Protestors target F.N. flooding, mould

Residents of a ManitobaFirst Nation marched through part of downtown Winnipegto protest flooding that plagues their community.

More than 60 band members from Lake St. Martin First Nation then marched into the offices of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on Hargrave Street.

'I've seen a lot of kids with asthma, a lot of people with lung issues and it's affecting their daily living.' Donna Helm, health worker

They say artificial flooding from a dam at nearby Fairford has plagued the reserve for years and thewet conditions have produced mould problems in many of the homes on the reserve, 225 km northwest of Winnipeg.

"We have a high percentage of our children that havebreathing problems and asthma is a big thing, and that's a cause of that mould. And they breathe that every day," said band councillor Mervin Sinclair.

Donna Helm,a health worker at the First Nation, concurred.

"It does affect the community's health.I've seen a lot of kids with asthma, a lot of people with lung issues and it's affecting their daily living," she said.

INAC doesn't build homes

Band officials say most of the homes on the reserve should be moved out of the flood area.

They say they havebeen negotiating with INAC for years but there's been no movement on the issue.

In an emailedstatement, INAC said the department provides capital funding to reserves, but doesn't actually build or maintain homes.

"Housing operation and maintenance in First Nations is the responsibility of the First Nation,"a spokeswoman told CBC News."INAC provides band base capital funding to First Nations to be spent on priority areas as determined by the community." Capital funds may be used for housing and other infrastructure expenses such as wastewater systems, education facilities, roads and bridges, the spokeswoman said. "INAC funding is not intended to cover the full cost of housing and First Nations and their residents must secure other sources of funds, such as a rental regime, for new construction and/or renovations."

Last year,Lake St. Martin's band base capital funding was $673,800, INAC said.