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BY TREVOR GREYEYES
A letter containing more than 200 names and treaty numbers of Peguis band members has been submitted to Chief and Council, calling for an independent forensic audit and administrative review of Peguis Child and Family Services.
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BY JAMES WASTASECOOT
Peguis council and managers are planning preparations for a potential spring flood as the province’s forecast mentions Fisher River Basin. Chief Stan Bird said that the fact the Fisher River is noted is not a good sign and that preparations and measures are being taken. This includes snow removal around housing and structures, clearing culverts, improving drainage and creating emergency response plans.
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BY TERRA INDIGENA STAFF
Peguis First Nation council and community members are celebrating the news of affordable the $91 million housing initiative announced by Treaty 1 and Government of Canada. The First Nations-led affordable housing project to build a new apartment building located on Naawi-Oodena will provide 260 new homes.
“This is a moment for our people to stand tall and see what is possible when First Nations lead,” said Chief Dr. Stan Bird of Peguis First Nation.
“For too long, our families have faced barriers to safe, affordable housing. Endayaan Omaa — Home is Here — is more than a building; it is a declaration that Peguis First Nation and our Treaty One partners are building a future our children and grandchildren deserve. We are not waiting to be included. We are leading.”
Built in partnership with Bockstael Construction, this project requires a minimum 30 per cent Indigenous workforce, with 20 per cent consisting of Treaty One First Nation members. To date, the Endayaan Omaa project has a 60 per cent Indigenous workforce and is expected to be completed in 2028.
This project was funded in part by the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), which helps local governments across Canada cut red tape to build more homes faster.
Treaty One Nations, through their Naawi-Oodena HAF agreement, proposed an ambitious plan and recently received its third installment of approximately $1.3 million reflecting the successful implementation of its Housing Action Plan, $700,000 of which is being allocated directly to this project. These actions establish a strong foundation for long-term housing growth across a range of housing options, said Chief Bird.
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BY JAMES WASTASECOOT
Budget 2026 includes Indigenous-led grants, majority-Indigenous energy partnerships and a broad flood-mitigation envelope, but much of the help for First Nations is still framed in province wide terms rather than community- specific commitments.
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By Trevor Greyeyes
A letter containing more than 200 names and treaty numbers of Peguis band members has been submitted to Chief and Council, calling for an independent forensic audit and administrative review of Peguis Child and Family Services.
The identities and entries in the letter have not been independently verified.
Read more: Letter with 200 Peguis names sent to Chief and Council calls for review of Peguis CFS
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By Terra Indigena staff
A Winnipeg developer has filed a defamation lawsuit against Peguis First Nation following comments made in mainstream media coverage related to a land deal involving the former Meadows golf course in East St. Paul.
According to a statement of claim filed Feb. 13 in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench, developer Andrew Marquess alleges that remarks made by Peguis First Nation’s legal counsel in previous mainstream news reporting suggested he was “untrustworthy” and had engaged in improper business practices.
The lawsuit claims those statements were false and damaging to his reputation. Marquess is seeking damages and legal costs.
The dispute is connected to Peguis First Nation Real Estate Trust’s 2021 acquisition of the former Meadows golf course lands. Court documents referenced in media reports indicate the purchase involved $10 million from the Peguis Treaty Land Entitlement Trust and a $5.5 million loan from a numbered company owned by Marquess’ spouse.
Following a change in Peguis leadership in April 2023, the First Nation stopped working with several advisers associated with the previous administration.
Marquess had provided consulting and advisory services to Peguis prior to that shift, according to court filings.
The lawsuit states that when the $5.5 million loan matured in 2024, the trust defaulted. It alleges that 75 per cent of partnership units connected to the golf course land were subsequently transferred to a corporation controlled by Marquess in exchange for assuming principal and accrued interest on the loan, along with certain future development obligations.
The defamation claim also references a separate lawsuit filed by Peguis First Nation in 2024 alleging fiduciary breaches related to the land deal.
The lawsuit stems from comments made during coverage by other mainstream media outlets in 2025.
None of the allegations in either action have been proven in court.
Marquess’ lawyer declined comment in media reports. Peguis First Nation and its counsel had not responded publicly at the time of publication.
The matter is now before the courts.
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BY TREVOR GREYEYES
Federal funding models — administered through departments such as Indigenous Services Canada — require measurable reporting.
Governance organizations must demonstrate reach: how many citizens are represented, how many programs are delivered, how many participants are served, how many initiatives are implemented. Funding agreements are built around metrics. Scale matters.
Read more: It's about you as a number represented by lobby organizations
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BY TREVOR GREYEYES
A Peguis First Nation band member is proposing the creation of a secure, voluntary contact database aimed at improving communication with off-reserve members, who he says are frequently excluded from timely updates on governance matters.
George Robinson says the initiative is intended to ensure off-reserve members receive accurate and complete information prior to major decisions such as elections, settlements, trust matters and other votes affecting the Nation. Robinson argues that while Peguis policy recognizes all members, it does not consistently require that off-reserve members be informed or consulted in advance of key decisions.
Read more: Seeking to establish a Peguis First Nation off-reserve member database