b'PROJECT UPDATELake DiefenbakerIrrigation Project UpdateFSIN works to support First Nations concernsTHE FEDERATION OF SOVEREIGNBuffalo Pound Lake. Phases 2 and 3 ofOn April 25, 2022, Vice Chief Bear Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Chiefs-in- the project are estimated to cost up toresponded with a 39-page letter, which Assembly supports steps to address$3.5billion. corrected some of the misinformation First Nations concerns with the Lakein the federal response, and provided Diefenbaker Irrigation Project. Western Economic Diversificationa detailed analysis on why the project Canada released a report in supportdoes, in fact, meet the criteria and On July 2, 2020, Premier Scottof the project, stating that it wouldshould be designated. Moe announced the first steps of asupport food security and economic generational projectthat will irrigateprosperity in the future. In SeptemberWith the limited information provided up to 500,000 acres of land from Lakeof 2020, the federal governmentby the Province thus far, it is difficult to Diefenbaker, more than doublingconfirmed it would financiallyknow the potential scope and impact of the irrigable land in Saskatchewan.support the project, and moneythis project. Potential concerns include The project is beginning with an has been set aside with the Canadathe degradation of water quality, immediate $22.5-million investmentInfrastructureBank.future water shortages, changes to in preliminary engineering and initialsoil composition,soil contamination, construction. Project construction isSaskatchewan has continued to movechanges in natural sedimentation flows expected to occur over approximatelyforward with the project planning and further damage to the already-10 years in three phases, at a total costwith no dialogue, engagement or estimated at $4 billion. consultation with First Nations andaltered Saskatchewan River Delta. Of no environmentalimpact assessment.particular concern are the impacts to Phase 1 of the project is estimatedOn May 26, 2021, the FSIN Chiefs-in- the Saskatchewan River Delta, which to cost $500 million and will includeAssembly adopted a resolution callinghas already been damaged by three the rehabilitation and expansion ofon the federal government to designatehydroelectric projects on the river. the existing Westside irrigation canalall three phases of the project for anThe Saskatchewan River Delta is one system. This work will increase theenvironmental assessment under theof the largest inland river deltas in amount of irrigable land by 80,000Impact Assessment Act, and for theNorth America, home to a wealth of acres in the area.FSIN Lands and Resources Secretariatbiodiversity including many culturally to explore legal options in relation toimportant plant and animal species, Phase 2 will see the further expansionthe project. To date, the Chiefs-in- and is relied upon and culturally and buildout of the Westside IrrigationAssembly have not given directionimportant for First Nations in the area.Project, which would stretch fromto either oppose or support the Gardiner Dam to Asquith, along theirrigationproject.Additionally, the cumulative impacts of west bank of the South Saskatchewanall development and water allocation River, and add an additional 260,000Following the May 2021 assembly,along the Saskatchewan River are not acres of irrigable land.Vice Chief Heather Bear sent a letterbeing monitored, and First Nations, to the Honourable Steven Guilbeault,Tribal Councils and First Nations Phase 3 will see the buildout of theMinister of Environment and Climateorganizations have expressed concern QuAppelle South Irrigation Project,Change, requesting that all three phaseabout the bigger picture that is not which connects Lake Diefenbaker toof the project be designed for a federalbeing studied or reported on by Buffalo Pound, adding an estimatedenvironmental impact assessment. OnSaskatchewan or Canada. We will 120,000 acres of irrigable land.November 4, Guilbeault responded Starting at Lake Diefenbaker andthat Phases 1 and 2 did not meetcontinue to uphold our inherent going south, the project would runthe requirement for a designation,and Treaty rights, as it is our duty to near the communities of Tugaske andas Canada did not have enoughensure clean and accessible water for Eyebrow, down to Marquis and intoinformation to make that designation.futuregenerations. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations49'