Jessica Matten facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jessica Matten
Matten in 2024
Born	(1985-11-02) November 2, 1985 (age 39) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Alma mater	University of Alberta (BS Human Ecology)
Occupation	Actress producer
Years active	2010–present

Jessica Matten is a talented actress and producer from Canada. She is known for her roles in TV shows like Dark Winds and Tribal.

Early Life and Learning

Jessica Matten was born in Edmonton, Alberta, a city in Canada. Her family background is very interesting! Through her mother, she is from the Red River Métis and Cree peoples. Her father's family is British and Chinese.

When she was only six years old, Jessica started helping her mother. Her mom ran a modeling agency for First Nations people across Canada. Jessica also worked for her father in marketing for several years. After these experiences, she decided to become an actor.

Jessica is also well-educated. She went to the University of Alberta. There, she earned a science degree in human ecology. This field studies how humans interact with their natural, social, and built environments.

Her Acting Career

Jessica Matten has appeared in many TV shows and movies. She has been in five international and Indigenous TV series over eight years.

Some of her well-known roles include:

• The Netflix series Frontier, where she acted alongside Jason Momoa.
• The CW Network and CBC drama Burden of Truth.

In 2020, Jessica started starring in Tribal on the APTN Network. In this show, she plays the new chief of an Indigenous police force in Alberta, Canada. She also helped produce the series.

Jessica also starred in a short film called A Red Girl’s Reasoning. This film won an award at the imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival. In 2020, she appeared in the horror movie The Empty Man for Disney/20th Century Fox studios.

Since 2022, Jessica has been a co-star in the TV crime drama series Dark Winds. She plays Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito. This character is the only female police officer on the Navajo reservation.

In 2024, Jessica starred in the movie Rez Ball. This film is about a Native American high school basketball team from New Mexico. They are trying to win the state championship.

Other Activities

Jessica Matten is involved in more than just acting. She is a co-founder of The Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy (CCIFA). This academy is a special place for learning about creative work. It helps new and hopeful First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists. They can gain skills and experience in making films.

Jessica is also the President of 7 Forward Entertainment. This is a production company owned by Indigenous people. It is located on the West Coast of Canada.

Personal Life

Jessica Matten has a fascinating family history. She is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant. He was the first rebel Métis leader. He is famous for his role in the Battle of Seven Oaks in Canada.

Acting Performances