The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is calling for immediate government action as Peguis First Nation faces a high risk of flooding again this spring.
In a Wednesday press release, the SCO says Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has confirmed elevated flood risk in the Interlake region, particularly in the Fisher River basin.
Grand Chief Jerry Daniels is urging the federal government to release emergency preparedness funding before floodwaters peak.
“The people of Peguis deserve to feel safe as they live, work, and age in their home Nation,” Daniels said.
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High-risk conditions developing
The province’s latest outlook points to above-normal snowpack, delayed melting, and the potential for rapid runoff.
Snow water levels in the Fisher River basin are among the highest in recent years and could reach about 110 millimetres, nearly double the long-term average. Under unfavourable conditions, flows could approach levels seen during the 2022 flood.
That year, more than 2,100 residents were displaced, over 700 homes were damaged, and losses reached about $300 million.
The SCO says hundreds of residents still cannot return home.
Calls for emergency declaration
Daniels is also calling on the Province of Manitoba to declare a state of emergency, allowing for Canadian Armed Forces support.
The SCO says Peguis First Nation continues to face repeated flooding due to its location on low-lying land, where the community was forcibly relocated more than a century ago.
“Flooding here is not a natural disaster. It is a policy failure,” the organization stated.
The release says there needs to be both immediate action and long-term solutions.
Peguis First Nation has faced severe flooding over the past two decades, including as recently as 2024.
Officials warn a delayed melt could lead to a sudden surge once temperatures rise.
The SCO says without swift intervention, Peguis First Nation could again face widespread evacuations and damage.