Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road
July E-Blast 2025
Current and upcoming activities
We want to share the latest updates and progress on the Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road. This July 2025 E-Blast provides updates on current and upcoming activities, featuring information on the:
The Latest on the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement
We’re excited to share that we’ve received over 1,500 comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement. This is a testament to the interest in the Community Access Road and the Environmental Assessment / Impact Assessment process.
Our team is now carefully reviewing input received and working to incorporate it into the Final Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to review the documents and share feedback during the review period.
Stay tuned for updates as we move forward together.
Plain Language Summaries in Five Languages
The Plain language Summaries for all technical documents supporting the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement are now available HERE. These summaries are available in English, French, Oji-Cree, Cree and Ojibway and highlight key areas of study and the assessment process for each valued component. If you are interested in learning more about topics covered in the Plain Language Summaries, please view the full Technical Reports available HERE.
New Video: Understanding Cumulative Effects
A key part of the Environmental Assessment / Impact Assessment for the proposed Community Access Road is understanding Cumulative Effects, or the combined effects on the environment of past, present and future activities in the projects area.
To evaluate Cumulative Effects, three key concepts are considered:
- Temporal Overlap: when one activity happens at the same time as another activity
- Spatial Overlap: when one activity happens in the same area as another activity
- Reasonably Foreseeable Projects: projects that we can reasonably anticipate for consideration
By understanding each of these key concepts in the project area, we are committed to making informed and responsible decisions for the Marten Falls First Nation community and the environment.
Webinar Series: Explore our Studies on Land, Water and People
This past spring, four webinars were held to support the review of the Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement. These sessions explored studies related to Land, Water and People, offering valuable insights into potential effects, mitigation strategies, residual impacts and cumulative considerations.
Topics covered included:
- Community Well-Being
- Ungulates
- Fish
- Land & Resource Use
Recordings from the recent webinars are now available, along with access to all previous sessions in the series HERE.
Stage 2 Archeological Assessment
Since 2019, archaeologists have been researching potential sites for the Marten Falls First Nation Community Access Road through Stage 1 and Stage 2 Archaeological Assessments. With the preferred route now chosen for the road, archaeologists will conduct an additional Stage 2 Archaeological Assessment this summer.
Field crews are scheduled to begin work on Thursday, August 7, 2025, and are expected to complete their work by August 25, 2025 (pending weather and / or site conditions).
Stage 2 field surveys will be conducted in the following locations in advance of geotechnical investigations:
- where the road is planned to cross waterbodies;
- at sites where bridges may be built; and
- at one potential aggregate location.
If you are located in the study area, you may notice an increase in air traffic as field crews will be accessing sites across the study area by helicopter.
To learn more about this and other upcoming Field Programs, check out the notice HERE.
Get in Touch!
We are 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.
