The nursing station in Easterville was destroyed by fire on Monday. Photo courtesy: RCMP.
An early morning fire on Monday destroyed the nursing station in Easterville, Man., a community that sits next to Chemawawin Cree Nation in northern Manitoba.
It’s the latest bad news for the community that has also experienced three homicides in the last two months, including the death of a 16-year-old girl on Friday.
Chemawawin Cree Nation RCMP say they received a report of a structure fire at the nursing station just after 5:30 a.m. on Monday.
When officers arrived on the scene, the building was engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported.
RCMP say they have arrested a 20-year-old female who remains in custody.
In a statement to APTN News, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee says he’s dismayed over the fire at the nursing station.
“The critical role nursing stations play in delivering essential healthcare services to remote northern communities has been severely impacted. It’s going to take a long time to recover and that raises grave concern as this is a detrimental loss that will ultimately have an impact on the health and well-being of community members,” Settee says in the statement.
Attempts to reach the Chemawawin Cree Nation Chief Clarence Easter were unsuccessful.
On Friday morning, Chemawawin RCMP responded to a report of a deceased female in an open area in Easterville.
The 16-year-old female’s death is being treated as a homicide.
A 15-year old male has been charged with second degree murder.
On May 13th, Chemawawin RCMP were called to the Nursing Station in the Cree Nation for a report of a 14-year-old female suffering from serious injuries. When officers arrived, the female was pronounced dead.
A 19-year old male is charged with second degree murder in that incident.
On May 4th,Chemawawin RCMP responded to a report of a disturbance at a residence in Easterville.
Officers located a 32-year-old female in critical condition. EMS attended the scene and provided medical attention but the victim died from her injuries.
A second victim, a 35-year-old female, was located a short distance away with non-life-threatening injuries. Two female youths, ages of 14 and 13, are charged with second degree murder and attempted murder.
Easterville is roughly 460 km north of Winnipeg.
The community developed beside the Chemawawin Cree Nation reserve. Both relocated to this site in 1962-63 as a result of the flooding of Cedar Lake caused by construction of the hydro dam on the Saskatchewan River where it enters Lake Winnipeg at Grand Rapids.
