Evacuees from 2011 and 2014 Peguis First Nation floods left scrambling as federal relief ends

Evacuees displaced from their homes in a Manitoba First Nation by flooding years ago say they're now scrambling and without answers as their evacuee benefits come to an end — even though they still have no homes to return to in the community.

Dyson Spence lost his house in Peguis First Nation, in Manitoba's Interlake region, when it was damaged in the spring flood of 2014.

Then 11 years old, he moved with his family to Winnipeg, about 160 kilometres south of Peguis. Monthly rent and incidentals were covered by the federal government via the Canadian Red Cross while the community worked to rebuild and replace damaged homes. 

This month, the 19-year-old was evicted from his apartment as the federal evacuee benefits came to an end. He's been staying with his grandparents in Peguis First Nation, desperate for a place of his own.

He's among 121 Peguis First Nation evacuees who, as of this month, remained displaced by the 2014 flood, and who were still receiving the federal support.

"It's very stressful, coming from living in the city and being stable for so long … to not being able to have your own house," he said. 

His aim now is to get his own house in Peguis.

But he says he's been fighting to get answers from the First Nation and federal government on when he can get a new home, and to bring attention to the situation.

"There's people that are really suffering from this.… It's an issue that needs to be resolved and people need to take it seriously," he said.

In 2011, severe flooding forced thousands to evacuate from 18 Manitoba First Nations, including Peguis. As of last May, 91 of the 2011 flood evacuees were still displaced, according to the federal government.

More heavy spring flooding in 2014 displaced people from 14 Manitoba First Nations. On Peguis, some 300 houses were damaged.

The federal Indigenous Services department "has worked closely with Peguis First Nation to repair and replace houses affected by flooding in 2014," a spokesperson told CBC.

"Those homes were never fully repaired, they were never fully replaced," said Peguis First Nation Chief Glenn Hudson. Though progress was made and some people returned to the community, about 200 new homes are still needed from both the 2014 flood and one in 2011, he says.

According to the Indigenous Services spokesperson, $4 million was invested to protect 75 Peguis homes from floods in 2011. Another $11.4 million went to build and repair damaged homes and demolish uninhabitable ones in 2014, and the community was reimbursed $5.75 million in March for housing repairs.