With the 2,200 citizens of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation having finally just returned to their homes after Manitoba Hydro fixed a power outage that continued for 126 days, the very first winter storm in Manitoba caused widespread power outages across northern Manitoba and states of emergencies to be declared at the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.
At the same time, the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation has directly invested in a turn-key, “shovel ready”, Indigenous-led backup generator solution that the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada and the Manitoba Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro are jeopardizing with a lack of support combined with a refusal to share information.
“There was a very heavy snowfall in our area and it is a miracle that the snowstorm didn’t knock out the power again at Pukatawagan too,” said Chief Gordie Bear.
Added Chief Bear, “the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation has put down $800,000 toward the installation of our turn-key backup electricity generator solution in Pukatawagan so we will be ready the next time the single power line to our remote community goes down. The whole backup generator package we have procured from PowerSafe has been ready to ship and install since August 28, 2025. Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty points a finger at Manitoba to pay the rest of the cost and Hydro Minister Adrien Sala points a finger at Canada to pay. More ‘pass the buck’ instead of partnership.”
“The ISC Minister and the Manitoba Hydro Minister are refusing to even give the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation copies of their letters to each other about our turn-key backup generator solution. Canada and Manitoba always say ‘nothing about you, without you’ but the reality here is just more of ‘without you’,” stated Chief Bear.
“The Indigenous Services Minister and the Manitoba Hydro Minister are ignoring our need for energy security that is proved by the 126-day power outage this year with no backup generators. Canada and Manitoba are condemning the 2,200 citizens of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation to endure more frequent and extended power outages caused by wildfires and severe weather driven by climate change. We are again urgently calling on Minister Gull-Masty and Minister Sala to immediately provide us with a comfort letter to support the remaining cost so we can ship and install our permanent backup generator solution and be prepared for the next power outage and state of emergency”, concluded Chief Bear.