MPP Mamakwa, Matawa Chiefs Council call for action from Ontario and Canada to address State of Emergency in Nibinamik First Nation 

Tim Brody - Editor

Kiiwetinoong MPP and Ontario NDP Deputy Leader Sol Mamakwa is calling on the Governments of Canada and Ontario for immediate action to address the energy crisis in Nibinimik First Nation.
Mamakwa visited the community (also known as Summer Beaver) on Thursday, February 26 in the wake of a 5-day power outage that put the safety of the community at risk. 
Mamakwa informed that although the power has now been restored, “without effective action from governments, Nibinamik remains vulnerable to future power outages.”
Mamakwa released the following statement on Feb. 27.
“Yesterday, I travelled to Nibinamik First Nation to see the situation on the ground. Although the power has finally been restored, Nibinamik remains in a State of Emergency and the energy crisis is ongoing. Their two generators are already at capacity and without prompt and sustained action from Canada and Ontario, the power continues to be unreliable and could fail again at any point. At the time of my visit, almost a quarter of the homes in Nibinamik had frozen pipes that needed to be repaired. 
“This crisis is not a surprise, nor is it new. Nibinamik has seen a pattern of jurisdictional ambiguity along with inaction from the governments of Ontario and Canada. Even after a similar State of Emergency was declared in 2020, the measures taken provided only a band aid fix. We cannot allow this cycle to continue.  
“I support the Matawa Chiefs Council’s calls to Canada and Ontario. I urge the Government of Canada and Ontario to start dialogue with the leadership of Nibinamik First Nation and enter a well-resourced tripartite process to take immediate action to increase the reliability of the energy system, while also looking into the possibilities to ensure that a long-term solution is reached.  
“These are only the first steps. The energy system is only one element of the ongoing infrastructure crisis in Nibinamik, and it’s time for the real change that is past due for Nibinamik’s community members.” 
During Mamakwa’s visit, 290 signatures were gathered over four hours for a petition calling for the governments of Ontario and Canada to address the infrastructure gap.
Nibinamik First Nation declared a State of Emergency in May 2020 due to the impacts of frequent power outages caused by their failing Diesel Generating System. Following this declaration, Indigenous Services Canada announced upgrades to the Diesel Generation Station. 
In addition, Nibinamik First Nation is under a long-term boil water advisory that began in February 2013. 
Matawa Chiefs Council are also calling on the governments of Canada and Ontario to address the Nibinamik First Nation declaration of a State of Emergency issued Friday February 20.
A Feb. 25 media release issued by Matawa Chiefs Council informed the winter power outage impacted the First Nation’s critical community infrastructure including essential community buildings, grocery store and food supplies, school, homes, water/waste systems, airport including emergency operations and the community-wide “black radio” communication systems.  
“The Matawa Chiefs Council call on the governments of Canada and Ontario to address the infrastructure gap in our remote First Nations.  Our communities are forced to continue to operate diesel generating stations that limit our communities’ development and in the case of a breakdown such as now occurring in Nibinamik First Nation – the lives and safety of all of our community members are put at risk. 
“The Nibinamik First Nation winter state of emergency is the result of failure of the Crowns of Canada and Ontario.  The unequal terms of James Bay Treaty No. 9 (1905-06 and 1929-30) purposely stipulated that our First Nations would not be located near any potential hydro sites.  This is a historic wrong and legitimate grievance that concerns all members and beneficiaries past, present and future of Treaty No. 9.
“The Matawa Chiefs Council demand that Canada and Ontario appoint a specifically mandated working group until the state of emergency is lifted by the First Nation to 1) support the Nibinamik First Nation to resolve this emergency, 2) including the current need for the immediate deployment of the Canadian Rangers and additional personnel to support the community in a 24/7 process 3) compensate the community and members for loss of food and emergency supplies required during this emergency event. 4) address the potential damages to community buildings and homes from freezing and 5) a First Nation approved recovery and prevention plan.”