The Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak is highlighting how federal government policies have negatively affected the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. On February 10, 2026, the group shared details about how these policies have disrupted local traditions like fishing, trapping, and gathering. This dialogue aims to show the long-term impact of government decisions on the community’s way of life.
The community discussion follows recent developments in the ongoing legal battle for the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, which is suing the federal government over a hydro dam built in the 1960s. Norway House leaders say their residents are facing similar problems, specifically with a lack of reliable healthcare and basic local services. They believe the government has failed to address these ongoing needs.
Grand Chief Garrison Settee has long maintained that northern residents often lack the basic services that people in southern Manitoba expect. Chief Larson Anderson of the Norway House Cree Nation is also pushing for the community to have more control over its own affairs. The local leadership wants to see more transparency and better funding for healthcare and local businesses.
Existing laws, such as the Manitoba Claim Settlements Implementation Act, were intended to handle land claims and resource issues. Leaders argue that these agreements have not been fully honoured, leaving the community to deal with the effects of flooding from hydro dams. This advocacy is part of a plan to improve community services and funding for the rest of 2026.
