Hundreds of residents from the Pimicikamak Cree Nation continue to face challenges nearly two months after a major power outage disrupted the remote community located over 500 kilometers north of Winnipeg.
Evacuees Describe Ongoing Hardships
Shelly Paupanekis, who evacuated her home on January 3, shares the emotional strain. “I had to leave my home, my job, my family,” she said. The displacement has taken a significant toll on her mental health. “This is my third evacuation,” Paupanekis added. “The first time was in the summer when the smoke engulfed our community.”
Jackson Osborne, who left his home on January 14, echoes the sentiment. “Everybody wants to go home, it’s been a long, long journey here, it’s very hard,” he stated. More than 2,000 evacuees remain displaced, with no clear return date in sight—potentially weeks away.
Repairs Battle Water Damage and Mould
Workers have dismantled kitchens and bathrooms in affected homes to address water damage and mould stemming from the December 30 outage caused by Manitoba Hydro infrastructure failure. Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias highlights the shift in the crisis. “The state of emergency has now turned into a health and safety issue and whether those people can come home or not, remains outstanding,” Monias stated.
Chief Monias urges Manitoba Hydro and the provincial government to fund mould remediation and emergency repairs for approximately 900 homes. Asbestos discoveries have rendered 237 homes uninhabitable. “I think (for Manitoba Hydro) to really come to the table and say listen, ‘we understand that you guys are in this situation as a result of the infrastructure failure of the Manitoba Hydro lines and we are willing to take responsibility,’” Monias said.
A Manitoba Hydro spokesperson clarifies that the Crown corporation does not fund building repairs. Instead, it has constructed electrical infrastructure for two temporary camps housing outside contractors. About 100 tradespeople currently work on community repairs.
Government Positions on Funding
Premier Wab Kinew remains non-committal on additional provincial funding. “We’re one province, we all want to work together, and we were there through the most challenging part of the emergency,” Kinew said. “But (I) still want to see people get help to be able to go home.”
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) confirms support through its Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP). “The department is actively working with the community and their support organizations to identify the required resources for this work,” an ISC spokesperson stated. “While EMAP does not have funding authority to cover pre-existing issues, the department takes mould and asbestos concerns very seriously.”
Community Steps Up with School Supplies
Ka Ni Kanichihihk, a Winnipeg-based Indigenous non-profit, recently secured a $30,000 donation to supply 400 backpacks filled with school supplies for displaced Pimicikamak students. The funds include $10,000 from Striny Reddy and True North Aid for educational resources, plus $20,000 from the Graham C. Lount Family Foundation for backpacks, water bottles, and learning materials.
Executive Director Jackie Anderson describes the response as humbling amid the emergency’s impact on families. The backpacks reached families earlier this week. Chief Monias welcomes the aid: “I think those are really valuable resources coming to our aid. We’re happy about those kinds of things because we’re trying to normalize as much as we can of our children’s lives by sticking together and being together.”
