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The First Nation that has been the source of Winnipeg's water for more than a century is suing the city and federal government, saying it's never been compensated for the harms suffered as a result of the city's water diversion system. When it was build in 1915, Winnipeg's aqueduct left Shoal Lake 40 isolated on a man-made island that was only accessible by ice road in the winter or barge in the summer.
A First Nation, whose lake supplies drinking water to the city of Winnipeg, is suing for a century of alleged damages, according to a statement of claim filed Tuesday. The 13-page “injurious affection claim” seeks unspecified financial damages to compensate for the “devastating impacts of the Winnipeg aqueduct” that isolated the Anishinaabe community for more than 100 years.
A new copper plaque on the boulevard along Broadway at Donald Street aims to educate Winnipeggers about the source of their drinking water and the community surrounding it — Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. "For years Winnipeg members, their citizens, were able to … turn on their tap," said Chief Kevin Redsky of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation at the unveiling of the plaque on Friday. The plaque pays tribute to Shoal Lake as the source of city water since 1919, when the Winnipeg aqueduct was completed. It explains how the project impacted the First Nation community and its relationship with water. "The 24-year boil water advisory, the sickness created bathing our own children, not being able to drink safe water," Redsky said.
A southwestern Manitoba First Nation is using $12 million in federal funding to ensure on-reserve members have access to potable water for generations to come. Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller was in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, located 260 kilometres west of Winnipeg, Tuesday announcing $12 million in federal funding to help build water and wastewater system upgrades.
I discovered one obvious reality when I moved to Manitoba in 2001: water is a big, big issue here. And it’s often news. Farm news. Agriculture news. Winnipeg news. Indigenous news. Environmental news. Sometimes it even gets to be national news. Whether it’s floods, droughts, water pollution, drainage, wetlands, sewage plant costs or Canada-U.S. river crossings, water issues are often the most important in the province.
Manitoba government is investing more than $15.3 million to support three key water and wastewater treatment projects in rural communities, Municipal Relations Minister Andrew Smith announced in Headingley on Monday. The money will go to projects in the Rural Municipalities of Headingley, Macdonald and West St. Paul, near Winnipeg. “Our government is proud to invest in water and wastewater treatment projects which improve the quality of life for local residents,” said Smith in a press release. “By ensuring safe, secure drinking water, these projects also provide environmentally sound wastewater management for our communities. We are pleased to fund these important projects in our capital region to ensure our water management systems are healthy and sustainable for years to come.”
Water issues continue to disproportionately impact Indigenous communities, according to advocates speaking at a World Water Day event at the Odena Circle Wednesday night. "World Water Day is really important to reflect on our impact on water and water systems here in Canada, on Turtle Island and globally in the world," said Sadie Lavoie, one of the speakers. About 30 people attended the event held at the Forks in Winnipeg to mark the annual UN observance day to raise awareness about the importance of fresh water. It's estimated that about 2 billion people live without access to fresh water.
The water was quick, unforgiving. In a matter of days, the flooding on Peguis First Nation, believed to be the worst the community in Manitoba's Interlake has ever seen, displaced roughly 1,600 people and ravaged hundreds of homes. Peguis has 3,521 members usually living on reserve and 6,504 off-reserve members. The largest First Nation community in Manitoba is no stranger to flooding — over the last few decades, residents have been chased from their homes by rising waters several times — but that wasn't always the case.
Contractors might have to show an interest in hiring under-represented workers from Manitoba's construction industry if they want to get in on the $552 million upgrade to the North End sewage plant. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) tabled a motion at the city's water and waste committee Wednesday that would require any companies bidding on the project's future tenders to give specific information on plans to hire and train Indigenous workers and people from other under-represented groups in Manitoba.
