Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew visited Peguis First Nation on April 16, 2026, to assist residents and volunteers with urgent flood protection efforts as the community prepares for potential water levels similar to a major flood in 2022. With spring runoff from the Fisher River expected to begin between April 20 and April 21, and peak flows anticipated shortly after, the Premier described the ongoing work as a race against time.
Approximately 500 people are currently working on the ground to protect about 225 homes. These efforts include the placement of over 115,000 sandbags, alongside the deployment of inflatable water-filled barriers known as tiger tubes and the construction of clay dikes. The provincial response includes teams from Team Rubicon Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, who are working alongside local residents and provincial staff.
Chief Stan Bird has declared a state of emergency for the community, noting that residents could face evacuation as early as this weekend. The community remains particularly vulnerable, as it was relocated to its current location on a flood-prone river delta in 1907 under terms later deemed illegal. This history of forced relocation has left the area susceptible to recurring flooding, leading the First Nation to file a $1 billion lawsuit in 2024 against the federal and provincial governments, as well as upstream municipalities, regarding flood damages and the lack of permanent protection infrastructure.
The 2022 flooding event in the area was catastrophic, forcing more than 2,000 residents out of their homes and leaving many with lasting damage that persists today. In response to the current threat, the provincial government has requested assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to help reinforce the community’s defenses.
Work is being supported by federal assistance through Indigenous Services Canada, which is providing funding for response operations. As the community braces for the coming days, the priority remains the safety of residents and the protection of homes from the anticipated peak spring runoff.
