Peawanuck

Peawanuck is an isolated Cree community in the Kenora District, Ontario, Canada. It is located near the confluence of the Winisk and Shamattawa rivers, about 35 km from the Winisk River's end in Hudson Bay. Its population is 237. Its population used to live in the community of Winisk , near the mouth of the Winisk River. This also used to be a Mid Canada Line Radar site. In 1986, its population was forced to abandon Winisk as a result of the Winisk Flood Disaster. The community was relocated thirty kilometers up river on higher ground. The new settlement was renamed Peawanuck, meaning "flintstone" in the Cree language. It only took seven months for the community to be rebuilt in Peawanuck, with much credit going to the community members who were determined to have their new homes ready by the winter. It is surrounded by lands of the Polar Bear Provincial Park providing Peawanuck with limited tourism opportunities. It lies at similar latitudes to Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Moscow but has much harsher winters than those other cities.

Peawanuck is not accessible by year round road but has an airfield (Peawanuck Airport). Marked roads exists for travel within Peawanuck. While the roads have no names, the main road in town is referred to as Main Street and the one along the river as Riverside. There are private cars or light trucks in town, but other modes of travel include snowmobiles and canoe. The town is however, linked by winter/ice roads in the winter towards Fort Severn, Ontario, and ultimately, Shamattawa, Manitoba and Gillam, Manitoba.

Peawanuck has no hospitals and is only served by one of two Health Canada funded Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Partnership Sites. The Peawanuck Nursing station provides basic health care needs in the community. It is federally run by Health Canada's First Nation and Inuit Branch and partnered with Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. Peawanuck Nursing Station (staffed by two nurses) can be assisted by doctors at Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, by teleconference, with occasional physician visits. Advanced medical care requires transport by air ambulance operated by James Bay Ambulance Services from Peawanuck Airport

There is a waste water treatment plant that serves all residential homes and most business. There is no sanitation services in Peawanuck due to lack of funds so waste is handled locally.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources provides staffing at the Polar Bear Provincial Park Office. Ontario Ministry of Transportation has a garage in Peawanuck, maintains the power generators and manages the local airport. MTO has housing for out of town staff. Canada Post postal station is located the Band Administration offices. Students moving on to Grades 9 to 12 and beyond must travel to large communities like Timmins and Moosonee.

The community is served by a single store, a Northern Store, and other goods must be shipped in by air.