By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter\u00a0 PIKANGIKUM \u2013 It\u2019s \u201ca momentous milestone\u201d for seven First Nations, said Greg Rickford. The Ontario cabinet minister and Kenora-Rainy River MPP was referring to the province\u2019s partnership with the federal government and First Nations organization to build a permanent bridge across the Berens River and an all-season road from the bridge to Pikangikum First Nation. Once completed, the bridge and road will benefit Pikangikum\u2019s Whitefeather Forest wood harvesting business and give people in the remote Ojibwe community year-round access to the provincial highway system and Red Lake to the south. Six other First Nations \u2013 Poplar Hill, McDowell Lake, Deer Lake, North Spirit Lake, Sandy Lake and Keewaywin \u2013 stand to benefit through improved winter road connections, according to the Ontario government. The… <\/p>\n
By Mike Stimpson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter\u00a0 PIKANGIKUM \u2013 It\u2019s \u201ca momentous milestone\u201d for seven First Nations, said Greg Rickford. The Ontario cabinet minister and Kenora-Rainy River MPP was referring to the province\u2019s partnership with the federal government and First Nations organization to build a permanent bridge across the Berens River and an all-season road from the bridge to Pikangikum First Nation. Once completed, the bridge and road will benefit Pikangikum\u2019s Whitefeather Forest wood harvesting business and give people in the remote Ojibwe community year-round access to the provincial highway system and Red Lake to the south. Six other First Nations \u2013 Poplar Hill, McDowell Lake, Deer Lake, North Spirit Lake, Sandy Lake and Keewaywin \u2013 stand to benefit through improved winter road connections, according to the Ontario government. The... <\/p>\n