ISC minister’s first flood-protection visit signals serious turn for Peguis
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By James Wastasecoot
PEGUIS FIRST NATION, May 21, 2026 — For the first time ever, a federal Minister of Indigenous Services Canada came to Peguis First Nation to sit down with Chief and Council and talk directly about how to protect the community from flooding, a signal that, after years of repeated flooding, evacuations, emergency responses and damage to homes and infrastructure, flood protection planning for Peguis is finally being treated as a serious priority.
Gull-Masty met with Chief Stan Bird and members of council as flood protection work begins moving from discussion to planning and construction. The meeting took place against the backdrop of a video showing the devastation from the 2022 flood, a reminder of what Peguis families have lived through and what leaders are trying to prevent from happening again.
Although the major spring flood expected this year did not arrive, the threat was real enough that Peguis mounted an unprecedented flood response. Workers and volunteer groups were brought together from inside and outside the community, including drivers, heavy equipment operators, sandbaggers, cooks and managers. Some came from as far away as Alberta and Ontario to help protect homes and property.
Now, Peguis is looking beyond emergency response.
At a May 8 technical meeting, Peguis council met with provincial and federal representatives, engineers and planners to begin work on dikes, raised roadways and bridge protection. John Logan of Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure described the work as Phase 1 of the Peguis flood protection effort. That phase includes individual home dikes, neighbourhood dikes and a central community dike.
Read more: ISC minister’s first flood-protection visit signals serious turn for Peguis
ISC response to questions confirms problems in previous article, "The First Nations Financial Transparency Act is still on the books—but not enforced Published: 04 May 2026"
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By Trevor Greyeyes
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) indicated the First Nations Financial Transparency Act remains on the books, but is not enforced.
But the department cannot show whether transparency improved after federal enforcement effectively ended in 2015.
In responses to questions from Terra Indigena, Indigenous Services Canada confirmed that penalties under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act stopped nearly a decade ago as part of what it described as a shift toward reconciliation and First Nations led accountability approaches.
The department says accountability now relies more heavily on funding agreements, First Nations financial administration laws, and standards developed by the First Nations Financial Management Board.
ISC noted that more than 300 First Nations have adopted financial administration standards promoted by the board. The department also pointed to the New Fiscal Relationship grant and ongoing work tied to Ten Year Grants.
But when asked for measurable outcomes, compliance data, or evaluations showing whether transparency has improved since enforcement stopped, ISC provided little concrete evidence.
“Information on specific performance indicators related to these initiatives is not publicly reported in a single, consolidated format,” the department stated.
Council meeting adjourns before Peguis CFS funding extension is heard
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PEGUIS, May 7, 2026 - Upon calling the meeting to order today members of council discussed the agenda which listed an item 15 "BCR #25 Request for policies and governing documents - CFS - Chief Stan Bird". Councillor Linda Sinclair, portfolio holder for Peguis CFS, requested the matter of the CFS agreement extension be put on the agenda. The current agreement expired March 31, 2026. Chief Stan Bird said that item is not properly on the agenda while his request for documents from CFS remains outstanding and unresolved. He said his request for documents was denied and this prevents him from doing his duty as a fiduciary. Without access to these documents how can I make an informed decision? he asked.
Bird's request dates back to last year when a quorum of council passed a BCR approving a one-year extension of the agreement despite being told information requests by the chief were denied. In October 2025, Chief Bird called on governments to terminate the coordination agreement saying, “The agreement has failed. It does not protect children. It does not meet the basic standards of safety, accountability, or transparency.”
With the support of quorum, Councillor Terrence Sinclair, citing lack of a 72 hour notice on the agenda, moved that the meeting be postponed. The motion was carried.
A date has not been set for the next meeting of council.
The Peguis flood threat has retreated – Those who came to our aid
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By Terra Indigena staff
The flood threat in Peguis did not materialize as feared, but as Chief Stan Bird said in his latest community update, something just as important happened: “our people felt prepared.”
Read more: The Peguis flood threat has retreated – Those who came to our aid
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act is still on the books—but not enforced
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By Trevor Greyeyes
The First Nations Financial Transparency Act still exists. The federal government says it “remains in force.” But for nearly a decade, it has not been enforced.
That’s the reality.
Read more: The First Nations Financial Transparency Act is still on the books—but not enforced
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