Water service cut off to Manitoba First Nation

A water company in southern Manitoba has shut off service to the Roseau River First Nation, saying the band hasn't been paying its bills.

Officials with Ginew School and several residents on the reserve said the water supply was cut off Tuesday morning.

The water shut-off will affect most homes on the reserve, as well as businesses and community services. The fire service also relies on water piped in from Letellier.

"It's going to affect my family," said Martha Larocque, who heard the news when she was visiting the community's seniors centre on Tuesday.

"No water running, and we have no outdoor toilets. We don't have nothing, nowhere to cook except to cook outside, I guess. We might be back to the ancient times."

Roseau River has its water piped in by the Pembina Valley Water Co-operative in nearby Letellier.

Officials with the company told CBC News earlier this week that the band has not paid its bill in four months.

"We had no other option," said co-op CEO Sam Schellenberg. "We've had repeated promises of payment, and the payments just never arrive."

Last week, Manitoba Hydro cut off power to a couple of government buildings on the reserve, also blaming lack of payment.

Chief Terry Nelson has not returned calls from CBC News.

About 1,100 people live on the Roseau River First Nation, located 80 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg.