is also a great honour to represent our community’s younger generation on council”

Councillor Chelsea works as an Indigenous Family Support Worker in Kirkland Lake. She enjoys spending her time on the community visiting family with her two young children Parker and Gemma.

Councillor Tommy Fox

Councillor Tom Fox joins Council for his first as a result of the recent election.

“I’m honoured and thankful to have been given this support by our community. I look forward to working with our leadership to build on economic opportunities so that we can make our community more self sufficient and independent. I would also like to see an expansion of our infrastructure to allow more of our members to bring their families to our First Nation and make their homes here,” said Councillor Fox.

He is an Underground Miner with KL Gold in Kirkland Lake. Councillor Fox was born and raised in Kirkland Lake but spent the majority of his early years with his family in Matachewan First Nation and their traditional home at Floating Bridge. His father is Phil Fox Sr and his mother is Claire Trudeau Fox. Councillor Fox enjoys spending time with his daughter Haydan and grandson Peyton.

Councillor Rachel Batisse

Councillor Rachel Batisse was elected to her first term on Council.

“I’m very thankful to our members for giving me their support and I look forward to working with our Council. I hope to see our community grow so that more of our members can build a home here. It’s also important that we reach out to and represent all our members who live both on and off reserve in everything we do,” said Councillor Batisse.

She has been involved in education for the past 15 years as a Teachers Aide and Secretary for the English Catholic Central School in Temiskaming Shores. She grew up in the town of Matachewan with her parents Robert and Theresa Batisse and they spent time on the reserve lands with their extended family. Councillor Batisse’s grandmother is Elder Gertie Nolan. She and her common law partner David MacGillivray have two sons Alex and Nathan.