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| {{Short description|Severe weather event in Ontario, Canada}} | |||
| {{coord|55|16|N|85|11|W|display=title}} | {{coord|55|16|N|85|11|W|display=title}} | ||
| On May 16, 1986, the ] community of ] was flooded during an ]. The ice jam on the ] caused large chunks of ice and flood waters to overwhelm the village. Two people were killed and all but two of more than 60 buildings in the community were destroyed.<ref name="cbc30">{{cite web |last1=Cram |first1=Stephanie |title=First Nation remembers devastating flood in northern Ontario, 30 years later |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/remembering-winisk-flood-30-years-later-1.3588024 |publisher=CBC News|access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="globemail">{{cite web |last1=Strauss |first1=Julius |title=Welcome to Peawanuck |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/welcome-to-peawanuck/article1130740/ |publisher=The Globe and Mail |access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="cangov">{{cite web |title=Flooding events in Canada: Ontario: The Winisk Flood |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/water-overview/quantity/floods/events-ontario.html#Section2 |publisher=Environment and Climate Change Canada |access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref><ref name=memoir/>{{rp|xiv}} | |||
| On May 16, 1986, the ] community of ] was completely washed away. A spring ] on the ] caused flood waters to reach as far as six kilometers inland, sending every structure but two into ]. | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| Many residents were caught by surprise. Massive boulders of ice were carried by the torrent through town, completely enveloped by the swollen river. Several were injured and two were killed. One man drowned and one woman was crushed by ice. | |||
| The community of Winisk was home to the ] and located along the ]. Homes in the First Nation were built on ].<ref name=docu/>{{rp|16:17-16:29}} Located in ] Northern Ontario, the area was sparsely populated and could experience large-scale flooding caused by erratic spring ice breakup.<ref name="memoir">{{cite book |last1=Young Hubbert |first1=Mildred |title=Winisk: On the Shore of Hudson Bay |date=1997 |publisher=Dundurn Press |isbn=1-896219-35-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/winiskonshoreofh0000hubb/page/n15/mode/2up |access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref>{{rp|xiv}}<ref name="ualberta">{{cite web |last1=Willis |first1=Katie |title=Traditional Indigenous knowledge supports flood mitigation research in James Bay region |url=https://www.ualberta.ca/science/news/2019/april/james-bay-flooding-indigenous-knowledge.html |publisher=University of Alberta Faculty of Science |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref> | |||
| During ] negotiations, Indigenous leaders warned the federal government that the area chosen for the Weenusk First Nation was prone to flooding but their warnings were dismissed.<ref name=globemail/><ref name=docu/>{{rp|7:05-7:37}}{{rp|9:51-10:25}} The community had previously been destroyed by floods in 1966 but was resettled in the same location.<ref name=globemail/> Chiefs had urged the federal government to relocate the community due to the risk of flooding for twenty years prior to the 1986 flood.<ref name=globemail/><ref name="docu">{{cite AV media |people=Douglas, Garth (Producer, Director) |title=Peawanuck - The Promised Land |medium=Television production |publisher=Tamarack Productions, Telefilm Canada, TVOntario |location=Canada |date=1987 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wwGL8jqDys |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/7wwGL8jqDys |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{rp|7:14-7:37}} The federal and provincial governments had planned to relocate the community by 1989, after first constructing an airstrip.<ref name=cbc30/><ref name=docu/><ref name="cbcfilm">{{cite web |title=Winisk flood CBC footage |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/688258627667 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref> | |||
| Relief efforts were difficult, as few roads existed in the isolated settlement. Residents had no escape from the town, which was connected to the greater world only by a small helipad. While the flood had spared this infrastructure, it proved inadequate for effective rescue of the town's population. Some residents were stranded in canoes for days while rescue conducted by ] airlifted victims between the disaster and the helipad. | |||
| Chief George Hunter and the band council had undertaken studies to determine what it would cost to move the community to higher ground, but funding was not approved for the move until weeks before the flood.<ref name=globemail/><ref name=docu/>{{rp|6:19-6:37}}{{rp|7:37-8:07}} Some members of the community prepared for flooding by tying up boats in their yards during the spring in case flood waters reached the village.<ref name=cbc30/><ref name=memoir/>{{rp|134}} | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==Flood event== | |||
