Federal funding will improve flood resistance for two Vancouver Island Indigenous nations

VANCOUVER ISLAND — The federal government has announced $21.7 million in funding to aid the Malahat Nation and the Gwa’sala-ʼNakwaxda’xw Nation improve flood resistant infrastructure.

More than $12 million will help the Gwa’sala-ʼNakwaxda’xw build a new beach, a dike, raise certain land, upgrade and raise an existing bridge and rebuild low-lying lands to a higher level to resist floods caused by a rising ocean due to climate change, a news release states.

The Malahat Nation will receive $9,504,572 to rehabilitate and modernize the Oliphant Lake dam, construct a rockfill addition downstream and a new spillway.

“Since being relocated to the Tsulquate Reserve from our traditional territories over 50 years ago, our Nation has lived with the risk of potential devastation to our only bridge/road access, and the 40 per cent of our homes in the flood/tsunami zone,” said Chief Terry Walkus of the Gwa’sala-ʼNakwaxda’xw Nations in the release.

“We would like to thank Canada and the DMAF program for recognizing this critical infrastructure shortage and for working together with us to ensure the long-term health and security of our people.”