Agreement reflects the parties’ shared commitment to building a relationship equal to the significance of the Nation’s rights and interests at the Whiteshell Laboratories.
Pinawa, MB and Treaty 3 Territory — 2026 August 26 — Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), and (AECL) today announced the signing of a bridging agreement, representing a meaningful step forward that sets the path towards meeting long-term goals together.
The Whiteshell Laboratories site was established in the 1960s in Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation’s traditional territory, in what is now Manitoba, without Sagkeeng’s consent or meaningful participation. While history cannot be undone, it can be acknowledged, and it must inform the path ahead.
In recent years, the parties have worked to build something new: a relationship grounded in openness, mutual respect, and recognition of Sagkeeng’s rights and interests. That work has not been without its challenges. But it has also produced tangible results, notably establishing the community-led Niigan Aki Guardian Program in 2022, enabling the Nation to monitor and care for the lands and waters of their territory.
The bridging agreement builds on this foundation, and its name reflects the intention of crossing from an unequal past toward a future defined by partnership. The agreement also provides capacity for continued collaboration as decommissioning of the Whiteshell Laboratories Restoration Project advances.
According to Sagkeeng, CNL and AECL, the bridging agreement is an important step, but it is not the destination. The work of fully addressing Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation’s concerns, interests, and rights remains ongoing, and all parties remain committed to the journey.
“For too long, decisions were made about our land without us — without our knowledge, without our consent, and without any regard for what that land means to our people. That history is real, and it does not disappear because we sign an agreement. What this bridging agreement represents is something different: a recognition that Sagkeeng belongs at the table, and a commitment — from all of us
to keep building until the relationship reflects the full weight of our rights and our title. This is not the finish line. But it is a meaningful step forward, and our community deserves to see that acknowledged.” — Ogimaakaan Ej Fontaine, Chief, Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation
” The bridging agreement is our affirmation that AECL and CNL value Sagkeeng’s rights and interests, not as a legal obligation, but as a foundation on which a different kind of relationship can be built. Building a new relationship with Sagkeeng is an exciting prospect for AECL, because the work we are doing at Whiteshell Laboratories is so important, and we know that Sagkeeng’s involvement will help us make better decisions and achieve better outcomes. When we work with Indigenous nations as true partners, and consider their interests, knowledge, and expertise, we all benefit.” — Fred Dermarkar, President and CEO, AECL
“Niigan Aki showed us what is possible when Sagkeeng is a genuine participant in CNL’s work, rather than a bystander to it. Sagkeeng Guardians bring knowledge of this land that no technical report can replicate, and their involvement has made this project better. This new agreement deepens that partnership and creates the conditions for it to grow as decommissioning moves forward through the Whiteshell Laboratories Restoration Project. We still have a long road ahead of us together, and I know all of us would agree that this is exactly as it should be.” — Dennis Carr, President and CEO, CNL
About the Parties Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation
Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation is an Anishinaabe Nation based at the mouth of the Winnipeg River on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Sagkeeng is a signatory to Treaty 1 with the Crown, and its traditional and unsurrendered territory includes lands and waters within the boundaries of Treaties 3 and 5. The people of Sagkeeng have used, occupied and been stewards of its traditional and ancestral territories since time immemorial.
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)
AECL is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to drive nuclear opportunities for Canada. Working with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, AECL enables nuclear science and technology and manages the Government of Canada’s radioactive waste responsibilities. For more information on AECL, visit www.aecl.ca.
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory and working under the direction of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by AECL, CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector, and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards
