Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road
July 2023 update
Current and upcoming activities
Welcome to the MFFN Community Access Road July 2023 E-Blast with updates on current and upcoming activities. This E-Blast features:
Field Study Spotlight: Cultural Heritage and Socio-Economic Teams in MFFN
The cultural heritage, socio-economic and human health teams ran programs in-person in Marten Falls First Nation and Thunder Bay with Marten Falls First Nation members from July 18 to 20, 2023. Thank you to everyone who participated!
If you are interested in learning more about Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, watch our latest video on the topic here.
New Videos! Learn about the studies taking place for the Community Access Road
Have you checked out the MFFN Community Access Road Multimedia Gallery? Here you will find videos and documents describing what is being studied (also known as 'valued components'), how it's being studied and why it's important. This includes both Indigenous Knowledge, which includes Anishinabek Traditional Knowledge, and western science.
Newly uploaded videos include:
All videos can be found on our Multimedia page with more to come!
Field Study Updates
Field studies for the MFFN Community Access Road Project are continuing.
Earlier in July, we shared the latest summer 2023 Field Notice. The following activities took place this month:
- Spring Groundwater Sampling took place from June 24-July 6, 2023
- Cultural Heritage Field Programs took place in MFFN on July 18, 2023
- Socio-Economic and Human Health Surveys took place in MFFN on July 19, 2023
Upcoming field studies include:
Vegetation Field Program (August 2 to 6, 2023)
Field crews will be visually observing and documenting plant communities and wetland areas throughout the study area this summer. Field crews will observe areas from the air in helicopters and on the ground. Field surveys will be non-invasive with equipment limited to hand-operated soil augers or peat probes. Vegetation studies will focus on areas associated with potential aggregate resources and access roads.
Groundwater and Geochemistry Field Program - Groundwater Sampling (August 7 to 21, 2023)
The spring groundwater sampling program took place from June 26 to July 6, 2023 and more samples will be taken from August 7 to 21, and again in the fall. Groundwater samples are sent for laboratory analysis and will be tested for general water chemistry, metals, solids content, nutrients, hydrocarbons and others.
The final results of the programs will be available once all data is collected and analyzed and will be shared during the Draft Environmental Assessment and Impact Assessment Phase in 2024.
Field crews will continue to include MFFN community member Field Assistants or Community Member Advisors.
Check out the related field program notices for more details, watch videos and fill out Discussion Guides.
*Timelines and programs are approximate and may shift; we will provide updates as required.
We Value Your Feedback
Please contact us at any time with questions or comments, or to schedule a meeting. Meetings can be arranged in-person in any community, in the Thunder Bay area, or online. We want to hear what you have to say!
Questions or comments? Contact us at 1-800-764-9114 or info@martenfallsaccessroad.ca.
