Federal Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty visited Peguis on May 22, 2026, to see the aftermath of this spring’s flooding and discuss long-term solutions with community leaders. The visit came weeks after the First Nation declared a state of emergency in mid-April, as the Fisher River threatened hundreds of homes.
Peguis Chief Stan Bird declared the state of emergency on April 18 after forecasts showed the river would reach dangerous levels. More than 200 homes needed protection, and hundreds of volunteers, contractors, and provincial staff worked to place sandbags and build clay dikes. The Manitoba government supplied more than 500,000 sandbags and 11,000 super-sized sandbags, while the City of Winnipeg contributed over 280,000 sandbags.
According to a statement from Indigenous Services Canada, the federal government approved emergency assistance through its Emergency Management Assistance Program. The funding supported Team Rubicon volunteers for sandbagging and covered administrative and engineering costs.
During her visit, Minister Gull-Masty met with elders and elected officials to talk about flood prevention and mitigation. The community has dealt with repeated flooding for years, including a devastating 2022 flood that forced about 2,000 people from their homes and caused over $275 million in damage. Peguis has filed a $1-billion lawsuit against the federal and provincial governments and two upstream municipalities, seeking permanent flood protection.
Chief Bird has said the community is planning major changes, including identifying areas where housing should not be rebuilt and developing new subdivisions on higher ground. “We will not go back to the way things were,” he said in late April. “This is about building a safer future.”
