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A power outage has left a northern Manitoba First Nation plunged into cold and darkness for three days, putting lives at risk.
That’s the message from Cross Lake/Pimmikamac Cree Nation Chief David Monias, who warns that many essential services have either failed or are at risk of failing.
Chief Monias says the community’s water reserves are empty, the treatment plant is not operational, sewage systems are failing, and pipes, water tanks and pumps are frozen. Once heat is restored, there is a risk of pipes bursting and flooding.
Manitoba Hydro said later Wednesday that the water treatment plant is back online after a generator was connected to community water.
“What started as a power outage is now a community-wide emergency,” Monias told reporters Wednesday.
“We are pleading for immediate assistance, because we cannot do this alone.”
The Pimisikamak Cree Nation chief has warned that temperatures are reaching minus 40 degrees Celsius due to wind chill.
“Our families are shivering with cold, our homes are without heat and electricity in extreme winter conditions. It is no longer just a power cut, but an issue of human safety,” he said.
He says some members of the community have been sheltered in the public works building and others in the old nursing station.
A relief site has been set up by the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) in Thompson, about two and a half hours south, where members can go to escape the cold and get food.
“The site is open to all PCN members and everyone is encouraged to visit and utilize these resources,” MKO wrote on Facebook.
Others have been taken to Norway House and Winnipeg.
Chief Monias says talks are underway with the Red Cross to begin arranging for planes to pick up community members.
The community has been without power since late Sunday night, when a supply line crossing the Nelson River broke; About 1,300 houses were plunged into darkness. The First Nation declared a state of emergency on Monday.
Manitoba Hydro’s first estimate is that power will be restored Wednesday night. Now the lights are expected to be back on at 6 pm on Thursday
Chief Monias said, “The power has been out for a long time. We thought we would be able to get power back on within a few hours, but it would take several days to get a diagnosis from Manitoba Hydro.”
Manitoba Hydro said Wednesday evening it is on track to restore power by 6 p.m. Thursday
“No further complications have emerged in the repair work, and good weather is allowing the continued use of helicopters to transport crews and materials to the site of the line rupture and make repairs,” the Crown corporation said in a news release.
The problem is due to the power line being above the river. Monias says the community has been asking Manitoba Hydro to re-route the lines along the highway for several years.
“Our people should not be forced into a state of emergency again and again because essential systems are outdated or neglected,” Chief Monias said. “Reliable infrastructure is not a luxury. It’s a basic necessity every community deserves.”
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says the situation is reflective of the major challenges facing the province’s First Nations by highlighting systemic gaps in planning and investment.
Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said, “This emergency highlights the consequences of infrastructure decisions that do not prioritize reliability, access or long-term resiliency in First Nations areas.” “The Pimicamack Cree Nation has repeatedly raised concerns about the need to locate transmission lines along the highway. Those warnings were not acted upon, and the Nation is now at risk because the old transmission line is difficult to access and repair under current weather conditions.”
The First Nation is working to secure hundreds of generators and portable heaters, although Chief Monias says the generators they received from the Red Cross are very small and “not enough to heat a house.” He warns that generators used indoors pose a fire risk.
“One of our trailers was already on fire, and firefighters went to put it out. It took a valuable resource, our water, and now we’re out of water.”
The community is demanding buses, plumbers, medical aid and fire protection assistance to evacuate residents. It also needs generators, cots, blankets, food and water “without even requesting”.
“We need to send more people to help us,” he said.
Chief Monias is also demanding “clear timelines and accountability” from Manitoba Hydro.
“We should not be begging from Manitoba or from Manitoba Hydro,” he said.
“I shouldn’t need to call Web Kinyu or text Web Kinyu or communicate with them for this to happen. They should have these plans in place.”