Dene Tha’ First Nation and Town of High Level, AB

1. Joint Strategic Plan (2021–2026) 

Dene Tha’ First Nation and the Town of High Level collaboratively developed a five-year Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) to guide their partnership and outline shared priorities. Finalized in 2021, the plan focused on three core joint initiatives: waterline and wastewater infrastructure, a joint regional emergency plan, and the development of a multi-use facility for recreation and emergency evacuation. The JSP was created through a collaborative process involving regular Working Group meetings, workshops, and sub-committees. In January 2021, the Working Group and sub-committees met virtually to co-develop the plan, identifying objectives and actions under six strategic themes: Relationship Building and Communication, Joint Regional Emergency Planning and Response, Multi-use Facility, Infrastructure Establishment and Maintenance, Regional/Indigenous Tourism, and Regional Social and Economic Development. Both councils planned to formally adopt the plan in June 2021. While external challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and regional wildfires slowed implementation, the process strengthened the relationship between the communities and laid a strong foundation for long-term collaboration in critical infrastructure and services. 

 2. Waterline and Wastewater Infrastructure  

Dene Tha’ First Nation and the Town of High Level prioritized joint waterline and wastewater infrastructure to address the waterline connection between the Town of High Level and Bushe River, ensure the protection of the water supply and watershed management, and advance the development of wastewater infrastructure. This initiative was identified as one of the top three shared community economic development initiatives through CEDI’s Joint Strategic Planning process and prioritized using the Prioritization Criteria and Matrix tool.  

A dedicated Waterline and Wastewater Infrastructure Sub-Committee was established to oversee this initiative. Over the course of the partnership, significant progress was made. A water service agreement was expanded to ensure that the newest residential subdivision in Bushe River would be adequately serviced. With $2.1 million in funding from the Alberta Government, construction was completed on the east end of the project, successfully connecting the waterline from the Town of High Level to the subdivision in Bushe River. A wastewater infrastructure feasibility study, funded by ISC, was also completed and was reviewed by both councils. To address potential excess wastewater at Bushe River, the Town of High Level committed to running a force main back to its wastewater system.  

3. Joint Regional Emergency Plan  

Dene Tha’ First Nation and the Town of High Level worked together to develop a Joint Regional Emergency Plan (JREP) to improve emergency preparedness and coordination across the four communities of Bushe River, Chateh, Meander River, and High Level. The initiative was prioritized during their joint strategic planning process and was led by a dedicated sub-committee. In response to repeated wildfire events and evacuation experiences, the communities recognized the need for a unified approach to emergency management. With approval from the Working Group, the sub-committee accessed the full CEDI Capacity Building Grant to contract Sandhurst Consulting. The work was carried out in three phases. Phase I included an educational presentation on emergency planning at CEDI Workshop 3. Phase II involved a hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA), with Sandhurst visiting all four communities and reviewing existing emergency systems and services. Phase III included interviews, ICS 100 and 200 training, and the initial design of the emergency plan. Although the partnership was unsuccessful in securing funding from the Province of Alberta for the final phase, they received an invitation from Indigenous Services Canada Alberta Region for Dene Tha’ First Nation to apply on behalf of the partnership. This initiative laid a strong foundation for long-term regional emergency coordination and resilience. 

4. Multi-use Facility (recreation and emergency evacuation)  

Dene Tha’ First Nation and the Town of High Level worked together to design a multi-use facility that would serve both as a recreational space and an emergency evacuation center for the region. This project emerged from joint strategic planning discussions, where both communities identified the need for a shared facility to enhance wellness, community connection, and emergency preparedness. The partners jointly managed the design and funding process, beginning with the selection of a proposed location on school district property. They co-created and released a public engagement survey for residents of both the Town of High Level and Bushe River to inform the design. In August, a contract for the design phase was awarded through a shared review process involving representatives from the Town, Dene Tha’, and the school district. The Town of High Level committed $650,000 toward the engineering portion, and the detailed design of the building was completed. A collaborative Sponsorship Taskforce was also formed to pursue corporate and philanthropic sponsorships, including naming rights. Elected leadership from both communities actively leveraged their relationships with provincial and federal officials, working to identify champions who could help secure funding for the next phase of the project, tendering and construction. This initiative demonstrated the strength of the partnership in delivering inclusive, community-driven infrastructure.