Community leaders and legal representatives held an engagement session at the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Community Hall to discuss the potential impacts of the proposed Wonder Valley AI data centre campus on their traditional territory. The $70-billion, nine-gigawatt facility by O’Leary Digital is planned in the Municipal District of Greenview, around 130 kilometers southwest of the SLCN reserve.
During the session, SLCN lawyer Francco De Luca addressed the history of the project, concerns, and the regulatory obstacles it still faces. De Luca emphasized the importance of consultation to uphold Aboriginal treaty rights and comply with regulatory processes like the Water Act and Environmental Protection Enhancement Act.
Key issues raised during the presentation included the exemption from a provincial impact assessment and SLCN’s ongoing legal challenge concerning the project’s water license. De Luca also highlighted concerns about heat emissions, noise, and wildlife impacts on the area.
Chief Sheldon Sunshine expressed worries about the project’s location, which overlaps with traditional hunting and trapping grounds. He mentioned a recent traditional camp nearby where his family harvested plants and his grandson hunted a moose, emphasizing the significance of these activities to their community.
O’Leary Digital CEO Paul Palandjian assured efforts to mitigate environmental impacts, including avoiding animal corridors in site planning and preserving wildlife areas. However, community members’ concerns during the Q&A session focused on environmental issues and the lack of consultation.
Despite O’Leary Digital’s absence at the engagement session, the company expressed commitment to engaging with SLCN in the future. Challenges leading to their non-attendance were attributed to recent adversarial interactions and changed circumstances.
Chief Sunshine reiterated the community’s serious concerns and emphasized the need for transparent engagement and addressing unanswered questions regarding the Wonder Valley project.