York Factory First Nation calls for Manitoba Hydro to release withheld water

Members from York Factory First Nation are in Winnipeg demanding that the province order Manitoba Hydro to release withheld water, as dangerously low levels keep the communities ferry out of commission.

York Factory leadership met with Premier Wab Kinew on Tuesday after calling for the province to order Manitoba Hydro to release more water from Lake Winnipeg and Southern Indian Lake.

The Crown corporation says drought is the primary cause and that they cannot raise water levels, as it could risk electricity reliability if the drought continues.

“We ultimately need that water release or give us our all-weather road. This is the last day we will be victims of Manitoba Hydro; those were the Chief’s words,” said Brìelle Beardy-Linklater.

Georgina Beardy, a York Factory First Nation community member, says, “At the meeting this morning, it sounded like we were insignificant.”

While members were frustrated with how the meeting went, Kinew later said the province will be working on getting more boats and planes into the community to bring supplies, along with potentially moving the ferry. However, Kinew says while an all-season road is needed, that comes at a cost the province can’t yet afford.

“This is going to cost $5 billion. Our provincial infrastructure budget is $540 million. Just by that, you can see the challenge. So that brings us back to nation-building super projects,” Kinew explained.

Manitoba Hydro says current levels on Split Lake are similar to those experienced during droughts in 1988 and 1993. But for Elder Emmily Kematch, who has lived in York Factory for 50 years, this is the worst she’s ever seen.

“It has a huge impact on our community, we’ve depended on that ferry since 1977, and this is the first time it’s really been this bad,” said Kematch.

“There was a time a few years back, it was really low, but this time is really bad, and we want Hydro to release the water.”