Dene Tha’ First Nation on course for clean water

March 14, 2019

In a historic partnership with the Dene Tha’ First Nation, the Alberta government is bringing safe and reliable drinking water to the nation.

The $2.1-million project will connect the Dene Tha’ First Nation in Bushe River to the Town of High Level water treatment plant by waterline. This is the 10th project funded through Alberta’s First Nations Regional Drinking Water Tie-In Program, which will benefit 14 First Nations.

“This is one more step on the path of reconciliation and a display of our ongoing collaboration between First Nation communities, the federal government and water commissions to address the water quality issues faced on reserves. Everyone in the province deserves to have access to a safe and reliable source of drinking water.”

Richard Feehan, Minister of Indigenous Relations

The project is part of the province’s $100-million commitment to ensure First Nations in Alberta have access to safe, reliable drinking water.

“We are most grateful for this announcement which gives us great hope by being given a starting point towards getting a safe drinking water supply right to our doorsteps. The waterline to Bushe is very much welcomed as it also means the high cost of trucking water will go down for our administration as more development continues to the core area.”

Chief James Ahnassay, Dene Tha’ First Nation

Construction of the waterline will begin once the design phase is completed. The project is expected to be in place by 2020.

Quick facts

Budget 2017 committed $100 million to provide clean, safe drinking water to First Nations, where feasible, through the First Nations Regional Drinking Water Tie-In Program.
Construction of a regional waterline to the Alexis Nakota Sioux reserve boundary was completed in June 2018.
Construction of a regional waterline up to the Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation reserve boundary is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2020.

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