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- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation Demands Answers on AI Data Centre
The Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation (SBDN) is urging Bell Canada to engage in formal consultation regarding a multi-billion dollar AI data centre currently under construction south of Regina, within the Rural Municipality of Sherwood. The First Nation asserts that its unceded traditional territory covers the project site and is seeking additional technical details about the development.
Bell's Response to Consultation Request
On Friday, Bell responded to SBDN's call for information with a three-page letter. The letter, sent by Bell's president of AI Infrastructure and Strategy, Dan Rink, affirmed the company had fulfilled the consultation required by the province. While Bell offered to meet with SBDN informally, it declined the First Nation's request for a formal consultation process and stated it would not release specific technical reports, commercial agreements, or other detailed records requested by SBDN.
Calls for Transparency and Participation
Chief Rodger Redman, speaking to CBC, emphasized the importance of meaningful consultation and the need for transparent information about the AI data centre, valued at $52 billion. Chief Redman expressed that SBDN requires technical details to evaluate the centre's operations and potential environmental impacts effectively. "We're operationalizing our sovereignty, our true sovereignty as a people," Redman said, underlining the First Nation's right to assess the project's impact according to its own legislation.
Project Partnerships and Province’s Role
The George Gordon First Nation is listed as a partner with Bell and the provincial government in the AI data centre project, which is slated to begin operating next year. Construction is ongoing, and an expansion of the facility has already been announced.
Bell, in its correspondence, stated, "We are sharing this information because we believe being a good neighbour and corporate citizen in Saskatchewan means answering questions openly." However, the company maintained that it has satisfied all consultation requirements established by the province for this project and declined requests for further information or interviews.
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation's Next Steps
Chief Redman noted that Bell’s letter "doesn't include any details that aren't already public and doesn't address his concerns about consultation." SBDN has set a November 16 deadline for Bell to confirm whether it will provide the information requested and participate in the First Nation’s formal review process. Redman warned that a 30-day period had been established for Bell to provide full disclosure, with the First Nation preparing a legal strategy should their requests not be met.
Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation is among the few non-treaty First Nations in Saskatchewan but is still protected under the Indian Act. The legal backdrop includes the 2004 Supreme Court of Canada decision in Haida Nation v. British Columbia, affirming that the Crown’s duty to consult can arise even before Aboriginal rights or title are legally proven.
Other First Nations Voice Concerns
Earlier in the month, Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation asked Bell and the provincial government to halt construction on the AI data centre until a comprehensive environmental assessment could be completed. This request highlights broader First Nations concerns about consultation and environmental impacts related to major infrastructure projects in the region.
Source: cbc.ca.
