Two young brothers, aged one and two, tragically drowned in a First Nation community located in the Island Lake area of eastern Manitoba, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The incident was reported to the police after the children were brought to the nursing station of Garden Hill Anisininew Nation on Wednesday afternoon, as stated in an RCMP news release on Thursday.
Family members found the toddlers in a nearby lake and promptly took them to the nursing station with the assistance of First Nation safety officers. Despite efforts to save them, the boys were pronounced dead at the nursing station.
Authorities believe that the boys wandered away from their home and ended up in the lake. No foul play is suspected in the incident.
Alex McDougall, the grand chief of Anisininew Okimawin, which represents the First Nations in the Island Lake region including Garden Hill, expressed the community’s solidarity and support for the grieving family.
McDougall mentioned that measures had been taken to prevent direct access to the water, including the construction of a fence by the family.
Located approximately 475 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg, Garden Hill is deeply affected by this tragic event.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, there have been five drowning fatalities in Manitoba in 2026.
Sgt. Chris Hipolito of the Island Lake RCMP mentioned a previous drowning incident during the spring ice breakup on Island Lake, along with several other near misses.
Expressing sympathy for the family and the community, Hipolito acknowledged the challenging nature of such tragedies and assured that the RCMP would provide necessary support to the affected family.
He added, “I feel for the family and the community. I hope … they can grieve in their own way and get through this.”