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(Treaty 9 Territory, NW Ontario, June 16, 2026) Cat Lake First Nation (CLFN) and First Mining Gold Corp. (FMG) have finalized a landmark agreement to mobilize development of an all-season access road to Cat Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario.
The route connecting Cat Lake First Nation to Sioux Lookout will utilize a mix of existing forestry roads and new construction to minimize costs while maximizing transportation and regional socio-economic benefits.
With this infrastructure agreement, First Mining Gold has committed up to $4 million to directly fund road permitting, right-of-way clearing, geotechnical fieldwork, and detailed engineering design to start in summer 2026.
This access road has long been a key priority for Cat Lake First Nation, as outlined in their Band Council Resolution on May 26, 2026. The project has received vital, collaborative support from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), while the role of Ontario is unclear.
"My mandate as Chief was to establish an all-season road that ends decades of isolation, improves safety and healthcare, and lowers living costs. This infrastructure is a major socio-economic win for both Cat Lake and the entire region." observed Chief Russell Wesley of Cat Lake First Nation. "First Mining Gold management has shown true partnership by putting real money on the table to start engineering, and the federal IAAC continues to cooperate constructively.”
"Reaching this agreement with Cat Lake First Nation is a definitive step forward for the development of the Springpole Gold Project," stated Dan Wilton, Chief Executive Officer of First Mining Gold Corp. "Year-round infrastructure is vital to the project's long-term viability and ensures that economic benefits are shared within the local community. We are grateful for the leadership and efforts of the Chief and Council of Cat Lake First Nation.”
The agreement coordinates directly with the joint position authorizing the Springpole Project announced by Cat Lake and Lac Seul First Nations, ensuring all corridor activities adhere strictly to the 35 cultural and ecological conditions derived from the historic, Anishinaabe-led Impact Assessment (ALIA). Ontario is the final crucial partner required to fully unlock this corridor.
Link to band Council Resolution
Media Contacts: Vicki Blanchard
Cat Lake First Nation: For additional information or to schedule interviews with Chief Wesley – contact Vicki Blanchard at 807-220-3585 or blanchardvicki21@gmail.com
First Mining Gold Corp: For additional information or to schedule interviews with FMG with FMG, contact Stephanie Ash at 1-807-472-5276 stephanie@
About Cat Lake First Nation
α±αββααβ΄αβ²α αβ²αβαβ Cat Lake First Nation is a remote Anishinaabe community located approximately 180 kilometers north of Sioux Lookout in Northwestern Ontario. As a fly-in community, Cat Lake is home to 650+ residents living on-reserve. The community remains disconnected from all-season provincial road networks, relying instead on air travel and a limited seasonal ice road only accessible for a short period (January to early March) most years. Today, Cat Lake remains a vibrant community that honors its traditions of harvesting and fishing—while leading the way in modern health and sustainability initiatives to protect its heritage and support its future generations.
About First Mining Gold Corp.
First Mining is a gold developer advancing two of the largest gold projects in Canada, the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, where permitting activities are on-going with a final Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Assessment for the project submitted in November 2024, and the Duparquet Gold Project in Quebec, a PEA-stage development project located on the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone in the prolific Abitibi region. First Mining also owns a 20% project interest in the Pickle Crow Gold Project and large equity interest in Seva Mining Corp.
First Mining was established in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founder and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp.
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