Manitoba elders say 2011 flood devastated lives, communities

It's been four years since a devastating flood hit Manitoba, but those who lost their homes and communities are still suffering, their families say.

Feelings of isolation, mental health issues and increased suicide rates are only some aspects of reality for those who were forced out of the life they knew, elders from four Manitoba First Nations said Tuesday at a gathering held to share their stories.

Marshall Ross says he misses being able to take care of his home.

"I'mgetting sick of it now;nothing to do,just sleep and eat where I'm staying.I had my own house, I had a few things to dooutside, cleaning up my yard," he said.

SharonPruden wasat the event tospeak for her mother.

"She always talked about not wanting to leave her home," she said."And she always talked about not wanting to go home in a coffin. ... That is how we had to take her home when she passed away on January30th."

The gathering, which was organized by the health directors of Lake St. Martin, Little Saskatchewan,Pinaymootangand Dauphin River, is first of its kind: Elders came specifically to talk about the effects flooding has on their lives.

"I always feel like the evacuees aren't being heard and I always refer to them as the forgotten people," said Gwen Traverse,health director for Pinaymootang.

Traversesaysshe hears of crises from evacuees on a daily basis.

"It's not going to stop once the communities go home," she said."You're going to see more social impacts, more emotional impactsand currently that's what we're dealing with."

Pinaymootang's Garnet Woodhousewas the only chief in at the meeting.

While he says he's listening to what the elders have to say about movingforward,Woodhousecouldn'tsay where the First Nations are in negotiations with federal and provincial governments.

"There are a lot of outstanding issueslike land, the loss of livelihood,fishing, hunting, even gardening. All those things; the culture," he said.

A number of elders saythey want their leaders to takea stronger stance;protestingat the Manitoba Legislature andblocking provincial highways are examples of the action they would liketo see.