| Winisk was abandoned, and the community was later rebuilt thirty kilometers up-river on higher ground. The new settlement was renamed ], meaning "flintstone" in the ]. | |||
| The ice upstream of the Winisk river broke up before the ice at the river's mouth. The ice and water flowing downstream could not flow into the bay, and was instead forced up onto the riverbank.<ref name=globemail/><ref name=memoir/>{{rp|134}} The ice and water came in, bursting the river's banks and buildings were smashed and carried away by the ice. Although preparations were made, many residents of the community were caught by surprise when the ice came. Residents had minutes to board boats and canoes before the ice and water overwhelmed buildings. Massive boulders of ice, some described as being as large as two storey buildings, were carried by the torrent through town.<ref name=docu/>{{rp|3:00-3:36}} Homes were lifted off of their foundations and carried inland by the floodwaters.<ref name=cangov/><ref name=docu/>{{rp|0:08-0:24}}{{rp|4:24-4:35}}<ref name=cbcfilm/>Boats carrying evacuated residents were tossed around between huge chunks of ice, warping and crushing boats.<ref name=cbc30/> Power lines snapped and the community's power station exploded as ice chunks impacted the building, cutting off telephone and electricity to the community.<ref name=globemail/><ref name=memoir/>{{rp|137}} | |||
| The community's priest used the community's only working radio to contact ] before the power was cut.<ref name=memoir/>{{rp|135-137}} A man from Telesat contacted authorities and helicopters arrived in the community approximately three hours later.<ref name=memoir/>{{rp|137}} | |||
| Rescue efforts took several hours as helicopters rescued residents from the ice and displaced homes in foggy conditions.<ref name=cangov/><ref name=memoir/>{{rp|137}} People were airlifted to the Winisk Airport, which was above the floodwaters, and evacuated to Attawapiskat.<ref name=cangov/> Residents were allowed back into the community to collect some belongings on May 17.<ref name=docu/>{{rp|5:14-5:34}} | |||
| ==Aftermath== | |||
| Two people died during the flood. An elderly man drowned after failing to reach his boat. A woman drowned and was crushed by ice after saving her baby from drowning.<ref name=cbc30/><ref name=globemail/><ref name=memoir/>{{rp|135}} The community of Winisk was abandoned and the Weenusk First Nation relocated to a location chosen by the community, approximately 30 kilometres south.<ref name=globemail/> The new settlement was located on higher ground and was named ], meaning "flintrock" in ].<ref name=cbc30/><ref name=globemail/> It cost $10 million to construct the new homes in Peawanuck in 1987.<ref name=docu/>{{rp|18:56-19:10}} The homes were built by Winisk residents, residents from surrounding First Nations and a few volunteers between May and December 1987.<ref name=docu/>{{rp|17:34-17:44}}{{rp|27:05-27:22}} Supplies were delivered via helicopter transport and specialists from the south came to construct a diesel power plant, drill wells and to engineer an airstrip.<ref name=docu/>{{rp|14:42-15:01}} During construction families lived in tents, and by the time they moved into their houses in December it often reached -30°C.<ref name=docu/>{{rp|27:05-27:22}} | |||
| ⚫ | A coroner's inquest was launched as a result of the disaster. Several recommendations were made, including more effective surveillance of river conditions, the implementation of an early flood warning system, emergency transportation adequate to serve its population, and that a specialized committee be established to address the concerns of flooding in the ] and ] region. Communication was cited as an issue and it was recommended that each northern community be provided with portable radio systems. It was also recommended to ] that all power lines crossing river systems be raised to prevent damage like that caused at the Winisk flood.<ref name=cangov/> | ||
| The community of Peawanuck, as recently as 2016, commemorates the anniversary of the flood with community events.<ref name=cbc30/> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| {{cite book |title=Winisk: On the Shore of Hudson Bay |last=Hubbert |first=Mildred Young |year=1997 |publisher=Dundurn Press |isbn= |
* {{cite book |title=Winisk: On the Shore of Hudson Bay |last=Hubbert |first=Mildred Young |year=1997 |publisher=Dundurn Press |isbn=1-896219-35-7 }} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| {{flood-stub}} | |||
| {{Canada-hist-stub}} | |||
Latest revision as of 14:20, 19 May 2023
Severe weather event in Ontario, Canada55°16′N 85°11′W / 55.267°N 85.183°W / 55.267; -85.183
On May 16, 1986, the Northern Ontario community of Winisk was flooded during an ice jam. The ice jam on the Winisk River caused large chunks of ice and flood waters to overwhelm the village. Two people were killed and all but two of more than 60 buildings in the community were destroyed.
