On Tuesday May 23 2023, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Jennifer Bone and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, marked a historic investment in a new water treatment plant to meet the community’s water infrastructure needs. Through the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund, the Government of Canada has provided a total of $12 million to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation as part of Budget 2021. The new water treatment plant will be built to service 2,400 people, with the capacity to expand and service up to 4,000 people.
“One thing we saw coming out of covid is you know the importance to continue those investments in infrastructure in very basic things that should be a human right, like water. And so working from that into getting into a federal budget sometimes is not easy but it was critical because it shaped our mind as a government as to how we best accompany communities.”
– Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Chief Bone gifted Miller with a ribbon shirt and a beaded medallion as a thank-you for all he has done for the nation. Councillor Tony Tacan wanted to show his appreciation by giving the Minister an up close visit in Sioux Valley’s local buffalo pasture.
The water treatment plant is expected to begin construction in August, scheduled to finish in 12 to 16 months.
