(Photo Credit: O'Leary Ventures)

By Nathaniel Leigh

Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation

Chief of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation raises concerns with Wonder Valley Data Centre project

Jan 21, 2025 | 1:42 PM

The Chief of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has concerns regarding the Wonder Valley AI data centre project to be built on his nation’s land.

The project was announced in December as part of a partnership between the MD of Greenview and O’Leary Ventures and is expected to be the largest data centre of its kind in the world.

Sturgeon Lake Chief Sheldon Sunshine says they were not consulted on or informed about the project and they have questions regarding the resources used to power the data centre and its potential impact on the environment.

“The amount of gas they’re talking about to power the facility. You know, you start doing research on the amount of water that these AI data centres are going to utilize, and you’re talking significant resources that are going to impact my nation now and in the future.”

Chief Sunshine says he has been in contact with the CEO of O’Leary Ventures and is hoping a meeting will clear up some of his concerns.

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“We were in talks about scheduling that,” he says. “I’m hopeful we learn what exactly they are going to be doing. As for the province, we haven’t anything heard from them. I haven’t’ checked with our office as of [January 21, 2025] to see if we got any information or communication from them. We’re going to do that and talk about what our next steps are.”

He says the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is not inherently opposed to development on their land, but they want to be part of the conversation.

“I’ve always maintained that we would like to be part of those solutions,” he says. “I think First Nation people all across this land and Canada can be part of those solutions, as long as we’re included in a timely fashion. Not after all the discussions have taken place and they come looking for advocacy in their project.”

The Wonder Valley project is being celebrated by the City and County of Grande Prairie and the MD of Greenview as a testament to what the Peace region can achieve.