Ottawa pledges $12M to upgrade water services for Sioux Valley Dakota Nation

A southwestern Manitoba First Nation is using $12 million in federal funding to ensure on-reserve mem‐ bers have access to potable water for generations to come.

Minister of Crown-Indige‐ nous Relations Marc Miller was in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, located 260 kilome‐ tres west of Winnipeg, Tues‐ day announcing $12 million in federal funding to help build water and wastewater system upgrades.

"This is an announcement that's been a long time com‐ ing," Miller said. "To make sure that you had the financial support to affect the lives of a few 1,000 people in the com‐ munity that will be better served by [a] newer water sys‐ tem with state-of-the-art ca‐ pacity to make sure that your water is safe."

As part of the upgrades, a water treatment plant is set to go to tender in three weeks and construction is expected to begin in August. The overall construction schedule is an‐ ticipated to take about 12 to 16 months.

Chief Jennifer Bone says the upgrades were essential to supply water for the future projected population and ex‐ pansion areas in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Work on the project began in 2019 when water was flagged as a priori‐ ty in the nation, and a water and wastewater assessment was completed soon after.

The current water treat‐ ment plant was built in 1991. It services 187 connections throughout the community using water mains and 110 buildings get water delivered by truck.

Community members cur‐ rently get water using pipe connections from the water treatment plant, truck haul services and individual private wells.

Bone said the community plans to eventually bring the majority of homes and busi‐ nesses onto a piped water supply from the water treat‐ ment plant, which she says will be able to supply nearly 4,000 people.

Bone said the new water treatment plant will help ad‐ dress housing needs in Sioux Valley, and the social and eco‐ nomic issues that result from access to safe and adequate housing.

"I know we've had prob‐ lems over the years with our water treatment plant," Bone said.

"We had to make a big de‐ cision way back when if we wanted to continue with up‐ grades or if we just wanted to start with completely new construction."

The funding comes from the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund an‐ nounced in the 2021 budget. Funds are used to support in‐ frastructure projects like wastewater facilities, health facilities, cultural facilities, schools and housing.

Federal support clean drinking water

There are currently three First Nations with longterm boil water advisories in Manitoba. Long-term water advisories become so after a year of short-term advisories don't get solved.

Miller says Services Cana‐ da is working with those com‐ munities — Mathias Colomb, Shamattawa First Nation and Tatskweyak Cree Nation — to ensure people can have quali‐ ty water.

"Every community has their particular need," Miller said, adding that there are now "so few" long-term boil water advisories left to be lift‐ ed.

He said securing potable water for these communities remains a priority for the fed‐ eral government.

"Being relentless about making sure that those com‐ munities get the resources that they need and the sup‐ for

port of the Government of Canada is important," Miller said.

Miller also met with the

First Nation's chief and coun‐ cil and toured the former Brandon Residential School site during his visit. Prelimi‐ nary searches have suggested there could be potential un‐ marked grave sites on and around the former school's grounds.

Miller says the federal gov‐ ernment will do what it can to support those searches.

"There is a search for truth, and something that people in my position have long de‐ nied Indigenous people is the right to know where their loved ones are, to get just ... even a small amount of clo‐ sure."