Aid groups rally to help First Nations facing mass food spoilage after northwestern Ontario outages

Aid organizations are ramping up efforts to replenish supplies after power outages across half a dozen First Nations in northwestern Ontario led to mass food spoilage.

Last weekend, hydro poles along the Wataynikaneyap Power line were damaged by wildfires, leading to a shutdown of vital utilities across Pikangikum, North Spirit Lake, Keewaywin, Deer Lake, Sandy Lake and Poplar Hill First Nations. Only Sandy Lake and Deer Lake had access to backup diesel fuel.

After four days of outages, the First Nations are still recuperating from the substantial food spoilage, overheating in homes, and shortages of food, fuel and other essential supplies. Wataynikaneyap Power said restoration was completed as of 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Pikangikum First Nation Chief Paddy Peters related to CBC News the magnitude of the outages' impact on the remote Ojibway community.

"Beneath the smoke and silence was a quieter emergency," Peters said. "As we all know, food is already expensive — painfully so.

"But the true cost becomes unimaginable when you have no power, no water, no way to preserve or prepare food."

Surrounding wildfires still pose a threat to several communities. Pikangikum has evacuated its most vulnerable members to Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout due to Red Lake 62, a blaze just seven kilometres away.

Meanwhile, North Spirit Lake sent at-risk members to Toronto because of Red Lake 40, which is more than 8,700 hectares large and remains not under control. 

Watching his community members bring their spoiled food to the dump was a painful experience, Peters said.

"For four days, families watched their fridges and freezers thawing the moose meat. The fish, the berries — all gone," he said. "Food gathered through hunting and fishing, passed down through generations, lost.

"For many, it was the only food they had."

Volker Kromm is executive director of Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA), which provides food to 37 partner organizations and 47 First Nations across northwestern Ontario.

After his organization received a phone call from a colleague, Kromm said, it quickly readied its emergency response.

"[What] we're always willing to do is respond in the case of an emergency," Kromm told CBC News. "Things like water, non-perishable foods and dry goods were needed … they weren't sure if people were coming out or people were staying."