Nekaneet First Nation signs telecommunications deal with Ontario First Nation

A cross-border deal between two First Nations will see high-speed Internet, telephone and TV services provided to Saskatchewan’s Nekaneet First Nation as well as the areas in the province’s southwest.

The Nekaneet First Nation (which is located in the Cypress Hills area) and the Batchewana First Nation (located near Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) announced a telecommunication economic development agreement during a media conference Tuesday at the First Nations University of Canada.

“Today is an important day for Nekaneet First Nation and Batchewana First Nation,” Nekaneet Chief Alvin Francis said in a media release. “Our Nations have agreed to enter into a government-to-government relationship exercising our treaty and inherent rights by working together in the telecommunication sector.

“We talk about asserting our sovereignty and jurisdiction, (and) today we are exercising that right and recreating an economic trade route between two First Nations, across provinces, that once flourished in Canada.”

According to the release, Phase One of the project will start immediately with the construction of 16 communication towers in and around the Maple Creek area.

The agreement could see services expanded in the future into southwest Saskatchewan and other First Nation communities.

“We created our own telecommunications company to provide our people with access to high-speed Internet and telephone service, an essential service for our community,” Batchewana Chief Dean Sayers said in the release.

“Batchewana First Nation offers competitive rates for our on- and off-reserve membership and also to the surrounding Algoma Region and other First Nation communities in Ontario and Canada.

“Our economic alliance with Nekaneet First Nation will create economic prosperity and opportunities for Nekaneet First Nation while providing reliable high-speed internet and telephone service to support their community and surrounding areas.”