Mattawa, a town in northeastern Ontario, Canada, is situated on Algonquin Nation land at the confluence of the Mattawa and Ottawa Rivers in Nipissing District. The first Europeans to traverse this area were Étienne Brûlé and Samuel de Champlain in the early 17th century. For the next 200 years, Mattawa served as a crucial link in the water route leading from Montreal west to Lake Superior.
The Northwest Company established the Mattawa House in 1784, and in the 1820s and 1830s, the Hudson's Bay Company sent canoe brigades to the Mattawa River junction for fur trade. As the fur trade diminished and the population grew, the post transitioned into a general store, supplying lumbermen with merchandise. The 19th century saw Mattawa evolve into a hub for the logging industry, which continues to be a significant industry in the region today.
In 1963, Mattawa elected Canada's first-ever Black mayor, Firmin Monestime, who served until his death in 1977. Today, Mattawa is a vibrant community that blends rich history with modern amenities.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Mattawa had a population of 1,881 living in 857 of its 929 total private dwellings. This represented a change of -5.6% from its 2016 population of 1,993. With a land area of 3.67 km2 (1.42 sq mi), it had a population density of 512.5/km2 (1,327.5/sq mi) in 2021. Notably, 34% of Mattawanians are Francophone, adding to the cultural diversity of the town.
Mattawa is renowned for its large wooden statues depicting local historical figures, such as Champlain, Pierre-Esprit Radisson, Médard des Groseilliers, and others. The Mattawa District Museum features a 17 ft (5.2 m) statue of Big Joe Mufferaw, a regional folk hero. The town also provides access to numerous points for canoeing or boating on the Ottawa River.
Just west of the town is Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, on the Mattawa River. The park is also home to the Canadian Ecology Centre, an eco-friendly retreat centre. Algonquin Provincial Park can be accessed from the north side in Kiosk or the east side in Brent. The town and nearby area contain over 200 kilometres (120 mi) of year-round ATV and snowmobile trails, known as the Voyageur Multi Use Trail System (VMUTS).
Every summer since 1997, the Mattawa Voyageur Days Festival is held the last weekend (Thursday-Sunday) of July. The festival includes a regional talent night, car show, lumberjack competition, and canoe race. Live music is a significant part of the Festival, featuring notable Canadian musicians. The festival concludes with a traditional choreographed fireworks show on Sunday night.
Mattawa has been immortalized in several songs. Blue Rodeo released a song called "Mattawa" on their 2013 album In Our Nature. The town is also mentioned in the Stompin' Tom Connors song "Big Joe Mufferaw" and is the 16th location (of 90) mentioned in the North American version of Geoff Mack's country song I've Been Everywhere.
