Illness, despair plague Manitoba First Nation displaced by flood 4 years ago

Displaced members of a Manitoba First Nation who were driven from their flood-ravaged reserve four years ago say they are losing hope they will ever return home.

It’s a sad anniversary for the people of Lake St. Martin First Nation. Four year ago, members of the native community were forced from their homes when their reserve was condemned due to flooding.

Most have never returned, and are instead living in Winnipeg hotels and apartments. Many are suffering from illness, and suicide is common.

Alicia Anderson is a member of the Lake St. Martin First Nation community, which has been displaced since a flood destroyed the Manitoba reserve in 2011.

Middle-aged and elderly people are dying at alarming rate, according to numbers obtained by CTV News. Some believe it’s from the stress of long-term homelessness.

A list provided by Lake St. Martin First Nation says that 63 people have died, as of March 9.

That means five per cent of the on-reserve population has died since the flood of 2011, including infants.

One baby was only four months old. His family called him Keenan, but he was also known as Baby Beardy.

“I never thought I’d lose my baby,” said Katherine Sumner.

Two years after the evacuation, Alicia Anderson lost her father to a heart attack, and her brother to suicide.

“There’s probably like, 50 people from back home that passed away,” Anderson told CTV News. “And I believe it’s due to loneliness.”

Many say they are losing hope, as their children are lost to gangs and drugs in the city. The elderly are unable to cope.

“Sometimes I think we are just going to stay here, not go home,” said flood evacuee Lillian Catcheway. “Maybe when it’s time for us to go home, we’re going to go home in boxes.”

While some temporary housing is available to evacuees, more than a few homes need to be replaced in Lake St. Martin: An entire reserve needs to be rebuilt. There is currently no firm timeline to do it.

“This is not something that will happen overnight,” said Bernard Valcourt, minister of aboriginal affairs. “But I’m confident that it is progressing well and hopefully these people can return home as soon as possible.”

But to many, that means years.

The public cost for the multi-year evacuation is now pegged at more than $100 million.

With a report by CTV’s Manitoba Bureau Chief Jill Macyshon