Matonabbee (Chipewyan guide)
Matonabbee was a prominent Chipewyan guide and leader, whose life was marked by significant interactions with European explorers and traders during the 18th century. After the death of his father, he was adopted and educated by Richard Norton, the governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. Matonabbee later reconnected with his roots by joining a Chipewyan hunting band in the northern territories of Canada. He gained prominence as a guide for Samuel Hearne, notably during expeditions that included the tragic Bloody Falls Massacre. Matonabbee's skills and leadership led him to become chief of his tribe and a respected ally of the Hudson's Bay Company. His role was crucial in the Coppermine expedition, where he aided stranded explorers. Despite his achievements, Matonabbee faced personal and community tragedies, including the devastating effects of smallpox, which ultimately led to his suicide in 1782. His legacy reflects the complexities of Indigenous experiences during a time of significant colonial influence.
Matonabbee (Chipewyan guide)
- Born: c. 1736
- Birthplace: Near Fort Prince of Wales, Hudson Bay, Canada (now in Manitoba, Canada)
- Died: August 1, 1782
- Place of death: Fort Prince of Wales, Hudson Bay, Canada (now in Manitoba, Canada)
Category: Guide
Tribal affiliation: Chipewyan
Significance: As a guide for the Hudson’s Bay Company, Matonabbee led the third Coppermine expedition in search of precious metals and the Northwest Passage
Following his father’s death, Matonabbee was adopted and educated by the Hudson’s Bay Company governor, Richard Norton. With Norton’s recall to England, Matonabbee joined relatives in a Chipewyan hunting band roaming regions of present-day northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and eastern Northwest Territories.
At age sixteen, Matonabbee returned to Fort Prince of Wales, where he hunted animals for the British and accompanied them during several trading trips. After serving as an interpreter and guide, he rose to the position of chief of his tribe and became a respected ally of the Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1770, Matonabbee found and aided the return of the stranded second Coppermine expedition under Samuel Hearne. Afterward, Hearne and Matonabbee made a third expedition, from 1771 to 1772, to search for metals and the Northwest Passage. During the expedition, Matonabbee led his men in a raid against a band of Inuit, their traditional enemies. After smallpox killed many of his people in 1782, Matonabbee committed suicide.