After facing a week of sporadic power failures last month, Nibinamik First Nation is encountering issues with its diesel power system once more. The remote Oji-Cree community, also known as Summer Beaver, is situated approximately 500 kilometers north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, with Chief Stanley Oskineegish confirming around 400 residents and a growing population.
A series of power disruptions in February led to frozen pipes in about 30% of the community’s homes. Workers recently found that the main generator, a Caterpillar C27, had suffered a mechanical breakdown. “The C27 experienced a failure where bolts sheared off at the flywheel, causing damage and forcing the unit offline. This is being treated as a warranty issue. Toromont is actively sourcing the required parts, and repairs are expected to take about two weeks, depending on parts availability,” stated the First Nation.
Currently, the community is operating on one stable generator, urging residents to conserve power until further notice to ensure a steady and reliable power supply for all. With four generators in total, Nibinamik is utilizing its older C27 generator and a smaller C15 as a backup while working on repairs for a C18 generator.
Chief Walter Oskineegish expressed urgent need for more dependable equipment, recognizing the limited time to transport it via the seasonal winter road before spring. Indigenous Services Canada acknowledged the challenges faced by Nibinamik First Nation and mentioned providing immediate assistance like generators, food, and water.
A state of emergency was declared on Feb. 20 due to the power outage, alongside an ongoing emergency from 2020 related to the diesel generating system. Chief Oskineegish highlighted concerns about vulnerable community members reliant on medical equipment during the repair process.
The power disruptions have also resulted in appliance damage, posing fire risks in homes without functioning smoke detectors. As repairs progress, the First Nation is ensuring essential services by arranging temporary rental units for key buildings and expediting backup generators if necessary.
Nibinamik continues to monitor the situation closely and vows to provide updates as progress is made in resolving the power issues.