A figure os the Virgin Mary overlooks the Attawapiskat River, now frozen and used as the winter ice road. A truck seen leaving the town uses the ice road to drive south to other communities. The only time of the year Attawapiskat has road access to other communities is during the winter when the ice road is built.

Shots from the winter ice road between Moosonee at the south end, to Attawapiskat at the north end. The road was traveled by Spencer Wynn (photographs) and Jim Coyle (writing) in January, 2012. Ice road over a river section.

Construction trailers, bolted together in rows with common shared hallways, are used to house families many families in Attawapiskat.

Two vehicles in front of the church in frigid temperatures, while inside, it is warm and filled with singing. Photo by Spencer Wynn

Two vehicles in front of the church in frigid temperatures, while inside, it is warm and filled with singing. Photo by Spencer Wynn

Shots from the winter ice road between Moosonee at the south end, to Attawapiskat at the north end. The road was traveled by Spencer Wynn (photographs) and Jim Coyle (writing) in January, 2012. Here giant tires are dragged behind a loader and used to scrape and flatten the rad surface

Shots from the winter ice road between Moosonee at the south end, to Attawapiskat at the north end. The road was traveled by Spencer Wynn (photographs) and Jim Coyle (writing) in January, 2012. Workers about to drill a hole in the ice to test the thickness of the ice over a river section.

A canoe sits in the snow until spring breakup when fishing on the Attawapiskat river can resume.

Bernice Tookate, 26 mother of six children is currently living in the Attawapiskat Healing Lodge .