Damage extensive to homes in Manitoba First Nation hit by power outage, frozen pipes

PIMICIKAMAK CREE NATION, MAN. – The chief of a First Nation in northern Manitoba says residents are dealing with cracked floors and overflowing sewage after a power outage caused pipes to freeze in many homes in the community.

Chief David Monias says it’s unclear how many of the more than 1,300 homes in Pimicikamak Cree Nation will require repairs because the community lacks the proper resources to inspect the homes.

He says the First Nation desperately needs plumbers, home inspectors and electricians to assess the damage after the outage that happened Dec. 28.

The community has identified at least 200 homes where the water has had to be shut off to prevent any leaks and future destruction.

Monias has been calling for the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces for emergency logistical support, including water delivery and sanitation work — something the province has supported.

The federal government says it has sent technical teams to the First Nation to assess damage and plans to support initial repair work.

“We know this has been an incredibly difficult situation for families in Pimicikamak Cree Nation, and our focus is on supporting recovery and ensuring residents can return home safety,” Soraya Lemur, press secretary to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, said Tuesday.

A delegation of federal, provincial and First Nations leaders are expected to tour the community Wednesday.

The Manitoba government reached out to Ottawa on Monday requesting military assistance for Pimicikamak.

In a letter sent on Monday to Olszewski, the province asked the federal government to focus on the immediate assessment, repair and restoration of critical infrastructure.

Power was knocked out in the community after a 300-metre-long line that runs between two islands in the Nelson River broke. Power was fully restored to the community Friday.

It took Manitoba Hydro about four days to fix the break because of safety concerns in reaching the line.

The Crown corporation supplied a large generator to restore power to a water treatment plant, as well as generators to power eight heavy-duty heaters for the community’s use.

However, Monias has said water also seeped into the sockets of some homes, with at least four fires in the community so far since the outage. He said about 35 homes are now uninhabitable.

Water has had to be shut off at the youth centre, arena and one of the schools to prevent further damage.

“We don’t have enough people to actually go and fix the problems that are leaking right now,” Monias said. “So the best thing we can do is (turn) off the water in those areas and some of those neighbourhoods.”

He added the health centre is up and running on an emergency basis only due to limited access to water and a lack of resources.

Monias is urging governments to step up and help with restore the sewage and water plants immediately. The community has been relying on duct tape and plumber’s glue to fix some of the issues.

“We’re actually on life support,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2026.

— By Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg