Peawanuck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peawanuck
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|---|---|
| Peawanuck Indian Settlement | |
 Peawanuck
Location in Ontario
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| District | Kenora |
| First Nation | Weenusk |
| Area | |
| • Land | 3.48 km2 (1.34 sq mi) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 195 |
| • Density | 56.0/km2 (145/sq mi) |
| Postal Code(s) |
P0L 2H0
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| Area Code(s) | 807 but 705 is used |
Peawanuck is a small, isolated community in northern Ontario, Canada. It is home to the Cree people. The community is located near where the Winisk and Shamattawa rivers meet. This spot is about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from where the Winisk River flows into Hudson Bay. In 2016, about 195 people lived here.
The people of Peawanuck used to live in a community called Winisk. This old town was closer to Hudson Bay. In 1986, a big flood forced everyone to leave Winisk. The community then moved about 30 kilometers (19 miles) up the river to higher ground. The new settlement was named Peawanuck. This name means "flintstone" in the Cree language. It took only seven months to rebuild the community. The people worked very hard to get their new homes ready before winter. Peawanuck is surrounded by Polar Bear Provincial Park. This park offers some chances for tourism. Peawanuck is at a similar northern latitude to cities like Glasgow and Moscow. However, its winters are much colder and harsher.
Contents
Getting Around Peawanuck
Peawanuck does not have roads that connect it to other towns all year. The main way to get there is by air.
Peawanuck Airport
The community has its own airfield, called Peawanuck Airport. This airport is very important for travel.
Local Roads and Travel
Inside Peawanuck, there are marked roads. These roads do not have official names. People call the main road Main Street. The road along the river is called Riverside.
People in town use private cars or light trucks. Other common ways to travel are by snowmobile in winter and by canoe in summer.
Winter Roads
In winter, special roads made of ice and snow connect Peawanuck to other places. These "winter roads" link to Fort Severn, Ontario. From there, you can reach Shamattawa, Manitoba and Gillam, Manitoba.
Community Services
Peawanuck has important services to help its residents. These include health care, fire protection, and policing.
Health Care in Peawanuck
Peawanuck does not have a hospital. It has a nursing station instead. This station is part of the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. The Peawanuck Nursing Station provides basic health care. It is staffed by two nurses.
Doctors from the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority can help the nurses. They often do this through video calls. Doctors also visit the community sometimes. For serious medical needs, people are flown by air ambulance. These flights go from Peawanuck Airport to larger hospitals in Timmins or Kingston.
Fire and Police Services
Peawanuck has a fire station. About a dozen volunteers work there. They use one fire truck to keep the community safe from fires.
The community is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service. This is a police service for Aboriginal communities. Two officers are usually stationed in Peawanuck.
Utilities and Public Works
The community has systems for electricity and waste management.
Electricity
Electricity for Peawanuck comes from three large diesel generators. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation helps to keep these generators working.
Waste Management
Peawanuck has a waste water treatment plant. This plant serves all homes and most businesses. However, there are no regular trash collection services. This is due to a lack of funds. So, people handle their waste locally.
