York Factory stresses urgent need for road link to outside world

By: Matthew Frank Posted: 6:05 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 29, 2025

Manitoba chiefs want the provincial and federal governments to build an all-season road to an isolated northern reserve after its ferry was grounded owing to low water levels caused by drought.

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Manitoba chiefs want the provincial and federal governments to build an all-season road to an isolated northern reserve after its ferry was grounded owing to low water levels caused by drought.

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Manitoba chiefs want the provincial and federal governments to build an all-season road to an isolated northern reserve after its ferry was grounded owing to low water levels caused by drought.

York Factory First Nation Chief Darryl Wastesicoot, who was joined by five other chiefs Tuesday, said the road is “urgently needed” because flights to the community are expensive and the provincially run ferry hasn’t operated for two weeks.

If a wildfire forced an evacuation, he fears residents would be trapped in the community northeast of Thompson.

Fox Lake First Nation Chief Morris Beardy (second from right), along with other chiefs speaking to reporters about the urgent need for all-season roads for northern reserves Tuesday. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)

“Sometimes the planes couldn’t land because of the smoke. So if we were in fire range, it would be devastating that we couldn’t get out at all,” Wastesicoot told reporters.

The First Nation is located on Split Lake, which is part of the Nelson River system, between two Manitoba Hydro dams, 900 kilometres north of Winnipeg. Its population was 455 people in 2021, census data show.

Wastesicoot said York Factory wants a 60-kilometre road to be built from its townsite to the Keeyask Generating Station southern access road, which links up to Provincial Road 280.

He said two feasibility studies have been conducted; the last cost estimate was $150 million.

While the First Nation has depended on a winter road for supply shipments, Wastesicoot said the window of operation has shortened to 30 days from three months because of fluctuating water levels and warmer winters.

He said its “out of the question” to fly supplies to the community because it would double the price of goods.

He said Premier Wab Kinew has agreed to discuss the road proposal, and the federal government has told him that it will look at the request.

Provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said an all-weather road is a multi-year project and needs federal funding.

Discussions are underway and will continue in August, she said.

York Factory First Nation Chief Darryl Wastesicoot says a 60-kilometre road needs to be built from its townsite to the Keeyask Generating Station southern access road, which links up to Provincial Road 280. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)

“We absolutely know how difficult this situation is for the families, the elders and anyone trying to build something in York Factory this summer,” she said.

Naylor said the ferry isn’t running because of a provincewide drought. Manitoba Hydro has offered boats to help the First Nation, she said.

But Wastesicoot said his community hasn’t received any of the Crown corporation’s vessels.

Indigenous Services Canada will review any proposals with the province for the road, said Livi McElrea, spokesperson for federal Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty.

matthew.frank@freepress.mb.ca