A remote First Nation in northern Manitoba has seen its band office struck by fire for a second time in less than a decade.
“Upset. Everybody is upset,” said Moses Beardy, who works security at the First Nation’s nursing station. He said the fire was out as of Saturday afternoon but the band office had burned to the ground.
Video posted to social media Saturday morning showed the newer-looking structure engulfed in flames.
“It’s kind of like a disaster for everyone. People with kids, other people with [disabilities] and other people that have a job,” said Beardy.
The father of five worries about how he’ll get paid this week, as cheques are printed out at the band office and distributed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Manitoba Hydro was reporting 121 customers in the area were without power due to an equipment problem. Power was expected to be restored by 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, according to the Crown corporation’s outage map.
Shamattawa First Nation Chief Jordna Hill confirmed to CBC on Saturday afternoon that the community’s band office had caught fire, but said it was too early to know more.
The First Nation is nearly 750 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
In September 2016, the First Nation declared a state of emergency after its band office and only grocery store burned to the ground in a fire that was believed to have been set deliberately. At the time, the fire truck had broken down and was not able to respond.
Last year, another state of emergency was declared in the community following several suicides and a major fire that left several families without homes.
CBC has requested comment from Indigenous Services Canada and Manitoba RCMP.