Matawa First Nations CEO honoured with King’s Coronation Medal

An undate profile photo of Matawa First Nations CEO David Paul Achneepineskum. (Matawa First Nations)

David Paul Achneepineskum, CEO of Matawa First Nations Management (MFNM), has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his five decades of service to Indigenous communities.

The medal, part of a program commemorating the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, was presented to Achneepineskum during a ceremony in Thunder Bay, Ont. on Saturday. The ceremony highlighted his contributions to Indigenous leadership and his role in fostering positive change within the Matawa region.

The Coronation Medal program, the first of its kind in Canada to mark the coronation of King Charles III, will be awarded to 30,000 individuals across the country.

Achneepineskum was nominated for the honour by Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu and he received the medal from her on behalf of Canada’s Governor General, Mary Simon.

Achneepineskum, who has served in various leadership roles since 1975, has worked with organizations such as Constance Lake First Nation, Chiefs of Ontario, Rainy River First Nation and Nishnawbe Aski Nation. His career has been marked by a commitment to culturally grounded leadership and organizational development.

“Over the past five decades, CEO David Paul has been an example of how a culturally-based approach to developing organizational leadership and business acumen can thrive and be of benefit,” said MFNM board president Rosemary Moonias.

“He is very deserving of this Coronation Medal.”

In his remarks on March 8, Achneepineskum reflected on the historical significance of the medal, noting its connection to the long-standing relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the British Crown.

“The conferring of medals, badges, and flags is a practice the British Crown has used to signify the important and historic relationship with Indigenous Peoples of Canada, starting with the Peace Medals in the 1700s,” he said.

“Over 300 years later, I receive this Coronation Medal as an acknowledgement of the continuing relationship of the Peoples of Matawa and the British Crown, now represented by King Charles III.”

Achneepineskum dedicated the honour to the Matawa First Nations, expressing hope for a brighter future for the community.

“Personally, this Coronation Medal is about the First Nations in Matawa and the hopes of the Matawa Peoples to move forward to a better future,” he said.