Two First Nations are challenging the construction of Bell Canada’s AI data centre south of Regina, saying the project is moving ahead without consultation or adequate information about its environmental impacts.
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation said in a letter to Bell president and CEO Mirko Bibic issued Friday that the development in the rural municipality of Sherwood is being built on “unceded traditional Dakota territory” with neither consent nor consultation.
“Our Nation has responsibilities to its members, its territory and future generations, and will determine its own position on this development through its leadership and independent review,” the letter states.
“As a sovereign nation and on treaty land, I believe we have the right to be consulted with,” Chief Rodger Redman later told CBC News.
The First Nation has given Bell 10 business days to acknowledge its letter and 30 days to arrange a meeting involving provincial representatives.
Two First Nations are demanding consultation and information from Bell Canada and the government about an AI data centre being built south of Regina. (Alexander Quon/CBC)
Standing Buffalo is not a signatory to Treaty 4 but is protected under the Indian Act.
“We’re asserting and operationalizing our sovereignty as Indian people, as Dakota people,” Redman said, adding he is prepared to pursue litigation or judicial review if Bell does not respond.
The province, which has partnered on the project with Bell and George Gordon First Nation, says the artificial intelligence data centre is the largest private sector investment in Canadian history, bringing $52 billion in investment, up to 1,200 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs to Saskatchewan.
Redman says partnership with George Gordon First Nation on the project does not resolve the duty to consult with other First Nations whose traditional territories could be affected by the development.
“They’re trying to satisfy and check off the box of consultation. That’s not consultation,” he said, adding he believes Standing Buffalo, located just west of Fort Qu’Appelle, deserves the same level of disclosure about the project as the First Nations partner.
“There’s 74 Nations in Saskatchewan. And none of those 74 that I know of have delegated George Gordon to speak on their behalf,” Redman said.
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation Chief Roger Redman, standing in front of the Standing Buffalo Sovereignty Declaration, a historic declaration issued in 2023 that asserts the Nation’s sovereign right to govern itself. (Louise BigEagle/CBC)
Standing Buffalo is already involved in federal court litigation over its asserted right to consultation, Redman said.
“We have our own consultation framework. We sent the province a copy of that. Till this day, we’re still waiting for them to fill out an application,” he said.
Redman says the First Nation has not received the information necessary to assess the project’s potential impacts on water, wildlife and crops.
“Were geographical, hydrological studies ever done? The environmental impacts… what it’s creating within the air, the animals, the birds?”
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He is also seeking information about how Bell will manage and dispose of retired computing, electrical and mechanical equipment, including potentially toxic electronic waste.
“What are we leaving for our next generation? A cesspool of toxic waste?”
Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation is separately calling on the provincial and federal governments, and Bell, to pause construction on the development until a proper environmental assessment is completed. The First Nation is also asking to be meaningfully consulted and accommodated under Treaty 4 rights.
In a letter sent Monday, Chief Cliff Thomson called the development “beyond irresponsible,” citing already-limited water supplies in the area and his community’s reliance on cattle.
Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation has called for an immediate pause on the data centre’s construction. (Kirk Fraser/CBC News)
“We see drought conditions. We have an aquifer under our reserve to protect. We don’t know where the water is coming from, and we don’t understand the impacts,” he wrote.
Thomson said Carry the Kettle will stand firm in protecting its land and treaty rights.
“All we hear are media reports of governments effectively asking our people to ‘just trust us,'” he wrote. “That is not enough.”
Bell Canada told CBC News it remains committed to engaging with local communities and First Nations on the project.
“Bell AI Fabric projects are developed in accordance with all applicable regulatory and environmental requirements,” the company said, adding it will continue to provide relevant information through the appropriate processes.
A statement from Premier Scott Moe’s office said the project, like any major development, “will be subject to applicable environmental assessment, regulatory and permitting requirements to help identify, assess, and mitigate potential environmental impacts and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.
“Our government is proud to support this investment and will continue working with Bell and our community partners as the project progresses,” it read.
