A state of emergency was declared by a remote northern Manitoba First Nation due to a power outage caused by a snowstorm over the weekend. The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, also known as Nelson House, experienced a power loss starting early Sunday and lasting until Tuesday evening. The outage, affecting around 3,000 on-reserve members in the community located 655 kilometers north of Winnipeg, led to challenges and frustration.
Many community members lacked alternative heating sources as they heavily relied on furnaces, resulting in homes without heat during the outage. Concerns were raised about the safety and comfort of elders, prompting the transfer of approximately 60 elders to hotels in Thompson for their well-being. The shutdown of businesses in Nelson House further exacerbated the situation, limiting access to essentials like food and fuel.
Manitoba Hydro’s communication regarding power restoration timelines was criticized for being unreliable, causing confusion and frustration among residents. The unanticipated prolonged outage left many ill-prepared residents scrambling for necessary supplies and support. The community, facing increasingly severe weather in recent years, anticipates ongoing challenges in managing such storms.
With the state of emergency in effect, efforts are being made to secure financial aid from organizations like the Canadian Red Cross and Indigenous Services Canada for support services. Additional generators were being acquired to meet the community’s urgent needs. Manitoba Hydro aimed to restore power by 8 p.m. Tuesday, with crews working to address damages from fallen trees and downed power lines across northern Manitoba.
Opaskwayak Cree Nation also faced power disruptions post-storm, prompting a temporary emergency declaration. However, power was largely restored to Hydro customers in the community. Swan River and its surrounding areas experienced ongoing outages, with restoration efforts expected to be completed by Tuesday night.