Indigenous Communities Diving Deep into Submarines and Other Military Contracts – Cassels
March 19, 2026
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
