The leader of a First Nation community in northern Manitoba has voiced strong criticism against Manitoba Hydro following a prolonged power outage that led to some residents being forced to evacuate due to freezing temperatures dropping below –30 C on Tuesday night.
Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation declared a state of emergency for the community on Monday after a power line across the Nelson River, located approximately 10 kilometers north of the community, broke late Sunday night.
Situated about 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, the First Nation reserve is home to nearly 7,000 residents.
Manitoba Hydro crews operating in Pimicikamak have estimated that repairs will be completed by around 6 p.m. Thursday. The challenging terrain and remote location of the power line are cited as reasons for the extended repair time, according to Peter Chura, a spokesperson for Manitoba Hydro.
The damaged line, positioned between two islands, will require crews and materials to be transported to each end of the broken section via helicopter for the repair work to be finalized by Thursday, as confirmed by Hydro in an email to CBC on Wednesday.
Expressing discontent with the timeline, Chief Monias conveyed his frustration, stating, “I’m very disappointed. I’m very frustrated,” during an interview with Marcy Markusa on CBC Manitoba’s Information Radio on Wednesday.
Monias highlighted that the outage could have been avoided if the hydro line had been routed along the highway, proposing a more efficient solution.
Manitoba Hydro had informed Pimicikamak in the past that relocating the transmission line could take decades and necessitate multiple studies to assess feasibility and impact, according to Monias.
Chura, however, emphasized that moving the transmission line closer to a road might not guarantee the prevention of prolonged power outages in the future, as reported to CBC News on Wednesday.
To prepare for the possibility of exceeding the initial repair timeframe, Manitoba Hydro has dispatched additional resources to Pimicikamak. This includes a 300-kilowatt generator sent from Thompson to power a water treatment facility, along with several smaller generators and heaters for use at local warming centers, stated Chura.
In the midst of the crisis, Chief Monias stressed the urgent need for infrastructure support in Pimicikamak, including cots, water, food, and gas. The community is grappling with frozen water and sewage tanks, a vulnerable main water line, and a depleted water reservoir.
With residents resorting to using candles and portable heaters for warmth, the situation has escalated into a critical human safety concern, highlighted Monias during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Councilor Shirley Robinson echoed Monias’s sentiments, emphasizing the severity of the situation as a matter of life and death. Robinson urged provincial authorities to step up their support for the affected residents during a joint news conference with Grand Chief Garrison of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak in Winnipeg on Wednesday afternoon.
As the community grapples with the harsh conditions, efforts are underway to provide essential supplies and assistance to residents in need. Multiple busloads of evacuees from Pimicikamak have been relocated to Thompson or Winnipeg, where they are accommodated in hotels.
Amid the challenges faced by the community, residents like Troy Paupanekis and his family have expressed gratitude for the support received. Despite enduring hardships, they remain thankful for the care extended to them during the crisis.