Indigenous Women Rally Against $4 Billion Irrigation Project

URGENT UPDATE: Indigenous women from Cumberland House and Star Blanket Cree Nation are raising alarms over a threatening irrigation project that could devastate their water resources. During a rally in Saskatoon’s Rotary Park on Wednesday, they expressed deep concerns about water security in their communities as the $4 billion Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation project looms.

Denise McKenzie, an advocate for the Saskatchewan River Delta, highlighted the alarming state of the Campbell Dam, stating, “That lake used to be 30 miles long and 30 to 40 feet deep. Today, it’s barely two miles across, two feet of water and the rest is sludgy sandbar and mud.” The implications of this project reach far beyond immediate environmental concerns; they threaten the very essence of Indigenous life and the region’s ecological balance.

Veronica Favel, another advocate, emphasized the urgency of their message: “We have to do something before it completely dies on us. Our environment, wildlife, and we as human beings, we need that water.” The event drew attention to the ongoing lawsuit filed by the Cumberland House Cree Nation against the province, which alleges negligence in protecting the river delta and warns of an impending “ecological crisis.” The First Nation claims that industrial and agricultural activities upstream have led to a drastic decline in animal and fish populations and that the water is no longer safe to drink.

The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) has announced plans for a consultation process with stakeholders but faces criticism for its delayed response. In a statement, the agency reassured that it is committed to collecting feedback through various engagements over the next several months. “Gardiner Dam and Lake Diefenbaker were built for one million acres of modern irrigation. Currently, there are 166,000 acres of irrigation developed in the reservoir,” the WSA stated.

As community members gathered at Rotary Park, the sentiment was clear: the irrigation project poses a threat to their traditional ways of life. Jocelyn Ormero, president of Gabriel Dumont Local 11, stated, “It’s really important because we’re losing a lot of our traditional ways of life. It’s not just us that’s being affected. It’s the animals, it’s all of our ways of life.”

The group plans to escalate their protest by heading to Regina on Thursday to voice their concerns in front of the Saskatchewan legislature. Ormero reflected on the broader implications, saying, “Without protecting the water, things aren’t okay, and we’re seeing that in the world right now. Everything’s on fire. Had we listened to Indigenous ways of knowing, that might not be the case.”

As this situation develops, the Indigenous advocacy group is urging immediate action to safeguard their water resources and preserve their cultural heritage. The stakes are high, and as they prepare for their next demonstration, the message remains clear: urgent action is needed to protect the environment and the future of the communities that rely on it.