Water flows again in Tataskweyak Cree Nation as evacuees await return

A northern Manitoba community beleaguered by wildfire and water woes for more than a month announced Saturday its water treatment plant is once again functioning properly.

Tataskweyak Cree Nation, also known as Split Lake, first declared a state of emergency on May 29 due to a nearby wildfire. Several homes were destroyed by the blaze, which forced nearly 200 people to evacuate the community.

The following day, a mandatory evacuation order was issued for the community, located just over 700 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

While the initial evacuation order was lifted on June 17, the community declared a second state of emergency the same day when its water treatment plant failed. Residents were advised not to return home until the issues were resolved.

On Saturday, Tataskweyak chief and council posted on social media that the community's water treatment plant is now functioning properly after repairs to an intake valve. The post states work remains to be done, including flushing water lines and conducting water quality tests.

CBC has reached out to the chief and council for comment.

Eager to return home

Community member Alberteen Spence says evacuees are doing their best to cope while awaiting news on returning home. There's a growing sense of fatigue among evacuees who have been living in hotels for almost two months, and they are anxious to get home.

Many residents are watching for updates on the water station on the First Nation. It's one of many factors that will affect whether it is safe to return home, Spence said, adding they also need full health services and safe supply routes.

"They need to have people in the nursing station, you know, people working in the store.... We need to have those supply routes open," Spence said.

In a response emailed to CBC News on Tuesday evening, a spokesperson with Indigenous Services Canada said nurses will be among the first to return to Tataskweyak once it's safe to do so.

"Nurses and other essential workers are among the first to return to the community, but only once declared safe by emergency officials. This ensures health services are in place before community members return home," the spokesperson wrote.

There are also concerns that the fire needs to be contained and the effect of the smoke on air quality, she said.

Tataskweyak chief and council say re-entry will happen in phases, which means not all residents will return at once. Those who are Priority 1 — including elders, and those with respiratory issues or chronic Illness — will return last.

"Re-Entry; If plans work out for members to return, discussions will begin to talk about transportation and repatriation," said chief and council on social media.

"A formal announcement will be made, so please be patient. We do not know the exact date as to when you can return home yet."

As of the province's latest fire bulletin on Monday, the 25,225-hectare wildfire near Tataskweyak is out of control, and the community remains under a mandatory evacuation order.