Ottawa Sends Military to Help Pimicikamak Cree Nation

The federal government is deploying the Canadian Armed Forces to assist Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba after a prolonged power outage caused severe infrastructure damage and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents.

Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski announced on Friday that a specialized military team will be sent to the First Nation, located about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg. The deployment follows a formal request from Pimicikamak leadership made nine days earlier, as the community struggles to repair essential services.

According to Olszewski, military personnel will provide targeted assessment and advisory support focused on water treatment, sewage systems, power generation, logistics and project management. While the federal government has not confirmed the exact deployment date or team size, officials say members will arrive as soon as possible.

National Defence spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown said the military will work alongside provincial and local officials to assess damage and help stabilize critical infrastructure, including the water treatment plant, sewage systems and power generation facilities. They will also assist with logistical coordination as repairs continue.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias welcomed the decision, calling it “good news” for the community. He said leadership had been urgently requesting help with water and sewer infrastructure after damage raised concerns about potential contamination of the community’s water intake system.

Monias said approximately 10 to 15 military members with engineering and logistics expertise are expected to arrive over the weekend. At the same time, dozens of local and volunteer tradespeople will continue assessing and repairing damaged homes throughout the community.

The crisis began on Dec. 28 when a 300-metre power line spanning the Nelson River failed, leaving the community without electricity for four days during extreme cold. When power was restored, frozen pipes began bursting across the reserve, causing widespread flooding and structural damage.

Officials are still assessing the full impact, but more than 1,300 homes were affected, with at least 200 deemed unlivable so far. As a result, at least 4,000 residents—out of an on-reserve population of roughly 7,000—were evacuated to other communities, including Winnipeg and Thompson.

Pimicikamak Councillor Shirley Robinson said news of the military deployment lifted community morale. She emphasized that residents are eager to return home and that leadership is working to bring evacuees back as quickly and safely as possible.