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ARTICLE · 23 MARCH 2026

Indigenous Communities Diving Deep Into Submarines And Other Military Contracts

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Canadians may be surprised to learn that English River First Nation is a potential beneficiary of the Royal Canadian Navy’s multibillion-dollar procurement of submarines. Located in Northern Saskatchewan...

CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Arend Hoekstra
Arend Hoekstra
Marco E. L. Mendicino
Marco E. L. Mendicino
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A Sea of Opportunity

Canadians may be surprised to learn that English River First Nation is a potential beneficiary of the Royal Canadian Navy’s multibillion-dollar procurement of submarines. Located in Northern Saskatchewan, its most proximate major waterbody is Lake Athabasca. Yet, scroll through the partners of Korean submarine manufacturer Hanwha Ocean who are bidding to supply the next generation of Canada’s submarine fleet,1 and you will find Des Nedhe Group, the economic development arm of English River First Nation, alongside well-established Canadian military contractors.2

The English River First Nation is not the only Indigenous community (para)scoping out military contracts. In January of this year, Membertou First Nation and Horizon Naval Engineering acquired Genoa Design International, one of Canada’s leading ship building design and 3D modelling firms. Shortly after announcing the acquisition, Chief Terry Paul of Membertou First Nation stated: “by acquiring Genoa

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