Alberta’s First Nations leaders are expressing a desire to engage in the province’s burgeoning data centre sector, while simultaneously criticizing the government’s current strategy. Representatives from the Alexander First Nation, Paul First Nation, Enoch Cree Nation, and Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation have voiced their concerns in a letter addressed to Premier Danielle Smith and her government. The chiefs affirmed their support for developing a robust data centre industry that creates employment opportunities, generates income, and ensures lasting economic stability for their communities. The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) recently reported receiving requests for 29 data centre projects totaling over 16,000 megawatts – a figure exceeding Edmonton’s entire power consumption by more than eleven times. However, the First Nations leaders contend that the AESO’s recently announced approach to handling large power connections presents a significant obstacle. While acknowledging the AESO’s release of connection methodology as a step forward, they believe it conflicts with Alberta's goals of attracting major technology companies and fostering a large-scale data centre industry. The chiefs argued that the current regulatory framework unintentionally limits Alberta’s potential. They emphasized that tech giants such as Meta and Amazon require substantial infrastructure, and the existing limitations signal a lack of readiness to accommodate such projects, potentially deterring flagship developments.