Matawa Chiefs Council call on Canada and Ontario to address Nibinamik first Nation State of Emergency
MEDIA RELEASE
February 25, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Matawa Chiefs Council call on Canada and Ontario to address Nibinamik first Nation State of Emergency Day #6 Winter Power Outage
Thunder Bay, ON — The Chiefs of the Matawa First Nations are standing in unity to call on the governments of Canada and Ontario to address the Nibinamik First Nation declaration of a state of emergency issued Friday February 20, 2026 and now proceeding into Day # 6 of a winter power outage event. Nibinamik First Nation was without power for 5 days, and while power has been restored late Tuesday afternoon – any further failures will be detrimental as there is no backup on the diesel generating system that is already running at full capacity. At the same time, initial recovery efforts across the remote community are just beginning.
The winter power outage has impacted the remote 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. At Day 5 of this state of emergency, First Nation leadership and community members evacuated medically vulnerable people, and struggled to heat homes and protect water lines from freezing as temperatures have remained below freezing with high wind chill factors.
“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.”
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For more information, please contact Charnel Anderson, Communications Generalist – Matawa First Nations at (807) 621-4905 email canderson@matawa.on.ca.