THE CHALLENGE
Lake Winnipeg faces critical environmental issues due to excessive nutrients and phosphorus entering waterways, generating harmful algae blooms that threaten the health of the ecosystems and affect many municipalities and First Nations across Manitoba that depend on the Lake Winnipeg watershed. Coordinated efforts at the community level are essential to sustainably managing and restoring the help of a watershed as large as Lake Winnipeg.
THE HISTORY
The CLI originated in Manitoba as a groundbreaking partnership between Chiefs from the Southern Chiefs’ Organization and municipal leaders from the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region in 2017. For the first time in over 150 years, these leaders united to address shared water challenges that were beyond the capacity of any one government to resolve. Recognizing that collaboration was the key, they committed to sitting together at a governance table to identify common interests, overcome obstacles, and confront misconceptions. Guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, this partnership marked an important step toward reconciliation by fostering mutual understanding and strategic cooperation between First Nations and municipal governments.
THE LEADERS
The CLI Manitoba process gathered together elected leaders from 11 Indigenous governments and 16 municipalities for the first time in 154 years.
Indigenous Leaders
- Chief Lance Roulette, Sandy Bay First Nation
- Chief Norman Bone, Keeseekowenin Ojibway First Nation
- Chief Derrick Henderson, Sagkeeng First Nation
- Chief Deborah Smith, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation
- Chief Dennis Meeches, Long Plain First Nation
- Chief Glenn Hudson, Peguis First Nation
- Chief Karen Batson, Pine Creek First Nation
- Chief Craig Alexander, Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation
- Chief Francine Meeches, Swan Lake First Nation
- Chief David Ledoux, Gambler First Nation
- Chief Viola Eastman, Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation
Municipal Leaders
- Reeve Frances Smee, RM of Rosser
- Mayor Justin Bohemier, RM of Tache
- Reeve Brad Erb, RM of MacDonald
- Councillor Scott Gillingham, City of Winnipeg
- Mayor Cheryl Christian, RM of East St. Paul
- Mayor Debbie Fiebelkorn, RM of St. Clements
- Mayor Rick Gamble, Village of Dunnottar
- Mayor Larry Johannson, City of Selkirk
- Mayor Chris Ewen, RM of Ritchot
- Mayor John Mauseth, RM of Headingley
- Mayor Joy Sul, RM of St. Andrews
- Mayor Clive Hinds, Town of Stonewall
- Mayor Cheryl Christian, RM of West St. Paul
- Reeve Tiffany Fell, RM of Springfield
- Reeve J. Wesley Taplin, RM of Rockwood
- Reeve Dwayne Clarke, RM St Francois Xavier
- Reeve Dale Fossay, RM of Cartier
THE CLI ROLE
The CLI brought together 28 elected leaders from municipal and Indigenous governments, some who were meeting for the first time. Through the phases of the CLI process, the CLI team facilitated relationship building, activities, and gatherings formalizing a commitment to working together on shared water challenges. The historic signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and experienced lived during the five years of CLI process ensured that reconciliation was embedded in policies, processes and governance in the Lake Winnipeg watershed.
THE MEETINGS
See summaries of the integral meetings that took place at the governance table between the leaders from May 15, 2018 to March 17, 2023.
THE OUTCOME
In March 2019, the Collaborative Leadership Initiative (CLI) achieved a historic milestone when Chiefs, Mayors, and Reeves from the Southern Chiefs’ Organization and Winnipeg Metropolitan Region signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement signified a shared commitment to a new era of collaboration, recognizing the need to work together to address the complex challenges of protecting Manitoba’s land, water, and air. Since then, community leaders have united to implement tangible solutions, including natural infrastructure projects to reduce nutrient loading and phosphorus discharge into Lake Winnipeg, shoreline erosion prevention measures, and numerous other ongoing initiatives. The success of the CLI and efforts from this Leadership Table exemplify how collective action can drive meaningful environmental and community outcomes.
