There’s a reaction to a proposed artificial intelligence data center for northern Alberta.
The First Nation says the plans violate treaty rights. It is also raising concerns about Premier Daniel Smith’s relationship with a celebrity investor.
Last month, the Municipal District of Greenview partnered Dragon’s Den Starr Kevin O’Leary will build an off-grid natural gas-powered data center in his region.
The center will be used to house computing resources for developing and training artificial intelligence models.
Chief Sheldon Sunshine of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation told Global News the site affects resources on their treaty land and the First Nation was not consulted.
“With something of this nature, this size that they’re talking about, have that open conversation with us. It’s in our backyard,” said Sunshine.
In a letter to Smith obtained by Global News, the chief raises concerns about whether Smith has given O’Leary permission for access to gas or water.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Technology and Innovation said it is committed to meaningful and full consultation with First Nations on projects where rights may be affected.
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“The Municipal District of Greenview has expressed interest in creating the Greenview Industrial Gateway Industrial Zone,” press secretary Jonathan Gauthier said in a statement. “To support them in their planning, Environment and Protected Areas issued an initial certificate that would allow the issuance of future Water Act licenses if various mandatory conditions were met. These conditions included appropriate consultation with First Nations.
The statement added that no applications have been submitted in Environment and Protected Areas or Provincial Areas and no Water Act license has been issued for the project.
O’Leary Ventures did not respond to a request for comment.
Sunshine also raised concerns about Smith traveling with O’Leary in an effort to secure funding for the data center.
A spokeswoman for the Premier’s office said Smith is proud to support projects he says will create jobs and grow Alberta’s economy.
“The Premier regularly meets with key investors and businesses to make Alberta one of the Best investment destinations in the world. Anything more inaccurate would be to characterize the Premier’s conversation with Mr. O’Leary,” said press secretary Sam Blackett.
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Matthew Wildcat, assistant professor and director of Indigenous Governance and Partnerships at the University of Alberta, said it’s hard to know what’s going on behind the scenes.
He said while the province is complying with the law, he wants to see the Alberta government adhere to an international standard called “free, prior and informed consent.”
“The big word here is ‘prior’, right? If one wants, they can make a big technical argument that nothing has started here and indigenous people will be brought on board but I think that betrays the spirit of what indigenous people want, which is an open and transparent relationship. ” said Wildcat.
Sunshine agrees. He hopes that whatever comes out of this data center doesn’t use up the resources his people depend on.
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