New roads a boost for business in Lac Seul

Lac Seul First Nation’s roads are now complete, which means better access in and out of the three communities.
Lac Seul Chief Clifford Bull said the road improvement project started after the First Nation settled a claim against Canada called the Timber Trespass Claim.
“We finally resolved the claim through the courts and were rewarded $27 million,” said Bull.
The chief and council approached the community and inquired about how to go about using the money, and one of the suggestions was road improvement as well as community infrastructure improvement – in the form of the new community centre and arena being built by the youth complex in Frenchman’s Head.
“In the summer of 2011, we started the road improvement projects for the communities of Whitefish Bay, Kejick Bay and Frenchman’s Head,” said Bull.
The project was split into two phases: phase one was ditching, granular work, and fixing up the surface of the roads. Phase two was putting down chip rock, which was completed in mid-June.
Chip rock, unlike asphalt, is a process where tar is put on the road, then granular material is added. Another layer of tar and granular is put on and it hardens into a sealant.
Bull said the need for better roads also stemmed from the need for service vehicles in the community.
“Ambulances couldn’t come out because the roads were just too rough,” said Bull. “We can certainly get people out to the community of Sioux Lookout and the surrounding area much safer and faster.”
This project was a joint venture project between Lac Seul First Nation and Moncrief Construction Ltd.
“We’re opening up a store in Kejick Bay, which is on the island connected by the causeway we built three years ago,” said Bull.
Bull said he believes that if they can compete with some of the pricing in Sioux Lookout, and if they can get band members to shop locally that it would be a great economic benefit.
Bull said Mahkwa Lodge, which operates out of Lac Seul, will see economic benefits with the completion of the road.
“I know that tourists that come to Mahkwa Lodge will be very happy to drive on that road now that its paved,” said Bull.
Sam Manitowabi, general manager for economic development of Lac Seul, said that the new road will result in people coming into the community to do business more often.
“Used to be that nobody wanted to travel a half-hour down these rough, washboard roads where stones get thrown up and chip their windshields,” said Manitowabi.
He added that the joint venture created jobs and experience in construction and heavy equipment operation for community members.
“Our guests at our tourist lodge don’t have to worry about parts of their trailer falling off, or stuff like that, it’s great,” said Manitowabi.