With unpredictable winter road access amid climate change, remote Indigenous communities are anxious for solutions.

By Chantal Marie Schromeda

The isolated community of Kisipakamak (Brochet) is roughly 1000 km north of Winnipeg on the northern shore of Reindeer Lake, nestled next to the Saskatchewan border.

It’s one of over 20 communities in the north depending on the province’s 2,375km long winter road system to access vital goods, according to the province.

Winter road in Kisipakamak. Myron Cook

“The winter road is our lifeline for fuel, lumber, bulk shipments, equipment, dried goods, and housing supplies,” says traditional Indigenous harvester, Myron Cook, living in Kisipakamak.

But as the winter seasons grow shorter amid unpredictable climate changes, communities dependent on winter road access in remote regions are anxious for solutions. 

Indigenous non profit working towards food sovereignty, Food Matters Manitoba (FMM), routinely sends goods to remote communities in the north depending on winter road access to support the growth of local food systems. Community members living in the north, like Cook, believe fortifying strong and dependable food systems can play a role in being part of the solution, alleviating some of the stress of the unpredictable winter road system for isolated Indigenous communities. 

Every year, FMM sends supplies on the winter roads to Bunibonibee (Oxford House), Kisematawaw (Shamattawa), Dahlu T’ua (Lac Brochet), Kisipakamak, and Kiscewaskahikan (York Landing). The supplies sent to communities depend on communities’ wants and needs, regarding infrastructure and harvesting. 

 “We routinely send up soil for those looking to start small gardens, along with lumber to build raised beds,” says FMM Northern Programs Manager, Myles King. “We have sent up gardening and indoor grow supplies to schools and health departments, fishing and netting equipment, as well as hunting supplies.”

In Kisipakamak, the Health Centre and community partners receive seeds shipped from FMM to hand out to community members interested in planting. The Health Centre hosts a large seasonal garden where community members can gather to plant their own crops.

The school in Kisipakamak also uses shipped seeds to build raised garden beds. 

Fishing and netting equipment, along with hunting supplies, ensure harvesters like Cook, who is also FMM’s Community Project Coordinator, and youth of the community, have the necessary supplies to go out onto the land – harvesting traditional foods intended for the elders and greater community. 

“Having less reliance on imports in remote communities provides more reliability accessing the food they need,” says King.

According to the province, the winter road system serves over 30,000 people living in the north, carrying over 2,500 shipments of goods each year. 

While the winter roads typically have a designated opening for mid-January depending on the weather, the majority of the roads did not open this year until mid-February, with some designated road sections not scheduled to be open until the end of February. 

With warmer winters comes a shortened winter road season, creating smaller windows of opportunity for FMM to get communities the goods they need, explains FMM Northern Coordinator, Morgan McCurdy. 

“Last season in 2024, we had begun to think that the roads might not open due to the warm weather,” she says. “This has us looking at other options like flying in the supplies to each community, which would almost triple the cost of the project.”

Snow covered winter road in Kisipakamak. Myron Cook

Cook wants to see more solution-based approaches to resolving communities’ dependency on the winter roads. While alternative methods of transportation do exist, they are incredibly inconvenient or wildly expensive. 

“The only alternatives to travel in and out of the community is either by plane, which is outrageously expensive or by boat to cross the lake to Saskatchewan,” he says.

By building local food systems, Cook believes there would be less reliance on getting goods shipped in from the south, so Indigenous communities could be self-sufficient as they were prior to colonization. 

“Building strong, local food systems like gardening and local harvesting is a very good part of the solution, as we only have one grocery store with high food prices and one airline with high costs of freight,” he says. “It (local food systems) would decrease our dependence on store bought goods, and it would really benefit people and families financially, while providing a healthier diet.”

Cook is heavily immersed in his community and has been from a young age, harvesting off the land for the elders and greater community. Through his ongoing work with FMM, Cook brings the youth of the community onto the land to pass down the same skills he was once taught by his family. 

He sees first-hand how FMM’s support has had a positive impact on his community, as local food systems foster healthy people and deep, community support networks, he explains.

And while building local food systems is a strong starting point, Cook wants to see a myriad of solutions implemented to tackle the systemic issue for Indigenous communities in the north.

“We need lower food prices, local greenhouses and gardens, different methods of bulk shipments, and the best most advanced equipment possible to construct the winter roads,” he says. “Also, more research needs to be done with the consideration of climate change to prove that the winter seasons are actually getting shorter.”

As temperatures continue to fluctuate, so do road conditions, making it increasingly difficult to reach communities. 

“Blockades and poor driving conditions are making the journey more difficult,” adds King. 

Tally varying road conditions and a shorter winter season together, and FMM’s truck driver transporting goods to communities needs to be ready to head out onto the winter roads with short notice, explains King. 

If unable to deliver by driving, rations start or prices to cover flying in the fuel jump.

“This leads to less access to the land and households dependent on generators to take more out of their budget,” he adds. 

The lack of stability with the province’s winter road system is a serious issue. And with remote Indigenous communities being at the mercy of the weather, community members like Cook want solutions to be a priority. 

For decades Indigenous communities have been displaced and disregarded by the Canadian government, states McCurdy. 

“By strengthening community food systems, we are helping communities we work with to create a healthier environment for their community members,” she says. “By helping them regain access to the land, we also help build healthy bodies, minds, and souls through land-based practices.”