Split Lake is located 600 miles north of Winnipeg and 90 miles north east of Thompson, latitude 56 degrees north. An unpaved highway built in the 1970’s allows access to Thompson and the town of Gillam 90 miles further east. Prior to that Split Lake was a “fly in” community. Split lake is actually part of the Nelson River system which begins in Lake Winnipeg and ends its journey in Hudson Bay.
The Tatatskweyak Cree Nation originated in York Factory on Hudson Bay moving southwest and finally settling in its present location. Three other nearby bands, Fox Lake, War Lake and York Factory were part of the original community but are now independant.TCN is the largest of these bands with a population of about 2000.
Unemployment can be as high as 80% on the northern reserves which means many families have to depend on welfare to survive. With large families very often supporting grandparents and foster children, homes can be badly overcrowded.
Food supplies are supplemented by fishing, and hunting moose and Canada Geese. A number of families have hunting camps. There is a commercial fishing facility in the community.
The community provides a number of jobs such as school board staff, social welfare programs, police department and a band owned construction company. The city of Thompson with a population of 13,000 but 90 miles away is also a source of jobs. A large nickel mine owned by Vale is located in Thompson.
Split Lake has two small gas stations and one major grocery store “The Northern”. The nursing station is manned by a team of nurses with regular visits by a doctor. Ambulances and helicopters transport Split Lake patients to Thompson Hospital. More serious cases may require treatment in Winnipeg, 600 miles to the south.
Greyhound operates a daily bus service on the 180 miles of unpaved highways between Thompson, Split Lake and Gillam. A free ferry runs between Split Lake and York Landing, the home of the York Factory Cree Community between May and October. This is a two hour trip across the Nelson River. York Landing has a small airport since the only other access in the winter is via an ice road and snowmobile.
Huge hydro dams on the nearby Nelson River provide 75% of Manitoba’s electricity. A new Dam is about to be built to provide a third hydro line to Winnipeg. As a result a new 25 year agreement between Manitoba and four Cree Bands including the Tataskweyak Cree Nation has recently been signed. This will recompense communities for flood damage to shorelines affecting hunting and fishing activities. Many jobs will be created for local band members during the ten year construction of the dam and generating Station. This agreement is known as the Keeyask agreement and hopefully will bring many benefits to the affected communities.
