Road connection linking Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation and Wollaston Lake to Southern Saskatchewan nearing completion, with new local landfill project supported through the Build Communities Strong Fund

WOLLASTON LAKE and HATCHET LAKE DENESULINE FIRST NATION, Treaty 10 Territory, SK, Nov. 12, 2026 /CNW/ -- Indigenous Services Canada, Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation

Today, Chief Bartholomew Tsannie of Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, the Honourable Kim Gartner, and the Honourable Buckley Belanger, celebrated the Highway 995 project – also commonly known as the Wollaston Lake and Hatchet Lake Road Project – entering the final stages of construction.

Once complete, Highway 995 will provide year-round road access for residents of Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation and Wollaston Lake, creating a reliable connection to southern Saskatchewan and major urban centres for the first time. The new highway will make it easier for residents to access healthcare services, education and training opportunities, goods and services, and employment, improving overall quality of life.

The 102-kilometre gravel highway will replace the seasonal 50-km ice road that residents have relied upon during the winter months for community resupply. For much of the year, access to and from the communities has depended on air transportation or water barge, which limits the timely delivery of essential goods.

The new road will provide a more dependable transportation route for people and supplies year-round, improving supply chain reliability and ensuring communities have more consistent access to food, fuel, medical supplies, construction materials, and other necessities. The road will remain under the operation of the community and contractor until construction is finished in 2027. Following completion and final inspections, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways will assume operation and maintenance of the road.

The project reflects more than two decades of planning, collaboration, and investment by First Nations, federal, and provincial partners to improve transportation infrastructure in northern Saskatchewan.

Additionally, representatives were pleased to announce federal funding to upgrade the community landfill. An investment of more than $1.3 million will support phase 1 of the landfill upgrade project through the Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund. Phase 1 includes a new municipal waste storage cell to accommodate 10 years of municipal solid waste, including a new leachate collection system and stormwater pond and operating stations. The existing landfill will be capped and closed.

Quotes

"Reaching the final stages of the Highway 995 project is an important achievement and a testament to what we can accomplish when we work in partnership with First Nations communities. This road will make a lasting difference in the lives of residents of Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation and Wollaston Lake, providing more reliable, year-round access to essential services, economic opportunities, and connections with neighbouring communities. It will also help strengthen community well-being, improve the delivery of essential goods, and create new opportunities for families and future generations. We are proud to support projects like this that help build stronger, healthier and more connected First Nations communities."

The Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty
Minister of Indigenous Services

"The opening of Highway 995 is a historic milestone for our community and the result of many years of hard work, advocacy and collaboration. For decades, we have been working toward a reliable, all-season road and today we are seeing that vision become a reality. This road will make a real difference to our communities, providing safer, more dependable access to health care, education, essential supplies and economic opportunities. It represents an important step forward for our community, strengthening our connections to the rest of the province and creating new opportunities for future generations."

Chief Bartholomew J. Tsannie
Chief, Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation

"The opening of this all-season road completely changes the economic landscape for the Hatchet Lake Denesuline Nation and Wollaston Lake. By eliminating seasonal isolation during lake freeze-up, we are unlocking doors for local businesses, expanding our fisheries, and creating new opportunities for our young people, who now have year-round access to sports development and sustainable employment. This project proves what can be achieved through true collaboration between all partners – federal, provincial, and First Nations leadership – who strived to make this remarkable goal a reality for this amazing community."

Vice Chief Joseph Tsannie
Prince Albert Grand Council

"After years of hard work, Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation and Wollaston Lake are closer than ever to having year-round road access, bringing new opportunities to Saskatchewan's northernmost communities. I'm proud of our government's investment of over $70 million to help make Highway 995 a reality, along with another $1.3 million to upgrade the local landfill. Congratulations to Chief Bartholomew J. Tsannie and the entire community on these important milestones."

The Honourable Buckley Belanger
Secretary of State for Rural Development

"The Government of Saskatchewan appreciates the federal investment and hard work of all involved to improve this important transportation link for northern residents and the expansion of the provincial highway network when this road is completed."

The Honourable Kim Gartner
Saskatchewan Minister of Highways

Quick facts

• Planning and design of this Highway 995 began back in 2004.
• To date, Indigenous Services Canada has invested just over $70,347,000 toward planning, designing and building Highway 995.
• The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways contributed $250,000 at the start of this most recent project, along with $10.1 million toward building the first 14 kilometres of Highway 995 between 2007 and 2011.
• The combined population of Wollaston Lake and Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation is more than 1,800.
• Highway 995 links up with Highway 905, which connects to Highway 102 heading south.
• The federal government is investing $1,368,000 in the landfill upgrade project through the Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund. Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling all requirements related to environmental assessment obligations.
• The Build Communities Strong Fund will deliver funding through three major streams:
  • A Provincial and Territorial stream, which provides $19.2 billion, including $7 billion in health infrastructure funding. This includes an additional $2 billion over two years, starting in 2027-28, to build community mental health and addictions treatment facilities as proposed in Budget 2026;
  • A Direct Delivery stream, which provides more than $8 billion, including $1 billion over 4 years; and,
  • A Community stream (formerly the Canada Community-Building Fund), which provides $27.8 billion over 10 years and, indexed at 2% to deliver $3 billion per year ongoing.

Associated links

• Prince Albert Grand Council

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

For more information, media may contact: Livi McElrea, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, [email protected]; Media Relations: Indigenous Services Canada, [email protected]; Media Relations: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]