Matthew Coon Come facts for kids

Matthew Coon Come is a Canadian politician and activist. He is a member of the Cree First Nation. He served as the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations from 2000 to 2003. This is a very important leadership role for Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Early Life and Education

Matthew Coon Come was born on April 13, 1956. His birthplace was near Mistissini, in Quebec, Canada.

As a child, he attended LaTuque Indian Residential School. This was a type of school for Indigenous children in the past. Later, he went on to study political science at Trent University. He also studied law at McGill University.

Leading the Cree Nation

In 1987, Matthew Coon Come was first elected as the Grand Chief and Chairman of Quebec's Grand Council of the Crees. In this role, he became well-known around the world. He worked hard to protect the basic rights of First Nations peoples.

One of his most important efforts was leading the campaign against the Quebec government's James Bay hydroelectric project. This was a large project to build dams and power plants. Matthew Coon Come fought to protect the land and the way of life for his people.

National Chief of First Nations

Matthew Coon Come was elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2000. He held this important position until 2003. As National Chief, he represented First Nations communities across Canada. He worked to advance their rights and interests on a national level.

Awards and Honours

Matthew Coon Come has received several awards and special recognitions for his work.

In 1995, he was given a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This award is now known as the Indspire Awards. It celebrates the achievements of Indigenous people in Canada.

He has also received two special awards from universities called honorary degrees. An honorary degree is given to someone to recognize their great achievements, even if they didn't study that specific subject at the university.

Honorary Degrees

Country	Date	School	Degree
Canada	1998	Trent University	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Canada	2000	University of Toronto	Doctor of Laws (LL.D)

External links

• Matthew Coon Come, National Aboriginal Achievement Awards biography
• Matthew Coon Come: Interview with Rex Murphy on CBC
• About The Grand Chief
• Matthew Coon Come • I choose to forgive