The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is demanding immediate, face‑to‑face talks with Manitoba Hydro leadership to address a power crisis that forced thousands of residents from their homes. The call follows a multi‑day transmission failure that began on Dec. 28, 2025, plunging the Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) into extreme cold and prompting mass evacuations to nearby communities including Norway House.
The outage began when a transmission line crossing the Nelson River snapped on Dec. 28, 2025. The resulting, multi‑day outage left the community without reliable heat and power into early January, with Manitoba Hydro completing repairs and re‑energizing customers in stages around Jan. 1–2, 2026. Pimicikamak Chief David Monias declared a state of emergency on Dec. 31, 2025, as water tanks and household systems froze. Officials say the reserve has more than 1,300 homes and are still assessing the full extent of damage; hundreds of residences have already sustained burst pipes or other water damage and many more are expected to need repairs.
Grand Chief Kyra Wilson has said reliable electricity is essential in the North and ‘is not optional.’ First Nations leaders and local officials are calling on Manitoba Hydro to commit to a permanent solution: rerouting vulnerable transmission infrastructure to follow the all‑season Provincial Road 374 (PR 374) to provide year‑round ground access for maintenance and emergency repairs. The damaged line crosses rivers and sits in terrain that becomes effectively inaccessible in winter — crews required helicopter support, which complicated and delayed repairs.
Manitoba Hydro has said it found evidence of shotgun‑pellet damage on some hardware and is investigating whether firearm damage contributed to the failure, but the utility and other officials have said it remains unclear whether that was the cause. Community leaders say the crisis highlights ageing infrastructure and longstanding concerns about Hydro’s duty to protect northern communities under the 1977 Northern Flood Agreement (NFA).
Thousands were evacuated from Pimicikamak to hotels and neighbouring communities; by late January many families remained displaced and facing substantial repair bills. Chief Monias estimated repair needs could total at least $44 million as officials, tradespeople and the Canadian Armed Forces continue assessments and recovery work.
The AMC says it will pursue high‑level, in‑person discussions with Manitoba Hydro and government officials to secure a clear plan — including timelines and funding — to relocate and upgrade transmission infrastructure and to ensure life‑safety priorities are addressed for northern First Nations.
For more information, see statements from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and reporting by CBC, CTV and other outlets documenting the outage, the state of emergency and recovery efforts.
