March 17, 2025 – Winnipeg, MB – Peguis First Nation leadership, including Chief Stan Bird and Council, met with Manitoba Ministers Lisa Naylor and Uzoma Asagwara to discuss critical community concerns, including flood protection, road infrastructure, personal care home development, and emergency medical services for Peguis and the surrounding region.
A key focus of the meeting was the ongoing flooding crisis in Peguis, which has been exacerbated by upstream land use changes and extensive drainage projects. Chief Bird reiterated that Manitoba bears responsibility for addressing the devastating impacts of repeated floods, as the province has allowed farmland expansion over wetlands and forested areas and drainage construction without adequately considering the downstream consequences for Peguis. Since 2000, Peguis has experienced at least 12 major floods, leaving the community in a near-constant state of emergency.
Chief Bird and Council expressed frustration with Manitoba’s approach to flood protection, particularly regarding the feasibility study for long-term solutions. While Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) engaged AECOM Canada Ltd. to develop a hydraulic model to evaluate flood mitigation strategies, the province has delayed progress by considering other engineering firms that will cause further delays and uncertainty, rather than using AECOM to apply the existing model efficiently. Peguis leadership strongly opposed this bureaucratic approach, which they see as an unnecessary and costly delay in implementing meaningful solutions.
The meeting further addressed the need for expanded personal care home services in Peguis. Leadership emphasized the urgent requirement for increased capacity and culturally appropriate care for elders within the community. Minister Asagwara acknowledged the need for improvement and committed to further discussions on funding options.
Another critical issue raised was emergency medical response, particularly Fisher Ambulance Services, which serves Peguis and neighboring communities. Chief Bird and Council emphasized the importance of reliable ambulance services, especially given the frequent flooding and infrastructure challenges that can delay emergency response. Despite not providing funding for the service, the Manitoba government threatened to pull Fisher Ambulance’s operating license—a move that Peguis leadership found unjustified and alarming. Chief Bird and Council strongly opposed this threat, emphasizing that such an action would endanger lives and further strain an already under-resourced emergency response system. They urged the province to provide actual funding and support for emergency services rather than taking punitive actions that would leave the region without critical medical transportation.
Despite these discussions, Peguis leadership left the meeting deeply dissatisfied with the lack of concrete commitments from Manitoba. Chief Bird expressed concern over the province’s limited approach to flood protection, stating that Manitoba appears unwilling to take full responsibility for the consequences of its own land-use policies. More troubling, Peguis was left with the impression that the government is unwilling to substantially revise/revisit the proposed Terms of Reference (ToR) to one that addresses concerns specific to Peguis and minimizes the impact on Fisher River. In addition, the ToR, as it is written, creates an unacceptable timeline given the possibility of new engineering firms to cause delays that can otherwise be avoided.
Moving forward, Peguis First Nation will continue working independently with AECOM to advance flood mitigation strategies, including off-stream storage and other protection measures. The community remains committed to pursuing efficient and cost-effective solutions that avoids unnecessary delays.
Peguis First Nation urges Manitoba to reconsider its approach and take more urgent action in addressing flooding and infrastructure challenges. Treaty obligations require both federal and provincial governments to engage meaningfully in protecting Peguis from further devastation. Chief Bird and Council will continue advocating for solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of their people, and they remain open to further discussions—provided that Manitoba demonstrates a genuine commitment to progress.
