The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced an investment of $814,000 to support the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council in its efforts to reduce risks from climate-related hazards such as flooding and wildfires.
“The impacts of climate change are not in the distant future, they have arrived,” said the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. “The Government of Canada is proud to partner with Interlake Reserves Tribal Council in taking important steps to plan for and adapt to the new realities in our environment.”
With this investment, the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council is undertaking a Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment to support the development of an emergency management framework to mitigate extreme flooding events within its six First Nation communities. These communities are: Dauphin River First Nation, Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation, Lake Manitoba First Nation, Little Saskatchewan First Nation, Peguis First Nation, and Pinaymootang First Nation.
“Interlake Reserves Tribal Council and its six member communities have been at the forefront when dealing with emergency management and the natural disasters caused by climate change,” said Chief Cornell McLean, Chairman of Interlake Reserves Tribal Council. “In 2011 our communities were flooded out by a man-made emergency outlet channel to save the City of Winnipeg and we were the ones impacted. With this initiative not only will we be able plan and prepare but combined with our Emergency Operations this will help us become even more resilient. We also want to partner with nearby towns and municipalities to help everyone in the region.”
The funding was provided through the First Nation Adapt Program, which is part of a Budget 2016 commitment to provide $129.5 million over five years to seven federal departments and agencies to implement programming focused on building resilience in the North and Indigenous communities, on building the science base to inform decision-making, on protecting the health and well-being of Canadians, and on enhancing competitiveness in key economic sectors.
