Land Use

Marten Falls First Nation and other Matawa First Nation communities share traditional lands that extend over a vast area of Northern Ontario surrounding the community. Marten Falls traditional territory extends from the Current River and Ogoki Lake in the south, Makokibaton Lake in the west, Jasper Lake and Muketei Rivers to the north and the Albany Forks to the east. This area was used by Aboriginal people for trapping, hunting, trade and socializing long before European contact.

The community has initiated a community based land use planning progress in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). A strategy will be developed to support future land use plans. The MNR is assisting with winter and summer caribou habitat survey beginning in 2010.

Gravel and sand deposits are available for use in road building and construction. Forested areas include stands of black and white spruce, balsalm, edar, white birch, pine tamarack, and others.

The Ring of Fire mining exploration has identified massive deposits of copper, nickel, chromite, platinum and other minerals worth nearly $30 billion in the area north of Marten Falls First Nation. Diamond mining is in operation in the areas further north, bordering on the traditional territory of the area First Nations.