Dozens of musicians gathered at the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Community Hall on Tuesday for an engagement session regarding the potential impact of the proposed Wonder Valley AI data center campus on their traditional land. Community leaders and legal advisors led the session, addressing concerns and outlining the regulatory process. The $70 billion project by O’Leary Digital is planned in the Municipal District of Greenview, approximately 130 kilometers southwest of the SLCN reserve.
During the presentation by SLCN lawyer Francco De Luca, the history of the project, regulatory hurdles, and ongoing consultations to uphold Aboriginal treaty rights and environmental regulations were discussed. De Luca expressed worries about the project’s exemption from a provincial impact assessment and the ongoing legal review of the water license.
Issues such as heat emissions, noise, and impact on wildlife were raised, echoing discussions from O’Leary Digital’s previous open house in June. Chief Sheldon Sunshine emphasized the significance of the land for traditional activities like hunting and trapping, expressing concerns about the proposed project disrupting their way of life.
CEO Paul Palandjian assured efforts to avoid disrupting animal habitats in the site planning and designated areas for wildlife preservation. Despite these assurances, community members remain apprehensive about the potential impact on their land and way of life.
