Many northern Ontario First Nations rely on seasonal winter roads built each year on the frozen rivers, lakes and land. As climate change continues to narrow the window during which winter roads are useable, Nishnawbe Aski Nation held a gathering in Thunder Bay to strategize how to keep its communities connected in a rapidly thawing north.Winter roads connect remote communities in northern Canada that are usually only accessible by plane.
For several weeks each winter, tractor-trailers make their way into remote, fly-in First Nations via a series of crossings over frozen lakes and streams, delivering fuel, building supplies and other large loads that would be difficult and expensive to transport by air.Warm weather creating 'crisis' for First Nations that rely on ice roads
"That's always a challenge for us, crossing that lake, because we lost already one community member — went through the ice," said Moonias.Featured Video The Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines sent a staff member to discuss $5 million in winter road funding the province will provide. But Moonias said he doubted that the funding would cover a single bridge, let alone make a dent in the other winter roads connecting over 30 First Nations.Fly-in First Nation communities across northern Ontario rely on the winter road network to truck in items that would be costly or nearly impossible to transport by plane.
The winter road season will continue to shorten as climate change continues to impact weather, said Merrina Zhang, a senior research engineer at the National Research Council. Northern Canada is being more acutely impacted than many other parts of the world, said Zhang, and will continue to see greater fluctuations in temperature in the coming years.
While winter roads may not be a viable option forever, Zhang said more data can help experts develop better ways to protect them.