Supporting Major Infrastructure Projects in Tahltan Territory

2024-Current | Tahltan Territory

Through Dease Valley Industries Ltd.’s Cooperation Agreement with McElhanney, and subsequent DVI/McElhanney Joint Venture, clients delivering major infrastructure projects in the lands on the north side of Treaty Creek in the Tahltan Territory have come to rely on a partnership characterized by local knowledge, province-wide resourcing, nimble project delivery, and Indigenous guiding values.

Challenges and Opportunities in Tahltan Territory

Tahltan Territory is “rich in natural resources,” says the Tahltan Central Government’s website, “and continues to garner international attention for its mineral potential and abundant wildlife.” But undertaking a major infrastructure project in Tahltan Territory is nuanced: the terrain features steep mountains, dense forests, and rocky outcrops, the weather is unpredictable, and today’s regulatory environment is complex. Tahltan-member-owned and operated companies like Dease Valley Industries are uniquely positioned to respond to these nuances because, as the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation says, “Mining is part of Tahltan culture.”

From Collaboration to Sustainable Project Delivery

Through their Cooperation Agreement, McElhanney and Dease Valley Industries delivered geotechnical investigations, control surveys, and round-the-clock materials technicians for winter construction works in 2024 for major infrastructure client projects ranging from remote road installations to helipad and hanger construction.

The formation of DVI/McElhanney Joint Venture in late 2024 amplified the relationship’s strengths and the joint venture broadened their project deliveries. In 2025, the DVI/McElhanney Joint Venture delivered detailed engineering for 39km of road, seven bridges, and two major culverts; subsurface drilling investigation in remote terrain; and concrete aggregate suitability testing across a 73-hectre area with results visualized on GIS heatmaps.

“We’re proud of what DVI/McElhanney Joint Venture is able to offer,” says McElhanney project manager, Tyler Garden. “We built our relationship and subsequent partnership slowly over time and our project delivery reflects that depth of trust. Through engagement with local people, we are able to better understand their culture and history, while building lasting relationships. These things are important to know and make us better people, as well as help us share knowledge and understanding with our clients.”

With their combination of knowledge, resourcing, and project delivery and stewardship values, DVI/McElhanney Joint Venture will continue to deliver wide-ranging services for the ongoing major infrastructure projects in the lands on the north side of Treaty Creek in the Tahltan Territory with local insight and an unwavering commitment to contribute to a world built for future generations.

DVI / McElhanney Joint Venture provides: