This summer, members of the Mattagami Youth Council had the opportunity to participate in an active archaeological dig at our Côté Gold site. The experience was both educational and inspiring, offering participants a glimpse into the enduring legacy of their ancestors. 

A Day of Discovery 

The day began with the group—Trent Thomas, Tessa Thomas, Tatum Naveau and Chelsea Debastos, IBA Coordinator—packing lunches before heading out to the site. Upon arrival, they received a safety briefing and met with archaeologist David Gadzala from Woodland Heritage Northeast, who guided them through the day’s activities. 

The group toured the historic explorer’s site at Côté and visited a pre-contact site*, where they joined community Elder Leonard Naveau in excavating the area for artifacts.

Why it Matters: During the dig, the team uncovered several stone chips, remnants of ancient toolmaking. These findings added to a growing collection of artifacts that provide evidence of human activity on the land dating back thousands of years. 

“The involvement of Mattagami’s Youth Council in the archaeological dig at Côté Gold is a meaningful example of how partnership and respect for Indigenous heritage are woven into our approach at IAMGOLD. By creating opportunities for youth to connect with their history and participate in preserving it, we honour the deep cultural roots of the region and the importance of cross-cultural learning. Experiences like these reflect our commitment to building respectful, long-term partnerships grounded in learning, collaboration and shared stewardship of the land,” said Krista Maydew, Vice President, External Affairs.   

The experience was a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving and understanding Indigenous history.   

*Pre-contact indicates the time before any significant contact between Native People and Europeans. A pre-contact site is a location where archaeological evidence is found from the period before the arrival of explorers and settlers.