Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road
2024 Year In Review
Current and upcoming activities
As another year comes to a close, we want to share the latest updates and progress on the Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road. This Year-In-Review 2024 provides updates on current and upcoming activities.
This update features:
- Greeting on the Holidays: Message from Chief Bruce Achneepineskum
- 2024 Year In Review
- New Video: Final Route Selection
- Update on the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement
- Connect with the Team!

Greeting on the Holidays
As 2024 draws to a close, we would like to share a message from Chief Bruce Achneepineskum:
“Marten Falls First Nation has been committed to advancing its vision of building a sustainable and thriving community in the north. Developing a road that connects our remote northern community to the provincial highway network and the rest of Ontario is a key element of this vision. After years of effort, we have reached the point where a preferred route for the Marten Falls Community Access Road has been selected. This is a major milestone for Marten Falls First Nation as we continue to make progress towards the development of the Community Access Road. Our community looks forward to continuing our conversation with neighbouring First Nations and other stakeholders on our preferred route, on other next steps in the Environmental Assessment / Impact Assessment process and on further advancing our vision and development goals.”

2024 Year-In-Review
Reflecting on the past year, 2024 has been marked by significant milestones for the Community Access Road including selecting a Final Route to the community, meeting more often virtually and in-person with those who are interested in development of the Community Access Road and preparing for the circulation of the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement report.
As we close out this year, we want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has shared their input and feedback and has taken part in the Community Access Road. We are particularly grateful for the valuable insights shared by Marten Falls First Nation members of all ages and the surrounding Indigenous communities. Your perspectives have been crucial in guiding our decisions throughout the planning process.
Here are some key highlights from 2024:
Final Route Selection
The Project team presented the Final Route Recommendation to MFFN community members and Aroland First Nation community members this past summer. The recommendation was refined based on key input from MFFN community members and feedback from neighbouring Indigenous communities and the public. MFFN Chief and Council signed the Band Council Resolution in August 2024 to accept the Final Route recommendation. With a Final Route confirmed, we could move towards having more in-depth conversations relating to residual effects, mitigations and cumulative effects.
If you are interested in learning more about the Final Route watch our latest videos on What We Heard, the Final Route and Building the Community Access Road Webinar.



Community Meetings
The MFFN CAR Project Team was on the road this year, hosting in-community meetings in MFFN, Aroland First Nation and in Thunder Bay to provide updates on the Community Access Road, the Final Route and the upcoming submission of the Draft EA / IS.
We also met with other communities, including Elders, virtually to discuss the Community Access Road. Your insights and feedback are crucial elements of this ongoing engagement, and the MFFN CAR Project Team is grateful to everyone who came out to speak with us and share your feedback and questions.
We look forward to more conversations in the new year. If your community would like to learn more about the road and / or schedule a meeting, please contact us at info@martenfallsaccessroad.ca.
Watch for upcoming announcements regarding Public Information Centre #6 taking place in early 2025!
Three Road Projects Gathering & Expo
The Three Road Project Gathering & Expo was held from June 11 – 13, 2024, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and provided a space for Indigenous communities to come together and discuss topics of importance to communities about the three distinct proposed road projects—Marten Falls First Nation Community Access Road, Webequie Supply Road and the Northern Road Link.
The event included subject matter experts from each Project and the Government of Ontario (Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ministry of Mines) and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. It provided information on the proposed common approach for communities to review the Draft EA / IS that will be submitted for Marten Falls First Nation’s Community Access Road and the Webequie Supply Road in early 2025.
Watch for an announcement about the next Three Road Projects Gathering & Expo in February 2025.


Webinars
The Community Access Road held two live webinars including, Climate Change Adaptation and the Community Access Road and Building the Community Access Road.
The Building the Community Access Road webinar was held on November 26, 2024. The team discussed the final route, design features of the road and details on how it will be constructed.
Upcoming webinars will include The Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement and The Road & You – Staying Safe with a New Road to the Community.
Curious about what we are studying for the community access road? Check out previous webinars here and watch your inbox for updates on upcoming webinars. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or visit the website for details.
Preparing for the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement
This fall, neighboring Indigenous communities were provided information on the upcoming circulation of the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement with information explaining the purpose of the EA / IS, what to expect and how to submit comments. Some Indigenous communities have indicated that they would like time to review documents in advance of public release, so we’re providing Indigenous communities early access to the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement this winter with a review period of 120 days. We will be sharing more about the release of the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement in January 2025.
We’re Here to Help!
The MFFN Community Access Road Project Team is available to support your community during the Draft EA / IS review process. Please reach out for more information.
NEW Video: Final Route Selection
Check out the latest on the Final Route for the MFFN Community Access Road, including an overview of the final route selection, how feedback helped shape the final decision, and what’s next in 2025.
Click HERE to watch the video!
Update on the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement
As we draw closer to the release of the Draft EA / IS in early 2025, the MFFN CAR Project Team is looking forward to meeting with Indigenous communities and the public to discuss and receive feedback on the Draft EA / IS and its accompanying documents, including Technical Supporting Documents and Records of Engagement and Consultation. Plain-language summaries (including translations) of Technical Supporting Documents and the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement will also be available.
Indigenous communities will have 60 days, in advance of the public release, to review the Draft EA / IS followed by an additional 60 days during the public review period.
If you have any questions on the review process, please contact the Project Team at info@martenfallsaccessroad.ca.
Connect with the team!
We are now on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram! Follow us to stay up to date on the Community Access Road.
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.