Stoney Nakoda flood repairs lagging, say First Nation residents

The vast majority of homes destroyed by floodwaters that ravaged large swaths of southern Alberta in June 2013 have since been repaired, but its a different story for many residents on Stoney Nakoda Nation.

More than a year and half after the destruction many housesonthe reserve west of Calgary are still damaged.

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Peter Asaph, his wife and three children are still not able to return to their home on the Stoney Nakoda Nation in the foothills of the Rockies.

When we woke up that morning we woke up with a good two-and-a-half, three feet of water in the basement, he said.

The Asaph family has bounced around between hotels and government camps since then while they wait for their home to be repaired.

Some work has been completed on Asaph's house a new furnace and hot water heater have been installedbut Asaph says his family is no closer to getting home.

It's just all politics in the end because the band wants to take over, saying they can do it faster, you know. And the government says they want to keep their hands on the money because they want to make sure it is done right.

The province says 92 per cent of 9,333 residential flood damage claims have been addressed across southern Alberta.

By comparison, just 79 of 557 damaged homes have been repaired on Nakoda land about 14 per cent.

Alberta Premier Jim Prentice, who is also the province's minister of Aboriginal Relations, says its not a matter of discrimination.

Some people were flooded worse than others. Some repair jobs are more difficult. I don't think its a situation of on reserve versus off reserve being treated differently, he said.

The province and band officials from the Stoney Nakoda Nation are scheduled to meet on Monday.