CROSS LAKE — Federal, provincial, and Indigenous leaders are set to visit a struggling Manitoba First Nation today, which has been severely impacted by a frozen water system due to an extended power outage. The delegation includes Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, federal Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs Rebecca Chartrand, and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. They will travel to Pimicikamak Cree Nation to assess the damage that has compelled the community to declare a state of emergency.
The critical infrastructure damage has forced thousands of residents in the nation, located approximately 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, to evacuate, with no clear timeline for their return. Chief David Monias has indicated that it remains uncertain how many of the more than 1,300 homes in the community have suffered from the consequences of burst pipes and sewage infiltration due to insufficient resources to conduct comprehensive assessments.
In addition to residential damage, Chief Monias reported that the community's schools are non-operational due to a compromised pipe and complications with the heating system. He has been advocating for the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces to provide emergency logistical support, which would include water delivery and sanitation efforts. In parallel, the Manitoba government has reached out to the federal authorities this week, seeking military assistance for Pimicikamak.
A letter addressed to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski emphasized the need for immediate assessment and restoration of critical infrastructure. Manitoba's transportation and infrastructure minister, Lisa Naylor, expressed appreciation for Canada's prompt attention to the situation, stating that the safety of the residents is the highest priority.
The power outage in the community occurred on December 28, 2025, after a 300-meter-long line broke between two islands in the Nelson River. Manitoba Hydro required approximately four days to repair the break, primarily due to safety concerns associated with accessing the line. Following the repair, Manitoba Hydro supplied a large generator to restore power to the water treatment plant, along with additional generators to power eight heavy-duty heaters for community use.
However, Chief Monias has warned that water has seeped into the sockets of some homes, leading to at least four fires since the onset of the outage. Reports indicate that approximately 35 homes have become uninhabitable. Chief Monias was on-site assessing the damage on Tuesday, highlighting instances of severe sewage contamination. He described the situation as alarming, noting that, “Sewage backed up right onto the bathtub, on the floor, and came out of the toilets. It was really a health hazard. We had to wear masks to go in there.”
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this catastrophic event, the involvement of federal and provincial leaders signifies a critical response to a crisis affecting the health and safety of numerous residents.
