The chief of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Manitoba has reported that approximately 4,000 residents are currently unable to return to their community. This situation has arisen due to a severe power outage that lasted for several days and subsequently led to the freezing of the community's water system.
Chief David Monias explained that Manitoba Hydro restored power to the First Nation on Friday after a downed power line caused the widespread outage the previous weekend. However, it was soon discovered that the community’s water plants, pumps, tanks, and pipes had frozen as a direct consequence of the outage.
The chief emphasized that the frozen water infrastructure, along with several burst pipes, poses significant risks to the health and safety of community members, particularly vulnerable groups such as elders and children. He reported that water has leaked into the electrical sockets of various homes, contributing to safety hazards that have already resulted in four fires within the community. Furthermore, 35 homes are now deemed unlivable due to the extent of the damage.
In light of these challenges, Monias renewed his calls for immediate federal assistance by urging Prime Minister Mark Carney in a letter for the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Joint Task Force West. He specifically requested emergency logistical support, including the delivery of water and sanitation resources to the affected community.
During a virtual news conference on Saturday, Monias expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We need help with major infrastructure. There’s a risk of people getting electrocuted because there’s water on the ground. We have flooring that’s cracked, we have windows that are cracked, we have appliances and toilets that are frozen. We’re running out of food. We’re running out of water.”
As of Saturday, the Manitoba government had not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the ongoing crisis. However, a statement released by Public Safety Canada on Thursday indicated that they were closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with Indigenous Services and the government of Manitoba.
Soraya Lemur, the press secretary to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, noted that federal and provincial officials, along with various non-governmental and Indigenous organizations, are actively working together to provide support to the Pimicikamak Cree Nation and to address their immediate needs.
In terms of response efforts, Manitoba Hydro reported that they had supplied a substantial generator to restore power to the water treatment plant. Additionally, they provided eight generators to power heavy-duty heaters for the community during the prolonged outage. The original outage was triggered when a 300-meter-long power line, which connects two islands in the Nelson River, broke, leading to the widespread power failure.
