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In remote Ontario, Marten Falls First Nation hopes to move past more than 100 years of subjugation, as it opens the door to critical minerals development and an all-season road that will change their lives
As crazy hectic as your life may be, it likely doesn’t hold a candle to that of Bruce Achneepineskum. He is chief of Marten Falls First Nation, an extremely remote Anishinaabe community on the banks of the Albany River in Ontario’s far north, about 400 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. As chief, Mr. Achneepineskum wears many hats. He oversees his council. He’s a mentor, a spiritual figure, an artist and a fire marshal. He’s a father of two grown children from his first wife, and of a 17-month-old boy with his current partner.
The needs in Marten Falls are immediate and stark. There is a severe shortage of homes. A boil-water advisory has been in place for 18 years. There are endemic social problems that never seem to go away – youth suicide, alcoholism and opioid addiction.
On top of all of that, Mr. Achneepineskum is dealing with a massive international mining company that is making big promises about delivering riches to the impoverished community from the undeveloped Ring of Fire critical minerals project, which is located on the Marten Falls nation’s traditional territories. He’s also working with the province of Ontario and the federal government on the construction of an all-season road that would provide year-round access to the area, and bring with it a massive increase in the standard of living.
Right now, apart from a brief window in January and February when a winter road is open between Marten Falls and Nakina, about 135 km to the south, the community is only reachable by air. “It’s going to be a huge transformation for our community,” Mr. Achneepineskum said. “It’s going to improve access to services, and improve access to the outside world.”
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