An illustration from the O'Leary Ventures website advertises the proposed Wonder Valley as the biggest AI data centre on Earth. Photo courtesy O'Leary Ventures
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is raising concerns about an artificial intelligence project proposed to be built on their territory.
The project, proposed by Kevin O’Leary and in partnership with the Municipal District of Greenview, hopes to build the largest industrial datacenter in the world.
In a statement, Chief Sheldon Sunshine expressed his disappointment with the lack of consultation.
“There has been no consultation. The way they act and talk; it’s as if our land and water is there for the taking, and we are expected to get in line to receive the so-called economic benefits,” Sunshine said.
“Our people are here to remind Mr. O’Leary and Greenview of the international Treaty, Treaty No. 8, that allows us all to share this land. There is protocol. There are legal requirements. They are not being followed.”
The project, being called Wonder Valley, has an estimated initial cost of $2.8 billion dollars but could see total investments reach over $70 billion over the lifetime of the project.
In an emailed statement, Press Secretary for The Minister of Technology and Innovation Jonathan Gauthier said the Alberta government remain committed to proper consultation.
“Alberta’s government understands how important it is for Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation to exercise their Treaty rights and traditional uses now and into the future. We are committed to meaningful and thorough consultation with First Nations on projects where these rights may be affected, and Alberta’s government consistently meets its legal and constitutional duty to consult, and the courts have upheld our consultation process,” he said.
Gauthier added Environment and Protected Areas issued a preliminary certificate which will allow a Water Act license to be issued in the future provided mandatory conditions are met, which includes consultations with First Nations.
“No applications have been submitted to EPA and no Water Act license has been issued for the Greenview Industrial Gateway or related projects. We can also confirm that no applications have been submitted to provincial regulators in relation to this project,” Gauthier said.
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