Hydro outage at LG-1 means some still shiver in Chisasibi

Communities in Nunavik get their power from diesel generators — not the huge LG-1 dam shown here, which is part of La Grande hydroelectric dam complex near Chisasibi. But the James Bay community of 4,000 and its neighbouring community to the south, Wemindji, population 1,300, have been without power since Dec. 5 due to a failure at LG-1. About 110 Inuit beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement live in Chisasibi, called Mailasik in Inuktitut. (POSTMEDIA NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Here you can see the location of Chisasibi, to the south of the Nunavik community of Kuujjuaraapik, in the James Bay Cree territory. (IMAGE COURTESY OF MAKIVIK CORP.)

Several homes in Chisasibi, a Cree and Inuit community along the Quebec coast of James Bay, remained without power Dec. 8, four full days after the community suffered a major outage.

Chisasibi and its neighbouring community to the south, Wemindji, both declared states of emergencies earlier this week after two transformers at La Grande-1 blew, cutting electricity to the two communities.

While power was restored to some Chisasibi homes this week, it remained off in Raymond Menarick’s home Dec. 8, where he, his wife and nine-year-old son relied on a wood stove for heat.

Menarick, Chisasibi’s representative on Makivik Corp.’s board of directors, said his family is coping.

“I think the whole community is getting together and helping each other out, so that’s good,” said Menarick, who is one of about 110 Inuit beneficiaries living in community they call Mailasik in Inuktitut. “The community is distributing firewood and, if we wanted to, we could go to a local restaurant for free meals.”

This week, Hydro Quebec has trucked in about seven generators and hooked them up to public buildings in the community of 4,000.

Buildings like the community centre and the shopping centre remain open to residents to use, and that’s where some have chosen to sleep at night, Menarick said.

It’s been cold this week in Chisasibi, with temperatures dipping below -20 C at night.

And because the community remains under a state of emergency, the local band office and local schools are closed, along with several other businesses.

The 32-bed Chisasibi Hospital has been to operate on its back-up power system.

Menarick works for the local cable company, which opted not to turn on its equipment this week to conserve power.

Some stores in Chisasibi have remained open, but with shorter hours, while others have only begun to re-open again after temporary closures, he said.

Hydro Quebec says the power should be fully restored to the community by next Tuesday.

“I think they’re dealing with this as quickly as they can,” Menarick said.