Dozens of band members gathered at the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Community Hall for an engagement session regarding the proposed Wonder Valley AI data centre campus. Community leaders and legal representatives led the session to discuss the potential impact on their traditional territory. Despite the presence of many community members with questions, the company responsible for the project did not attend.
The proposed $70-billion, nine-gigawatt facility by O’Leary Digital in the Municipal District of Greenview is situated approximately 130 kilometers southwest of the SLCN reserve. During the presentation, SLCN lawyer Francco De Luca detailed the project’s history, concerns, and the regulatory and consultory processes that must be navigated.
De Luca emphasized the importance of consultation to uphold the Crown’s Aboriginal treaty rights and comply with regulatory frameworks such as the Water Act and Environmental Protection Enhancement Act. He expressed concerns about the project due to the exemption of a provincial impact assessment and the ongoing judicial review of SLCN’s water license.
Key topics discussed during the session included the heat emissions, noise, and impact on wildlife, which were also addressed during O’Leary Digital’s June open house. De Luca highlighted that the proposed development, spanning about 64 square kilometers along Highway 40, is situated in the core of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation’s territory, close to areas used for hunting and trapping.
SLCN Chief Sheldon Sunshine shared that his family recently engaged in traditional activities near the proposed facility site, emphasizing the significance of their connection to the land. He expressed concerns about the potential loss of access to the land for harvesting and cultural practices. O’Leary Digital CEO Paul Palandjian assured efforts to avoid disrupting animal habitats in the site planning and dedicated a specific area for wildlife preservation.
The community continues to have reservations about the proposed Wonder Valley project, highlighting the need for further dialogue and consideration of the environmental and cultural impacts.