Hollow Water First Nation: Location, News & Stabbings

When a mass stabbing unfolded at Hollow Water First Nation on the morning of 4 September 2025, it sent shockwaves through a community already navigating systemic challenges. The incident—which left one person dead and eight others injured—has reignited difficult conversations about public safety, bail systems, and the resources available to First Nations communities in Manitoba.

Location: East side of Lake Winnipeg, 75 km north of Pine Falls · Band Number: 263 · Official Name: Hollow Water · Address: PO BOX 2561, Wanipigow, MB R0E 2E0 · Phone: (204) 363-7278

What happened at Hollow Water First Nation?

On the morning of 4 September 2025, a mass stabbing incident unfolded at Hollow Water First Nation, a community of approximately 1,000 residents located on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. The attack began around 3:00 a.m. when 26-year-old Tyrone Simard approached 60-year-old Michael Raven and asked to borrow his quad. When Raven refused, Simard broke into his home about 15 minutes later and stabbed Raven and his girlfriend.

2025 stabbings details

The violence escalated quickly. RCMP received the first report from a First Nation security officer at 3:45 a.m. A second call came in at 5:53 a.m. reporting a possible stabbing, prompting officers from multiple detachments to respond. By that point, the perpetrator had already fled south towards Black River in a stolen vehicle. Around 6:50 a.m., Simard collided with an RCMP cruiser and was killed.

The sole fatality was 18-year-old Marina Simard, the perpetrator’s sister. Eight other victims—aged 18 to 60—were injured, including the perpetrator’s aunt Marcelina Bushie. Six victims were transported by ambulance, with two airlifted by STARS air ambulance. By 8 September 2025, three victims remained hospitalized while four had been discharged.

“What happened early this morning is a tragedy for the community of Hollow Water First Nation, and all of Manitoba.”

— RCMP Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy (Wikipedia)

Where is Hollow Water First Nation?

Hollow Water First Nation sits on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, approximately 200 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg and about 75 kilometres north of the town of Pine Falls. The community, also known by its Ojibwe name Waanibiigaaw or Wanipigow, is situated within Treaty 5 territory.

Location on Lake Winnipeg

The community occupies a stretch of shoreline along the eastern edge of Lake Winnipeg, one of Canada’s largest lakes. Its remote location—while picturesque—presents ongoing challenges for emergency services response times and access to specialized healthcare. The nearest major hospital capable of handling mass casualty incidents is in Winnipeg, which means air ambulance services like STARS play a critical role in medical emergencies.

Map references

Hollow Water First Nation is accessible primarily by road via Provincial Trunk Highway 59, which runs north-south along the eastern side of Lake Winnipeg. The community’s isolation from urban centres has been cited in discussions about resource allocation and emergency preparedness for First Nations communities in Manitoba.

Who is the chief of Hollow Water First Nation?

Chief Larry Barker leads Hollow Water First Nation and has served in that capacity during this crisis. His emotional response at a news conference following the 4 September 2025 stabbings reflected the personal toll this violence has taken on community leadership.

Current leadership

Chief Barker addressed the community directly in the aftermath, asking residents to pray and support one another. He noted that he personally knew many of the victims, underscoring the close-knit nature of the community of approximately 1,000 people.

“I ask the community to pray and support one another out there. And my prayers go to the people that are in the hospital right now recovering.”

— Chief Larry Barker, Hollow Water First Nation (Halifax CityNews)

The chief and council have been working closely with RCMP investigators and have expressed condolences to all affected families. Chief Barker has called for community unity during the healing process.

What treaty is Hollow Water?

Hollow Water First Nation operates within Treaty 5 territory, one of the numbered treaties signed between the Crown and Indigenous nations in Western Canada during the 1870s. Treaty 5 covers portions of present-day Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Treaty affiliations

The community is affiliated with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization Inc., a tribal council representing several Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) First Nations in southern Manitoba. The Southern Chiefs’ Organization advocates for the rights and wellbeing of its member communities, including Hollow Water.

Treaty rights encompass land, resources, and self-governance arrangements, though the specific implementation varies by community. Hollow Water’s treaty territory includes the lands surrounding Lake Winnipeg’s eastern shore.

Hollow Water First Nation community overview

Hollow Water First Nation is home to approximately 1,000 residents, most of whom belong to the Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) nation. The community has its own band office located in Wanipigow, which serves as the administrative centre for local governance and services.

Band office

The Hollow Water First Nation Band Office can be reached at PO Box 2561, Wanipigow, MB R0E 2E0, or by phone at (204) 363-7278. The band office coordinates essential services including housing, education, health, and social programs. The community also falls under the jurisdiction of Southeast Child & Family Services for child welfare matters.

Population

With a population hovering around 1,000 residents, Hollow Water is a small First Nation community by Canadian standards. The community has historically faced challenges common to many remote First Nations, including limited access to healthcare, educational resources, and economic opportunities.

News and photos

The September 2025 stabbings brought unprecedented national attention to Hollow Water First Nation. Media coverage from outlets including APTN News, Winnipeg Free Press, and CityNews documented the incident and its aftermath. The community’s official website (hollowwater.ca) serves as a resource for residents and those seeking information about programs and services.

Timeline of the 4 September 2025 incident

The following timeline reconstructs the sequence of events on the morning of 4 September 2025 based on police reports and media accounts:

The implication: the ~3-hour window between the first assault and the RCMP response highlights the geographic challenges of policing remote First Nations communities where officer availability and travel distances create response delays.

Confirmed facts and open questions

The verified facts from the 4 September 2025 incident are substantial, having been reported across multiple outlets including Wikipedia, CityNews, Winnipeg Free Press, APTN News, and CJME. However, several questions remain unanswered.

Official responses and reactions

The mass stabbing prompted responses from Indigenous leaders and government officials at multiple levels.

“To the leadership and to the community members of Hollow Water, our hearts are with you. Our hearts feel very heavy, and we will be there to support you.”

— Wab Kinew, Manitoba Premier (Halifax CityNews)

Premier Kinew, Manitoba’s first First Nations premier, offered immediate support to Hollow Water leadership. Federal ministers Rebecca Alty and Mandy Gull-Masty also expressed heartbreak and committed government support. The incident occurred during the AFN 2025 Annual General Assembly in Winnipeg, bringing Indigenous leadership from across Canada into immediate dialogue about the tragedy.

“We must put an end to the violence impacting our communities. It is time for governments to listen, to provide real resources.”

— Don Tom, UBCIC Vice-President (UBCIC)

The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) shared condolences and used the moment to call for systemic change. RCMP described the community as tight-knit and loving, with officers noting the devastating impact on residents who knew the victims personally.

Broader context: violence in Indigenous communities

The Hollow Water tragedy exists within a painful broader pattern. The attack’s timing on the third anniversary of the 2022 Saskatchewan stabbings at James Smith Cree Nation—which left 12 dead and 17 injured—has not gone unnoticed. While RCMP called the date coincidence, Indigenous advocates point to systemic factors that create cycles of violence.

First Nations communities across Canada face disproportionate rates of violence, substance abuse, and limited access to mental health services. Remote locations compound these challenges, as emergency response times can be measured in hours rather than minutes, and specialized services require travel to urban centres.

For Hollow Water, the path forward will require both immediate support for victims and families and longer-term investment in community wellness programs. The incident has also brought attention to bail system adequacy—a question that extends well beyond this community.

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