Uranium Project Advances
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation withdraws legal challenge, supports Denison's Wheeler River project
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The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) has withdrawn its legal challenge against Saskatchewan's environmental approval of Denison Mines' Wheeler River uranium project, and formally confirmed its support for the mine, PR Newswire reported on July 2, 2026. The move clears the last major legal hurdle for the Phoenix In-Situ Recovery (ISR) mine — the first of its kind in Canada — which is already in early construction in the Athabasca Basin.
Denison Mines (TSX: DML; NYSE American: DNN) owns 90% of the Wheeler River Project and operates it. Its partner, JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited, holds the remaining 10%. Wheeler River is the largest undeveloped uranium project in northern Saskatchewan, according to Newswire.
PBCN Dropped a Lawsuit That Threatened to Halt Construction
In October 2025, PBCN Chief Peter Beatty filed a judicial review in the Saskatchewan Court of King's Bench. The Nation argued the province breached its constitutional "duty to consult" — the legal requirement to meaningfully engage Indigenous peoples before approving projects on their traditional lands. Chief Beatty said at the time that "consultation is not paperwork — it's a constitutional duty," according to MBC Radio.
The PBCN said Saskatchewan gave the Nation only six weeks to review thousands of pages of technical documents. They also alleged the province did not formally acknowledge its duty to consult until November 2024 — years after the project was first proposed, CBC News reported. By July 2, 2026, that legal fight was over. The Nation shifted from opposition to formal support after further engagement with Denison and the province.
Phoenix Mine Is Canada's First Large-Scale ISR Uranium Project
The Phoenix deposit will use In-Situ Recovery (ISR) mining. Instead of digging an open pit or tunneling underground, ISR pumps a solution into the ground to dissolve uranium, then pumps it back up. The method leaves a much smaller surface footprint and produces lower carbon emissions than conventional mining, according to World Nuclear News.
The mine is designed to produce between 9 million and 12 million pounds of uranium concentrate per year. It is expected to operate for 15 years. During construction, the project will employ around 300 workers. Once running, it will support 180 permanent jobs, according to the project's Final Environmental Impact Statement cited by Newswire.
Two Years of Regulatory Wins Paved the Way for Construction
The project hit a key milestone in July 2025, when Saskatchewan granted Ministerial Approval for the Wheeler River environmental assessment. Then, in February 2026, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted federal approval and issued the "Licence to Prepare Site and Construct," World Nuclear News reported. Denison made its Final Investment Decision in March 2026 and broke ground shortly after.
Denison CEO David Cates called the federal licence a "landmark achievement" for staff, shareholders, and Indigenous partners, according to PR Newswire. The PBCN withdrawal now removes what analysts at Stock Titan described as the final significant legal risk standing between Denison and its 2028 production target.
A Resolved Dispute With Wide Economic and Political Stakes
PBCN represents nine northern Saskatchewan communities, including Southend and Denare Beach. Agreements like this in the region typically include revenue sharing, job guarantees, and Indigenous oversight roles for environmental monitoring, according to PR Newswire. The specific terms of the PBCN agreement have not been publicly disclosed.
The outcome is also a win for Saskatchewan's resource policy. It shows that mining projects can advance past constitutional challenges when companies negotiate directly with First Nations — not just rely on government-run consultation. If the Phoenix ISR mine succeeds, it could reshape how uranium is extracted across the entire Athabasca Basin, according to Barchart.
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