Governance / Cold Lake First Nations
A Message From Our Chairman
Greetings and Welcome
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we honour and Thank our President and CEO and his amazing team for their dedication and hard work in getting to this point in our community history. We also Honour and Thank our past and current leadership, Elders and Board members for their Vision, Courage and Foresight to initiate such an undertaking in creating the “Primco Dene Group of Companies” to capture and take advantage of opportunities presented to our community.
Through the dedication and diligence of our team, Primco Dene will continue on this path to success by following and promoting our community motto “Livelihood for a Livelihood” and “Sky is the Limit”. We will take advantage of all opportunities as we move forward that will instill a sense of community pride and provide employment for members of our Nation and surrounding communities.
From our humble beginnings approximately 20 years ago to becoming one of the largest employers of Indigenous people in western Canada, we have come some distance but we have far yet to go.
With that, I and the Board of Directors welcome you to our updated website and hope you enjoy your visit.
Robert Machatis
Chairman, Board of Directors
Primco Dene Group of Companies
Cold Lake First Nations Engagement
The primary stakeholders of Primco Dene are the Chief and Council of Cold Lake First Nations. They proudly represent the interests of the members of Cold Lake First Nations. At Primco Dene we are your neighbours, proud Cold Lake First Nations Members, and our commitment to engagement with our people through our elected Chief and Council is a pillar of our business.
A Message From Chief Bernice Martial
“This land has provided for our people for thousands of years. Primco Dene has been an integral part of our community’s success as we build opportunity in the 21st century, together. At Cold Lake First Nations we strongly believe in the statement; a livelihood for a livelihood”
Report to Community
The sections below contain information on Primco Dene’s activity over the past year. If you have any questions that this webpage doesn’t answer then please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Major Project Report | Primco Commercial Centre
In the spring of 2018, we were honoured to host a sod turning ceremony with John Janvier, Cold Lake First Nations Chief Bernice Martial, and Council Member Dwayne Nest, Tom Piche, Travis Matchatis and Dean Janvier. Construction on the new Primco Dene Commercial Centre began in summer of 2018 next to the Primco Business Centre, Casino Dene and the Courtyard Mariott Hotel, and will feature…
Creating Opportunity
In a land built upon opportunity, steeped in tradition and infused with cultural heritage, is a company with a purpose: creating opportunity. Founded in 1999, Primco Dene is a fusion of the things that make us unique – our land, our people and our culture.
700+
people employed by Primco Dene Group of Companies
Contributing
to our communities
80%
of our employees are Indigenous
64+
different First Nations and Métis communities represented in our workforce
700+
people employed by Primco Dene Group of Companies
80%
of our employees are Indigenous
Contributing
to our communities
64+
different First Nations and Métis communities represented in our workforce
Our Pillars
The pillars of our business have led the growth and development of Primco Dene to being a nationally recognized company. We believe that each of our pillars is equally important to create a balanced and stable foundation for success, and whenever we make any decision, we look at the impact on each of these pillars.
EMPLOYEES
& MANAGEMENT
We know that our success is thanks to the daily work of each one of our employees and managers
BOARD, CHIEF
& COUNCIL
Strong leadership is a keystone of success and we are proud to have influential members of Cold Lake First Nations helping to direct our business
INDUSTRY
PARTNERSHIPS
Our success is due in large part to the clients and industry that work with us
COMMUNITY
& SHAREHOLDERS
We work to foster relationships with the community of Cold Lake First Nations and Communities across the country
“Primco Dene has been very fortunate to have a long lasting, successful Indigenous company in northeastern Alberta due to the fact that we take a holistic view of each of our pillars. These pillars each equally contribute to our shared success”
James Blackman, CEO
Our Board of Directors
The Board of Directors at Primco Dene are elected members of Cold Lake First Nations. They are a keystone of our business and are pivotal in the strategic direction of Primco Dene Group of Companies.
Bob Machatis
Chairman
At a young age Robert was immersed into the business world, working with his father, Henry Machatis, at their family-owned company, HM Enterprises. This exposure to the world of business was a catalyst for Bob as he embarked on his own educational journey, studying Business Administration at NAIT in the late sixties and early seventies.
After his time at post-secondary, Bob was elected as the youngest CLFN council member up until that time (a title that now belongs to CEO, James Blackman). He then moved to Ottawa where he became a civil servant and later was a part of the team which helped to pass Bill C-31, a bill that was instrumental in the right to self-governance for first nations communities in Canada and also helped to remove legislation which was deemed discriminatory against women. Bob’s engagement in this capacity eventually led him back home to Cold Lake First Nations where he joined Band Administration in the 1980s and again in 2016.
Bob continues to be instrumental in the growth, development and success of Primco Dene.
TRAVIS MATCHATIS
Treasurer
JUDY NEST
Board Member
GORDON PICHE
Board Member
ELIZA MINOOSE-FLORES
Board Member
Contact Us
Do you have questions about Primco Dene? Contact us now.
Hours of operation
Monday to Friday – 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Closed on lunch hours, statutory holidays and weekends.
We’d like to acknowledge that we are on Treaty 6 Territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gathering place and travelling to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis”, Denesųłiné, Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Metis and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.
