Lake St. Martin First Nation is getting some help from both the Provincial and Federal Governments.

It was recently announced that Canada, Manitoba, and Lake St. Martin are working together to bring residents displaced by severe flooding in 2011 back to the community.

"People from St. Martin, as well as the other first nations in the area, have been displaced since then," says Eileen Clarke, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Municipal Relations for the Province of Manitoba. "We're looking at almost six years now, which is a real hardship placed on the families as well as their entire communities. So we're focused on finishing a job that has taken far too long under the previous government, and we're happy to work together with our federal and First Nation's partners to return the families to their evacuated home."

Two housing subdivisions are planned for the newly rebuilt First Nation, with the first subdivision comprising 150 homes. That will be covered by both the provincial and federal governments. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Province of Manitoba are also working with the First Nation's to finalize remaining housing needed for all evacuees who intend to return to the community. There's also going to be a new Kindergarten-Grade 12 school which will accommodate up to 324 students. It is expected to be complete by September 2018.

A dyke is also in planned to help alleviate some of the flooding risks in the area.

"It's been in place for some time now, it's not necessarily under construction right now, but that is the plan," says Clarke. "That will actually bring down the levels of Lake Manitoba in the years that it is very high, which actually causes the flooding."

She adds first and foremost it's about getting the people back to their homes.

Quick Facts About The Deal
- The housing contract represents an investment of $35.2 million, cost-shared 50/50 between the Province of Manitoba and Canada.
- The Government of Canada is providing $19.7 million for the construction of the new school.
- Canada has also invested in building a dyke at Lake St. Martin First Nation to provide greater flood protection than the record flood levels experienced in 2011.