The Chief of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation maintained his stance that turning off the water to his community was an act of terrorism.
Terry Nelson held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to explain how four months worth of water bills went unpaid, leading to the community's water supply being shut off by the Pembina Valley Water Cooperative.
The taps were closed on Tuesday, affecting more than 1,000 people.
"Our dispute was not with Pembina Valley [Water Cooperative] and not with Manitoba Hydro. Roseau continues to be underfunded," he said.
Nelson said per capita funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada sits at $3,000. Nelson said it's a far cry from the $16,500 per capita funding promised by the federal government and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, leaving the community struggling to pay social service costs.
"I think it's clear that this is a national issue," said Nelson. "If the white man can cut off services to First Nations, then what should the northern flood agreement people do with Manitoba Hydro? Manitoba Hydro is not paying its bills. Do [northern First Nations] have the right to turn off essential services to Winnipeg? No. We wouldn't do that... If we did that to a white community in a dispute, we would be labeled terrorists."
Nelson said the band has sent a $50,000 check to the utility, but it will be still several hours before water reservoirs are full enough to restore full water service to the community.
Manitoba Hydro also says the band has not paid the community's electricity bill for more than 90 days. Power has already been cut off at the band office and the recreation centre. Residents there tell CTV News they worry their lights will be turned off, too.
Hydro says right now it has no intention of turning the power off to welfare residents the band is supposed to provide for, although a company spokesperson tells CTV News it may have to reconsider if the bill remains unpaid.
Residents tell CTV News they've had enough and are tired of excuses.
"They should be here answering these questions," said Thelma Nelson. "It's not like it's the people's fault."
"I got grandchildren and... what are they going to drink?" said Sandra Hayden.
They say Nelson has had more than five years to improve conditions in the community, but hasn't.
A petition is now circulating among community residents to have Nelson and the rest of the Roseau council ousted.
They're sending the petition to the federal government and asking for new leadership, saying they're tired of having to fend for themselves.
"The First Nation people are really angry and rightly so," Nelson said. "They're also angry with chief and council, which is understandable because what if you got up this morning and your children can't go to the washroom, wash up or get a drink of water?"
He said the band consistently loses $40,000 a month in social services funding, as the band pays out 100 per cent of all costs, but is only recouping 70 per cent.
Nelson said the band's gas bar and VLT lounge along Highway 6 is needed to subsidize social service costs to the tune of $1 million a year.
Nelson said there is a meeting scheduled Thursday morning with community members.
CTV's Caroline Barghout. is following this story. See the full story tonight on CTV New at Six.
