Chief of First Nation encouraged by dialogue with province about review of Interlake flood channel project

The chief of a First Nation in Manitoba's Interlake region says the provincial government will sign a memorandum of understanding to reviewa massive flood mitigation project.

Lake Manitoba First Nation Chief Cornell McLean told CBC News leaders of the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council met with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinewearlier this week. He said an MOUtoreview the project'splans,the asks of First Nations and the concernsthey have going forward was promised.

"Maybe there's an alternative route," said McLean. "Maybe there's something that we missed during the first round of talks because there was no consultation it was basically rammed down our throats by the former Progressive Conservative government.

"And we didn't take that lightly," he said. "We fought it every step of the way."

A 400-plus-page federal government report published in June found the Interlake flood channel project would likely harm the way of life for Indigenous communities in the region.

The project would see the construction of two channels, each more than 20 kilometres long, to drain high water from Lake Manitoba through Lake St. Martin and into Lake Winnipeg. It was designed to reduce flooding in the region after two devastating floods in 2011 and 2014.

The federal Impact Assessment Agency report found most of the project's effects on the environment including its potential impacts on surface and groundwater quality, and the land would be appropriately addressed, andits construction would not cause significant harm overall on wildlife.

The agency also said even with mitigation measures and follow-up programs, the project would still have a significant impact on Indigenous people's use of land and resources for traditional purposes.

Among other things, the report said the channels' construction and operation may result in permanentchanges to fish habitat, which would be unavoidable and can't be entirely mitigated. Those changes mean Indigenous fishers would need to travel longer distances, the report said.

The project would also lead to the permanent loss of important trails used by the communities, even after construction is done, like shoreline access to rivers and lakes, and snowmobile routes used to access fishing, hunting and gathering, according to the report

After reviewing the final findings of the report, Environmental Minister Stepehen Guilbeault said the province's Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin outlet project may lead to "significant adverse environmental effects" for about 30 Indigenous communities, potentially costing them some of their treaty rights.

McLean, who is also Interlake Reserves Tribal Council's chairman, said he's not against protecting the city of Winnipeg from flooding, but also doesn't want to see communities in the region become "the sacrificed lamb here."

They also hope to underscore how First Nations in Manitoba have historically been hit hard by flooding in the region and would be affected by the planned project.

"We just wanted to follow the policy, build back better," he said. "But whether it's been done that way or not we do have the homes and the infrastructure, but we've lost a lot of land, a lot of farmers and those things you can never get back."

Province says it's resetting relationships

A spokesperson for the provincial government wouldn't confirm the promise was made, but said in a statement the province "recognizes the need for flood mitigation in the Interlake" and are "closely working with affected communities."

"We are resetting the relationship with First Nations and rural municipalities to repair the harm of the previous government," the statement said.

In 2022, a provincial court judge ruled that Manitoba's then-Progressive Conservative government failed in its duty to consult First Nations near Lake St. Martin on the plan to build the two flood channels.

And back in June, afederal spokesperson said the final decision for the project would bereferred to cabinet to determine "whether the significant adverse environmental effects of the project in federal jurisdiction are justified."

The decision will determine whether the project can proceed as planned, but no timeline was given forwhen that would be made.

CBC News has reached out to the federal government for more information.

Meanwhile, McLean didn't say when thememorandum of understanding was expected to be signed.

As of 2022, the cost of the project was pegged at around $600 million. The government estimates it would take between three and four years to complete.

"We certainly don't want to hold anything up," he said. "We want to be a part of the solution."