Peguis First Nation is the largest First Nations community in Manitoba, Canada, with a population of approximately 10,300 people. The reserve is located approximately 190 kilometres north of Winnipeg. The members of Peguis are of Saultaux and Cree descent. The First Nation is named after Peguis, the chief who led a band of Saultaux people from present-day Sault Ste. Marie Ontario area to a Cree settlement at Netley Creek Manitoba and later to present-day East Selkirk Manitoba. The reserve is currently located about 170 km northwest of the original reserve. It was moved to its present location in 1907 after an illegal land transfer.
History
Chief Peguis and his Band settled in an area north of present-day Selkirk in the late 1700s. Their history is documented in journals of the Hudson's Bay Company, the Lord Selkirk settlers and the Church Missionary Society. Peguis and other chiefs signed the Selkirk Treaty in 1817. The treaty allocated land along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers to Lord Selkirk and his settlers for an annual rent of tobacco. On August 3, 1871, Peguis' son Mis-Koo-Kinew signed Treaty 1 on behalf of the "St. Peter's Band", the name of the Peguis First Nation at the time. Treaty 1 specified that Peguis would be given of land for each family of five people. In 2008, Peguis First Nation announced the finalization of a land claims settlement with the Canadian federal government. The claim is for land which was surrendered near Selkirk, Manitoba in 1907.
Reserves
Peguis First Nation consists of nine reserves: Peguis 1B, Peguis 1C, Peguis 1D, Peguis 1E, Peguis 1F, Pegius 1G, Peguis 1H, Peguis 1I and St. Peters Fishing Station 1A. The reserves of Peguis total 30655.7 hectares in area. The largest settlement, which lies on the main reserve, is also named Peguis, and is located at. The main reserve lies adjacent to the northern borders of the Rural Municipality of Fisher.
On 24 March 2009, Peguis First Nation along with Roseau River First Nation, Sioux Falls, St. Andrews, St. Clements and Selkirk MB experienced a hydrological flood. The total cost of flood in the region was 40,000,000. 3,000 people were evacuated in the region. It was listed on the Canadian Disaster database.
2010
Heavy rain and high winds Interlake Region of Manitoba from 1 to 5 July 2010, caused flooding and evacuation of Peguis First Nation’s 250 residents. Approximately 300 homes on-reserve were damaged and several roads washed out. Most residents were temporarily relocated to Winnipeg and a few near Fisher River Cree Nation.
2011
By February 2011, Peguis First Nation were meeting with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development officials about controlling mould in the 75 homes damaged by flooding. In March 2011, as community piled sandbags in flood preparations, the Peguis First Nation's emergency measures co-ordinator, said Peguis First Nation experienced two major floods since 2009.
Preparation
In 2013, AANDC invested more than $4 million to Peguis First Nation for long term flood proofing as part of a 2010 commitment to protect 75 homes.
Notable people
Dr. Marcia Anderson DeCouteau, former president of the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada
Amy Clemons, a founding member of the first Indian & Metis Friendship Centre in Canada, recipient of the Order of Canada
