UN ambassador travels to Peguis to learn about repeated floods

Winnipeg Free Press

a day ago

Canada's ambassador to the United Nations has promised Peguis First Nation he will convey their concerns about repeated flooding to the Manitoba and federal governments.
Bob Rae, who went to the flood-prone community this week as part of his role as president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, said he was shown examples of buildings that had been damaged by flooding as well as destruction from a wildfire this spring.
'They've got this challenge of basically living on a flood plain and there has been a lot of flooding in the past 20 years,' Rae said about the community 170 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
SUPPLIED
UN Ambassador Bob Rae (left) with Peguis First Nation Chief Stan Bird.
'It keeps happening consistently. So they are looking for some longer term solutions, which we talked about in broad terms. I was interested in listening to the expertise of a number of experts and people who have been working with the community for some time.
'I committed to sharing what I saw and what I heard with both the government of Manitoba and the government of Canada… I think we're going to just try to see if we can find some solutions that point the way to where things should go.'
Rae, a former premier of Ontario, interim leader of the federal Liberal party, and both a longtime federal MP and Ontario MPP, was appointed ambassador to the United Nations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2020.
Rae was elected president of the UN council last year, only the second Canadian to hold the position, and only the third Canadian — former prime minister Lester Pearson was one — to be chosen in their personal capacity to preside over a UN Charter body.
Rae said he has an interest in Indigenous issues, noting that earlier in his career, from 2013 to 2018, he was chief negotiator for the Matawa Tribal Council in northern Ontario, which represents nine First Nations.
He said that's why when he met Mike Sutherland, the director of consultation and special projects at Peguis, at the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues last month, he agreed to travel to the community.
'It was important for me to see it,' Rae said. 'There is nothing like being there first-hand.'
Rae was told about several past floods in the Peguis, including in 2009, when 3,000 people were evacuated and there was $40 million in damage; and in 2010, when 300 homes were damaged and most residents were forced to leave.
Rae noted flooding has been occurring for decades and the community has commissioned several studies on how to prevent them.
He was intrigued by how the community was located in that area.
Rae said the community had been near Selkirk, on 'prime farmland,' until 1906, more than 30 years after a treaty was signed, 'they were moved off it there and basically forcibly displaced.'
SUPPLIED
A destroyed home is seen on the Peguis First Nation.
'Where they are now is in a very low-lying territory and when the rivers overflow there are serious challenges… they have a lot of expert advisers, reputable engineering firms of significant experience, and I think they are pointing the way to some practical solutions.'
He said that must guide discussions with both levels of government on how to mitigate flooding.
Sundays
Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba.
'It is not for me to dictate the solutions. It is just for me to do this role in a way that allows people to come up with some responses.'
Peguis Chief Stan Bird was unavailable for comment.
In a statement, the band said both Bird and the band council 'spoke openly (to Rae) about the human rights violations that continue to impact Peguis, from repeated evacuations to unsafe housing and inadequate infrastructure.'
'Ambassador Rae listened with great empathy and engaged in meaningful dialogue about the need for justice and long-term solutions… we are grateful for his visit, his willingness to listen, and his commitment to sharing our story on the world stage.'
[e-mail]
Kevin RollasonReporter
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.