Public Notice

Fisher River Cree Nation (FRCN) On-Reserve Permanent Diking – Public Comments Invited

July 24, 2026 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed On-Reserve Permanent Diking, located in Fisher River First Nation is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by August 24, 2026 to:

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
Shelly Johnson, Senior Environmental Specialist
200 - 365 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 3A3
Telephone: 204-227-3891
Email: shelly.johnson@sac-isc.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

The Fisher River Cree Nation (FRCN) On-Reserve Permanent Diking ("The Project") has been developed to protect residences and critical infrastructure on reserve in Fisher River Cree Nation at risk from annual flooding of the Fisher River. The project that includes the following phases: 1a, 1b, and 2. Phase 1a consists of the immediate construction of permanent on-reserve diking to protect homes, critical infrastructure, and local road access, with a targeted construction date start date in August 2026. Phase 1b will consist of raising provincial roads and bridges to maintain access to the community and surrounding area during emergency flood events, with a target goal to be fully completed by 2028. Phase 2 is the development of long-term flood mitigation works to reduce the overall frequency and severity of flooding for which a completion date has yet to be defined.

 

This environmental review is only related to Project Phase 1a. Further environmental review will be required for the subsequent phases of the Project (Phase 1b and 2).

 

General Phase 1a Project Activities are on reserve and include the following:

·       Construction of permanent sub-division dikes and individual dikes for homes that are most at risk of annual flooding

·       A portion of one subdivision dike is located within the southern edge of Fisher Bay Provincial Park

·       Development and use of borrow area (s) on reserve

·       Raising of on reserve access roads where required

·       Drainage improvements, including installation of culverts and widening of ditches where required

·       Temporary stream crossings where required

·       Tree clearing only where necessary

·       Improve/maintain haul roads if necessary

·       Development of temporary laydown and camp areas

 

Fisher River Cree Nation (FRCN) is the proponent of this work and will be providing permitting and authorizations relevant to the FRCN Land Code. As well, all project activities must conform to the Fisher River Cree Nation Land Code. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is funding this work. Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) is providing the expertise and resources needed to support planning, design, and construction.  

Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)  will be engaged given the proximity to the Fisher River and associated tributaries. Manitoba Environment and Climate Change (ECC) will be engaged for any works in Fisher Bay Provincial Park.

 

All works related to Phase 1a of the Project will be on reserve, except where noted above, and all works are adjacent to the Fisher River. The Fisher River is considered a navigable watercourse within the project footprint. While borrow areas are not located within 100m of the Fisher River or any other navigable watercourse, portions of the individual and multiple property dikes may be within 30m of the Fisher River and associated tributaries. Phase 1a of the project does not anticipate works that will impact a navigable watercourse."

Note: Make sure to post the Notice of Intent as a "document" so that it remains permanently available on the Registry. Posting as only a "latest update" will result in the Notice of Intent being deleted when a new "latest update" is posted.