Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road
October 2023 update
Current and upcoming activities
Welcome to the Community Access Road October 2023 E-Blast, highlighting updates on current and upcoming activities. This E-blast includes:
Updates from Public Information Centre (PIC) #5
The Community Access Road Project Team was in Thunder Bay and Geraldton in October for PIC#5 to discuss the Existing Conditions Reports and Route Selection Milestone. In addition to the public sessions, the Team met with Marten Falls First Nation Members in Thunder Bay and Marten Falls First Nation.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us in person! We very much appreciate the valuable feedback and insights you provided. These meaningful conversations do so much to help planning for the proposed Community Access Road.
Were you unable to attend PIC #5? No worries...you can review meeting materials including maps and handouts here. Once you have reviewed the materials, let us know what you think. Complete the feedback form by November 20, 2023.
New Webinar Series Coming Soon! First Up: Route Selection
You are invited to join us for a new webinar series on the Community Access Road.
The first webinar is on Route Selection and will take place Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. EST.
Register HERE.
In addition to Route Selection, upcoming webinars will include:
- Climate Change
- Cumulative Effects
- Engineering and Construction
Watch your inbox for updates on the Webinar schedule and follow us on Facebook or visit the website for details.
Curious about what we are studying for the Community Access Road? Check out the previous webinar series on the road’s valued components here.
Winter Field Studies
Caribou Collaring and Mortality Investigation Program
In 2021, 30 radio tracking collars were placed on caribou within the Local Study Area. The radio tracking collars have been collecting information about the seasonal migration of caribou throughout the region over the past three years and are timed to automatically fall off in February 2024; any collars that do not fall off as intended will be manually removed. The collars will be retrieved by researchers in the spring of 2024.
The mortality investigation will involve determining a cause of death for any caribou lost over the fall / winter season (e.g., predation, hunting, natural causes). A field notice with the details of this program will be published in January 2024.
To learn more about field programs and the studies taking place to support the planning of the Community Access Road, check out the existing conditions reports and field program notices, valued component videos and past webinars.
Marten Falls in the News
Earlier this month Chief Bruce Achneepineskum addressed Marten Falls First Nation’s desire to build a road connecting the remote northern community to the Ontario provincial highway network, and in turn, advance the community’s vision of building a sustainable and thriving community.
Read the full article here: Leading Our Own Prosperity: What we are doing in our territory
Upcoming Engagement Opportunities
Aboriginal and / or Treaty Rights and Interests Forum #2 – November 21-23, 2023
Building on the first Forum held in February 2023, this follow-up Forum provides an opportunity to identify and discuss potential impacts to northern Indigenous communities' Aboriginal and / or Treaty Rights and interests as they relate to the Community Access Road, Webequie Supply Road, and Northern Road Link.
Invitations have been sent to the Indigenous communities. If you have any questions regarding the Forum, please contact Andrea Nokleby: anokleby@dillon.ca
Connect With Us
Visit our website regularly to stay up to date on the latest information and announcements, watch our latest videos, contact us 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.