From yesterday to today - The first explorers

Lying between northern and southern Quebec, the region became better known at the end of the 19th century, following exploration work by geologist Robert Bell. With only about one hundred Cree Indians living on this territory, the almost unspoiled nature covered every square foot between the 49th and the 50th parallels north. The area of Isle-Dieu township was explored as early as 1895 by Dr. Robert Bell. In 1912, the first mining exploration took place. People were looking for diamonds in the thousands of creeks, rivers and lakes comprised in the extensive wathershed of Allard, Bell and Waswanipi rivers which flow in an orderly arrangement into Matagami Lake and then run towards James Bay through Nottaway River. There was no discovery at that time; later in 1928, there has been a new attempt, but once again no traces of diamonds were found.

Although diamond prospection was not fruitful, it was nonetheless the probable cause of the foundation of Matagami forty years later. The information gathered by Dr. Bell and his team attracted prospectors to the Matagami area. The name of the geologist was given to the river which borders the town of Matagami today. On some old maps, Bell River is named "Noddaway " which means "River of the Iroquois", probably because of Iroquois war parties during the 17th century.

During the time of these mining exploration efforts, commercial fishing was also practiced. As soon as 1917, the Nottaway Fish Co. operated a fleet of some twenty boats. During the thirties, under its new name of Quebec Fisheries Ltd., the company owned up to 200 boats, barges and rowboats. These boats had good sea motors and could be as big as 45 feet (13.7 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) large ! The company even owned sawmills to produce the boards used in making containers to transport the fish. Unfortunately, quite a few people lost their lives on the waterways during those days. Today, we can still see the white crosses which indicate where the victims were burried.

The true driving force of economic and community development, the mines, actually gave birth to Matagami and insured its growth. In the mid-fifties, five mining companies merged their interests in order to do prospecting in the Matagami area. This merger proved successful. As early as 1960, two mines started operating: Mattagami Lake and Orchan mines, contributing to Matagami's foundation. Already, Noranda company held an important share of these mines operated in joint venture with three other companies. It is only in 1979 however, that Noranda Ltd. became the sole owner. The merge between Mattagami Lake Mines Ltd. and Orchan Mines Ltd., and its subsidiary Bell-Allard Mines Ltd., resulted in the existence of Noranda Mines Ltd. Matagami Division.

During the winter of 1959, a determining factor is added to Matagami's history: the road is built. This major event ended Matagami's isolation; until then the town could only be accessed by hydroplane. In March 1960, the Prime Minister of Quebec, Honorable Antonio Barrette announced the construction of an all-weather road and, at the same time the creation of the future town of Matagami. At the time, the Quebec Government's intention was to create a model mining town. The town planning prepared in 1961 for the Ministry of Natural Resources (whose minister was Honorable René Lévesque) was meant to adequately accommodate 5,000 inhabitants.

In 1962, Quebec's toponymy committee prompted the anger of Matagami's citizens by trying to name the new town by the name "Mazenod". The committee meant to honour Charles-Joseph Eugène de Mazenod, bishop of Marseilles and founder of the congregation of Oblates of Mary-Immaculate. The citizens protested loudly and the Ministry of Lands and Forests announced in 1962 that the name "Matagami" had been chosen definitively. In the Cree language, the word Matagami means "the confluence of waters". The natives used that name for Matagami Lake, at the meeting point of Bell, Allard, and Waswanipi rivers.

The first religious service was attended by the congregation of the United Church on April 17th, 1962. A unique feature of the parish of Sacré-Coeur of Matagami, is its ecumenical character, since three churches shared the same place of worship: the Catholic, Anglican and Unitarian Churches. At the beginning, the economy of Matagami was mostly centered on the mining industry, while the forestry sector made constant progress. Since the early 60's, the forest is being exploited in the Matagami area. Entreprises Ouellette were the first in this sector. In 1968, the company Bisson & Bisson obtained its first logging permit. Moved over from the Bell riverside near the bridge, to its present location in the industrial park following a major fire, the enterprise will go through the same ordeal twice again, in 1974 and 1986! These three fires did not stop Domtar Forest Products Inc. from buying-out Bisson & Bisson in 1988. Domtar is still present in Matagami.

In the spring of 1965, James Bay development work started. Soon, the mega-project came to be at the heart of the life of Matagamians. Located along the north-south axis, which was chosen for building the road to James Bay from the rest of Quebec, Matagami had a rapid economic expansion at the beginning of the 70's. Transport companies set up permanent offices in Matagami to distribute and transport the products and services necessary for the hydro-electric project. Matagami had to double its infrastructures in order to accommodate thousands of workers; it was a golden age for business. However, it did not last long. At the beginning of 1982, a government study finds that there is no sufficient demand for electricity to warrant the Phase 2 of the James Bay Project or "N.B.R. Project". Works are postponed indefinitely. This was a major downturn for business in Matagami.

Before Matagami