Northern Manitoba community declares state of emergency over suicide epidemic

A disturbing number of suicides have pushed a remote Manitoba community into a state of emergency.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation, known as Cross Lake, has had six suicides in the last two months and 140 attempts in the last two weeks alone.

With this recent crisis there is a sense of hopelessness among its residents, along with a plea for help from the government.

Startling numbers

Cross Lake is roughly 770 km north of Winnipeg with a population of more than 8,000 people, including off-reserve members, meaning it’s likely nearly everyone knows someone affected by suicide.

Rusty Garrioch, a youth chief living on the reserve, said members of the community are shocked and traumatized over the recent suicides.

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According to Garrioch, four of the community members who took their lives over the past few weeks were in foster care.

An educational crisis

The community is hoping to staff more health workers to deal with the crisis, but according to the principal of Otter Nelson River School in Cross Lake, there is also a need to fix the broken education system.

Gordon Hum said the root causes of suicide can always be traced back to poverty, but also a lack of education.

“There is an 80 per cent unemployment and poverty rate here,” Hum said. “In addition to this, the schools are also underfunded so we have a crisis in native education.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There is an 80 per cent unemployment and poverty rate here," Hum said. "In addition to this, the schools are also underfunded so we have a crisis in native education."

The schools at the community are funded for 1,500 students, but there are more than 1,800 enrolled – which is a huge problem, he said.

“You are telling people they failed before they get into the door, because the door is not open to them.”

He said in order to overcome the crisis, the schools need resources such as suicide prevention training, listening skills for students and more counsellors.

Students at the school have even started sharing circles, trying to offer help to their peers.

Not the first time

Cross Lake has tragically grappled with an alarming spike of suicides before, with many members of the community raising alarm bells well over a decade ago.

Global News headed out to the community in 1999 to speak with the community members about the problem.

WATCH: Global News speaks with paramedic Larry Tetrreault in Cross Lake in 1999

2:31 Cross Lake First Nation struggles with high number of suicides in 1999

Government response

The federal government said it’s doing everything possible to help the community.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and Health Minister Jane Philpott said they are committed to addressing the underlying reasons why so many indigenous people are taking their own lives, such as poor housing and lack of recreational facilities.

On the provincial level, Greg Selinger said he did meet with the chief of Cross Lake on this matter a few weeks ago and is going to provide “immediate assistance on this matter.”

RELATED: Premier apologizes to Cross Lake First Nation for hydro damage

Meanwhile, the community continues to struggle with poverty, high unemployment levels and alarming amount of suicides among its youth. However there is also resilience and strength.

“I want to send a message to young people that there is hope,” Garrioch said. “There are people out there to talk to. There’s someone that loves us.”

WATCH: Youth chief from Cross Lake speaks about the crisis 

0:53 Cross Lake First Nation grapples with suicide crisis

With files from the Canadian Press