Canadian soldiers arrive in Cross Lake, Manitoba, to assess infrastructure damage after a power outage and extreme weather left Pimicikamak First Nation in crisis
Canadian Soldiers Deployed to Pimicikamak First Nation
Canadian soldiers arrived in Manitoba on Sunday. They will be deployed to Pimicikamak First Nation, near Cross Lake, Man., as stated by the chief.
The community faced a power outage two weeks ago. This outage caused critical infrastructure to fail.
Technical Assessment Team Arrives
David Monias announced on social media that a technical assessment team of seven people is being deployed. This team includes engineering specialists and communications support.
“There is a misconception that everything is okay,” Monias wrote in a Facebook post. “That is not true.”
The military personnel will assess priority infrastructure needs and decide on next steps. A second team is expected to arrive on Wednesday and may bring additional equipment.
“This work is an important step toward addressing critical infrastructure issues and moving repairs forward safely and as quickly as possible,” said Monias.
Community Recovery Efforts
Monias noted that the community has a long way to go before fully recovering. Extreme weather knocked out power to Cross Lake on December 28.
“As thawing occurs, crews are finding leaks, sewer backups, and additional damage. These issues confirm the need for both emergency repairs and permanent infrastructure replacement,” he said.
Mobile Camp and Trades Professionals
A 30-person mobile camp is also on its way to Cross Lake. This camp will include trades professionals to assist with plumbing, electrical, and restoration work on damaged houses.
When the disaster struck two weeks ago, Monias wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister’s office. He urged the federal government to help the more than 4,000 people affected.
Monias mentioned that the First Nations community would seek funding from Indigenous Services Canada or the Canadian Red Cross.
Red Cross Support
On January 9, the Red Cross announced plans to raise money for the Pimicikamak Cree Nation.
The chief stated that the community still faces issues like inadequate washroom space and shower facilities.
“While we can fix houses, it is hard to fix the psychological and emotional trauma our people experience and to provide clean running water and proper sewage disposal,” he wrote.
Evacuee Challenges
Monias also noted that some evacuees were left without meals on Saturday. This happened when facilities in Thompson were unavailable due to other scheduled events.
“Our people should never be displaced, removed, or left without food because of tournaments or other activities,” he wrote. “Leadership continues to advocate strongly to ensure our members are treated with dignity and respect.”
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Power Outage | December 28 | Extreme weather caused critical infrastructure failure. |
| Soldiers Arrival | Sunday | Canadian soldiers deployed to assess infrastructure. |
| Second Team Arrival | Wednesday | Expected to bring additional equipment. |
| Red Cross Announcement | January 9 | Plans to raise money for the community. |
