First Nations announce new step in Ring of Fire road development

Two northern Ontario First Nations say they are one step closer to creating all-season road access to potential mining sites in the Ring of Fire.

The area about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay is known to be abundant in critical minerals and the province has promised to develop and mine the region.

Marten Falls and Webequie First Nations are co-leading the planning of a Northern Road Link project, which the provincial government said is the last piece of important road infrastructure.

The two First Nations announced Thursday that they will be submitting a terms of reference for an environmental assessment for the proposed road.

Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of the Marten Falls First Nation said the project represents a potentially bright future for generations to come.

“Our partnership sets a new precedence in the region on Indigenous proponency,” Achneepineskum said.

“We are leading the Northern Road Link because the project is in our traditional territory and we are exercising our right to self-determination.”

The region in northern Ontario has some of the world’s richest deposits of chromite, copper, nickel and platinum — valued between $30 to $60 billion.