Manitoba First Nation asks residents not to return due to water quality issues

A wildfire burns west of Split Lake, Man. on May 31, 2025. (Dieter Beardy)

A Manitoba First Nation is asking members not to return after a mandatory evacuation order was lifted due to issues with the water supply.

Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN) Chief and Council posted on its Facebook page Tuesday that water quality tests showed high levels of aluminum.

It said the water treatment plant is no longer functioning, and the water has been shut off.

“The pipes and reservoir will need to be cleaned and samples taken after the cleaning,” the post said.

TCN was evacuated late last month as an out-of-control wildfire burned only a kilometre away, causing the community, also known as Split Lake, to lose power.

The wildfire evacuation order was initially lifted Monday.

However, the water quality issue has since prompted the First Nation to declare a state of emergency.

“We understand this announcement will be upsetting for everyone, especially since we announced the mandatory fire evacuation being lifted. We have no choice to calling this state of emergency,” the post said.

TCN is now in talks with Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada to rectify the issue, the First Nation wrote.

The Canadian Red Cross has been notified and transportation for members to return has been pushed back.

The community is also facing a community-wide power outage Thursday as Manitoba Hydro replaces a power structure that was damaged beyond repair during the wildfires.

“Please understand this will be the first of numerous community wide outages required for Manitoba Hydro to safely conduct required structure replacements and repairs due to damage sustained during this year’s wildfires,” TCN Chief Doreen Spence wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday.

Hydro will provide more information as additional outages are confirmed, Chief Spence said.