Background
The community of Winisk was home to the Weenusk First Nation and located along the river of the same name. Homes in the First Nation were built on muskeg. Located in subarctic Northern Ontario, the area was sparsely populated and could experience large-scale flooding caused by erratic spring ice breakup.
During Treaty negotiations, Indigenous leaders warned the federal government that the area chosen for the Weenusk First Nation was prone to flooding but their warnings were dismissed. The community had previously been destroyed by floods in 1966 but was resettled in the same location. Chiefs had urged the federal government to relocate the community due to the risk of flooding for twenty years prior to the 1986 flood. The federal and provincial governments had planned to relocate the community by 1989, after first constructing an airstrip.
Chief George Hunter and the band council had undertaken studies to determine what it would cost to move the community to higher ground, but funding was not approved for the move until weeks before the flood. Some members of the community prepared for flooding by tying up boats in their yards during the spring in case flood waters reached the village.
Flood event
The ice upstream of the Winisk river broke up before the ice at the river's mouth. The ice and water flowing downstream could not flow into the bay, and was instead forced up onto the riverbank. The ice and water came in, bursting the river's banks and buildings were smashed and carried away by the ice. Although preparations were made, many residents of the community were caught by surprise when the ice came. Residents had minutes to board boats and canoes before the ice and water overwhelmed buildings. Massive boulders of ice, some described as being as large as two storey buildings, were carried by the torrent through town. Homes were lifted off of their foundations and carried inland by the floodwaters.Boats carrying evacuated residents were tossed around between huge chunks of ice, warping and crushing boats. Power lines snapped and the community's power station exploded as ice chunks impacted the building, cutting off telephone and electricity to the community.
The community's priest used the community's only working radio to contact Telesat before the power was cut. A man from Telesat contacted authorities and helicopters arrived in the community approximately three hours later.
Rescue efforts took several hours as helicopters rescued residents from the ice and displaced homes in foggy conditions. People were airlifted to the Winisk Airport, which was above the floodwaters, and evacuated to Attawapiskat. Residents were allowed back into the community to collect some belongings on May 17.
Aftermath
Two people died during the flood. An elderly man drowned after failing to reach his boat. A woman drowned and was crushed by ice after saving her baby from drowning. The community of Winisk was abandoned and the Weenusk First Nation relocated to a location chosen by the community, approximately 30 kilometres south. The new settlement was located on higher ground and was named Peawanuck, meaning "flintrock" in Cree language. It cost $10 million to construct the new homes in Peawanuck in 1987. The homes were built by Winisk residents, residents from surrounding First Nations and a few volunteers between May and December 1987. Supplies were delivered via helicopter transport and specialists from the south came to construct a diesel power plant, drill wells and to engineer an airstrip. During construction families lived in tents, and by the time they moved into their houses in December it often reached -30°C.
A coroner's inquest was launched as a result of the disaster. Several recommendations were made, including more effective surveillance of river conditions, the implementation of an early flood warning system, emergency transportation adequate to serve its population, and that a specialized committee be established to address the concerns of flooding in the James and Hudson Bay region. Communication was cited as an issue and it was recommended that each northern community be provided with portable radio systems. It was also recommended to Ontario Hydro that all power lines crossing river systems be raised to prevent damage like that caused at the Winisk flood.
The community of Peawanuck, as recently as 2016, commemorates the anniversary of the flood with community events.
References
- ^ Cram, Stephanie. "First Nation remembers devastating flood in northern Ontario, 30 years later". CBC News. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ Strauss, Julius. "Welcome to Peawanuck". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ "Flooding events in Canada: Ontario: The Winisk Flood". Environment and Climate Change Canada. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ Young Hubbert, Mildred (1997). Winisk: On the Shore of Hudson Bay. Dundurn Press. ISBN 1-896219-35-7. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ Douglas, Garth (Producer, Director) (1987). Peawanuck - The Promised Land (Television production). Canada: Tamarack Productions, Telefilm Canada, TVOntario. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
- Willis, Katie. "Traditional Indigenous knowledge supports flood mitigation research in James Bay region". University of Alberta Faculty of Science. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ "Winisk flood CBC footage". CBC News. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- Hubbert, Mildred Young (1997). Winisk: On the Shore of Hudson Bay. Dundurn Press. ISBN 1-896219-35-7.
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