The chief of a northern Manitoba First Nation is criticizing Manitoba Hydro after a days-long power outage forced some residents to leave the community, with temperatures dropping below –30 C Tuesday night.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias declared a state of emergency for the First Nation on Monday, after power went out late Sunday evening when a power line that crosses the Nelson River, about 10 kilometres north of the community, snapped.
The First Nation, about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg, has nearly 7,000 residents living on reserve.
Crews working in Pimicikamak said repairs will take until around 6 p.m. Thursday due to the remote location of the power line and difficult terrain, Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura previously told CBC News.
The broken line is between two islands, Chura said. Crews and material will have to be carried to each end of the broken span via helicopter to complete the repair, which is still on track to be done by Thursday, Hydro said in an email to CBC on Wednesday.
Monias says he’s not happy with the timeframe.
“I’m very disappointed. I’m very frustrated,” Monias told host Marcy Markusa on CBC Manitoba’s Information Radio Wednesday.
“This all could have been prevented if we had the hydro line come down the highway.”
Hydro has previously told Pimicikamak that it could take decades to move the transmission line and require several studies to examine the feasibility and impact, Monias said.
There’s no guarantee that moving the transmission line closer to a road would prevent lengthy power outages in the future, Chura told CBC News on Wednesday.
Hydro has sent further support to Pimicikamak in case the repair takes longer than recent estimates, including a 300 kilowatt generator sent from Thompson to power a water treatment plant and several smaller generators and heaters to use at local warming centres, Chura said.
While Pimicikamak’s needs are largely infrastructure related, they also need more cots, water, food and gas, Monias said.
Pimicikamak’s water and sewage tanks are frozen, and its main water line is at risk of freezing, he said. The community’s water reservoir has also run dry.
Fire and safety risks have emerged, as some residents who stayed behind have been using candles and small portable heaters to stay warm, Monias said.
“Families are freezing. Our homes are without heat and electricity in extreme winter conditions,” he said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
“This is now a human safety issue, not just a power outage.”
Pimicikamak Coun. Shirley Robinson said it’s a “life and death matter” during a news conference with Monias and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison in Winnipeg on Wednesday afternoon.
Robinson called on the province to do more to support residents.
“I want the governments to act now to help us, to help our nation. We are in a life and death matter right now back home. It’s –31 C as we speak,” she said, fighting back tears.
Robinson was in Cross Lake when the power went out and helped transport residents to the community’s public works building so they’d have a warm place to sleep.
“Premier Wab Kinew, I know you’re listening. Declare that state of emergency with us and get the army into Cross Lake as soon as possible,” Robinson said. “Bring our children out. Bring our elders out. Bring the community out.
“We shouldn’t have to beg. We deserve the same standards of care as any other ordinary person in this country of ours.”
Monias said he asked that residents be evacuated by plane in a Wednesday morning meeting with Manitoba Hydro, Indigenous Services Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.
But he hopes no more evacuations are needed, with 600 generators starting to be flown into the community on Wednesday.
Multiple busloads of Pimicikamak residents have been taken to Thompson, about 125 kilometres to the north, or south to Winnipeg, where they are staying in hotels.
Troy Paupanekis and his family of six arrived in Winnipeg on Tuesday.
They kept warm the first couple of nights without power by snuggling up close together in one room, using a three-wick candle and body heat after their generator was frozen and not working.
They ended up going to the public works building before being evacuated.
“We’re here now. We’re warm. We’re thankful for our community,” Paupanekis said. “We got taken care of, so I’m happy about that.”
Philip Beardy, 70, was already in Winnipeg when the power went out in his community.
“Now we’re stuck here,” he told CBC News on Wednesday.
It’s not the first time the power line has run into trouble, as winds have caused it to swing and snap in the past, Beardy said.
“We’ve been telling Manitoba Hydro that for a long time.”
It’s been “very devastating” for Pimicikamak residents, he said.
“Nobody likes to get moved out of their community, especially at this time of season.”
